Good (Guard) Dog!

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The bottom line is that insurance companies like deadbolt locks better than dogs; some companies even offer discounts if you don’t have a dog.

I personally want my dog’s job performance to fall somewhere between that of a watchdog and that of a security dog. I don’t want her to bite, but I do want strangers to encounter a dutifully territorial dog. We’re pretty convincing, I think.

When a stranger comes to my home, I often allow my dog to bark a little before I tell her to settle down. Not wanting to sabotage my own goals, I also avoid saying the dog’s name or using voice commands within earshot of strangers. Many dogs can be quickly neutralized if a stranger says their name and gives them a treat. (If a burglar said my dog’s name while giving her a treat, she might show the burglar where I hide my extra key!) Simply offering a treat will allow a delivery person to place a package by my door, but he or she would have to use commands and the dog’s name to get farther than that.

“People also need to be aware that once they start encouraging barking behavior, their dogs may not make a distinction between the kind of ‘intruder’ that their owner cares about and the kind that their owner is unconcerned with,” Mlinek says.

Some home security companies suggest putting up a “Beware of Dog” sign to deter would-be intruders, which might be a good idea. But good watchdogs don’t have to be scary, just smart barkers.   /G

Award-winning garden writer Barbara Pleasant suspects she has dogs in her blood – two of her brothers are veterinarians.

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