From securing doors and windows to installing surveillance cameras, there are so many opportunities to keep your home safe. Here are seven ideas to help you keep your home a little bit safer.
- Install a home security system
- Invest in a protection dog
- Secure all your doors and windows
- Keep your home well-lit even when you are away
- Be mindful of what you post on social media
- Keep your yard clean and tidy
- Get to know your neighbors
Home Security System
A home security system is a great deterrent to any would-be intruder. With a security system in place, you can monitor your home 24/7 and see any suspicious activity going on. With so many options to choose from, you can easily find a system that fits your needs and budget.
Invest in a Protection Dog
One of the most effective ways to protect your home is investing in a protection dog. Protection dogs are trained to detect threats and protect their owners in any situation.
Quality protection dogs come from healthy and intelligent bloodlines and have been raised in family settings. They are chosen for their personality, work ethic and temperaments.
Monitoring systems, alarms, and alerts let you know when someone is breaking in whether you’re home or not. However, alarms, locked doors, and windows don’t prevent anyone from breaking in. In many cases, intruders can break in and commit crimes and leave before help can get there. The only thing on this list that alerts, deters, AND mitigates intruders from entering and hurting you is a protection dog.
While the other items are good and may help, they all depend on either you defending yourself or the police showing up instantly to defend you. Some studies even suggest that the average response times for police is rising in many areas. The average response time for your protection dog to mitigate the intruder and protect you 24/7 is instantaneous.
When looking for a protection dog it is imperative to research quality trainers with excellent credentials and who has successfully trained many dogs. It is so important to choose a reputable trainer because a poorly trained protection dog can be a danger to you and your family.
Secure Your Doors and Windows
Another essential step in home safety (but one that is often overlooked) is securing your doors and windows. Install deadbolts on all exterior doors, and use security bars or locks on windows to prevent them from being opened from the outside. Consider installing a peephole or a video doorbell so you can see who is at your door before opening it. Remember to keep your doors and windows locked at all times, even when you’re at home. Many burglaries occur simply because a window or door was left open or unlocked.
Keep Your Home Well-Lit
Keeping your home well-lit is another effective way to deter burglars. Install outdoor lighting around the perimeter of your home and make sure that all entry points are well-lit. Consider using motion-activated lights, which will turn on automatically when someone approaches your home. Inside your home, use timers on lights to create the impression that someone is home even when you’re away.
Be Mindful of Social Media
With social media being such a big part of our lives, we have to take precautions to keep ourselves safe. Never post your address or identifying information on social media. Consider making your personal accounts private. And lastly, avoid posting information about your travel plans or when you’re away from home. A popular tactic burglars use is seeing who is away by viewing your social media accounts. They can use this information to plan their break-ins. Wait until you return home to post vacation photos or share details about your trip.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Trim overgrown bushes and trees to eliminate hiding places for potential intruders. Pick up any tools or equipment from your yard that could be used to break into your home. Consider installing fencing around your yard for extra physical protection.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Getting to know your neighbors can help you keep not only your house safe, but your whole neighborhood as well. Get to know your neighbors and let your neighbors know about any suspicious activity you see in your neighborhood. If you are going out of town, let your neighbors know and ask a friend to bring in any mail or packages left at your door.
Home safety is a concern for everyone. By taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself, your family, and your possessions. While all of these precautions are a step in the right direction on your journey of safety, a protection dog is the most reliable and consistent form of protection.
Contact us to learn more about our protection dogs and how they can add to your emergency preparedness and protection goals.
View our available protection dogs here.
