Security for the Seasoned Individual

All right, getting back into it.  I have some down time before I head back overseas so lets see if I can knock out a few topics!

Our next item (getting back to the agenda...sort of) deals with the seasoned individual and the challenges they may face.  Now, when I say seasoned I'm talking 50 and above...and before I get a backlash I realize that 50 is not old!  But late 40's and early 50's is when health problems start to manifest themselves for a lot of people so I feel this is where we should start since your health definitely effects the tools you have available with which to protect yourself.  I was originally going to break this up into male and female, but as I started writing I realized there wasn't much difference between the two so I combined them.

First and foremost, be honest with yourself!  What is wrong with you right now that will limit your ability to protect yourself?  (Keep in mind, your answers to this question may also directly relate to your ability to use deadly force.  You are justified to use deadly force when you feel that your life is in danger, and in your 20's, you may have been able to take a beating.  But now, you may have a heart condition or you may be suffering from Osteoporosis which would turn a robbery into a homicide...with YOU being the victim).  If you carry a firearm, are you still able to see the sights of your weapon?  You may have carried it for 40 years but now, due to your need for bifocals, you may need to change the tactics with which you employ your weapon.  Above we mentioned conditions of the body that may increase the effects of a violent assault or an extremely stressful situation.  Some companies and agencies require that a stress test be done on any employees deploying to a high threat environment to ensure that they are not at an elevated risk of a heart attack when placed in an abnormally stressful situation.  Arthritis?  How effective will your struggles be?  Can you manipulate a weapon such as a pistol or knife or even Mace effectively when arthritis has hampered your ability to even make a fist?  Again, be honest.  The tools you used to rely on (strength, weapons, reaction time, quick thinking) may not be as sharp or accessible as they once were and by not admitting it you may be setting yourself up for serious injury or even death.
Another aspect of personal safety that needs to be addressed is accidents.  We spoke of Osteoporosis above.  If you are home alone and fall and are unable to reach a phone, how will you get help?  Joking about old people and breaking hips may seem funny, but a broken hip is no laughing matter.  In the military, a pelvic strike is considered deadly force because of the potential for serious bodily harm and/or death.  A major artery, the femoral, is found on the inside of your thighs about an inch or two above where your leg meets your genital area, if you follow the natural vee.  Sever one of these and you have maybe a few minutes to live.  Not only that, but your hips support your whole body.  We train to shoot the pelvic area in order to cause death and immediate disabling, so you can imagine you won't be doing much walking or even standing with a broken hip.
Hopefully we've got you thinking by now.  There are many more examples of bad things that can happen, whether it be by direct assault or by accident, but lets now focus on how to prevent, avoid, or at least mitigate the effects such an episode will have on you.
By far, the best defense you have against any crime or accident is situational awareness.  Remain cognizant of what is going on around you!  Secondly, have a plan.  I have already gone in depth in previous posts concerning such things as mindset, principles of security, and weapons so if you think that this post is lacking please read back.
Ok, let's talk situational awareness.  If you know that you are at risk for an accident, you must remain aware of your surroundings.  Set yourself up for success.  Make sure that the floor is clear of debris, make sure steps are clearly marked and hand railings have been installed.  Do you have a small dog or cat that runs beneath your feet?  Over time, you may have amassed a little wealth and enjoy nice cars and jewelry.  Realize that a thief may identify you as a soft (easy) target because of your age or your inability to fight back, and giving off the appearance of having money may not be such a wise choice depending upon your environment.  Also, be aware of possible scams.  Door-to-door salesman should be immediately and firmly sent on their way, bearing in mind that you do NOT have to open the door to talk to them.  At best they are selling needless products, at worst, they are criminals casing your house.  This is in no way a complete list, but the point is to get you thinking.  The internet is another area in which you need to be aware.  I strongly suggest you do some major reading, talk to a family member or friend who is active on the internet, or take an internet course (go through a reputable source, such as a tech college or some other accredited organization) because you could compromise a lot of your personal information, as well as others, if you do not adhere to good internet practices and have at least some idea of the threats out there, including internet scams.
Having a plan is essential in order to effectively deal with situations that will inevitably arise.  Earlier, we asked the question of how you would get help if you fell. There are such tools out there like LifeAlert  and ADT's Personal Emergency Response System  that you should consider.  Keep in mind that these tools are not confined to medical emergencies.  If you feel threatened, whether inside or outside of your home, you may utilize these tools.  It may not be the most effective response but at least somebody will be on the way to help you.  Cell phones.  Cell phones these days are almost a necessity.  You don't have to have some fancy phone, just something that you can use anywhere to call for help.  A home security system is always a good idea.  If you can't move very quickly and you have a fire in your house, how will you get out?  Are you on the first or second floor?  Should you install more smoke detectors?  A sprinkler system?  Modify your bedroom window in order to make it easier to get out of?    
The above should be a good start to an effective plan.  I'm going to keep stressing that this post is intended to get you thinking as opposed to cover all contingencies.  As we get older, our bodies do become weaker and we have to accept that and plan for it, regardless of how much it hurts our pride.
I hope this has helped in some way, and as always, if you have any questions do not hesitate!      
      

Child Safety

Sorry for the long delay...life!
It has recently come to my attention that a friend of mine is having issues with an ex-wife and her new boyfriend and the interaction between her new beau and his little girl.  That story is neither here nor there, but it brought up a situation I'm sure a lot of divorced parents with children have unfortunately experienced.  Picture yourself with kids, boys or girls, it doesn't matter.  Your ex takes the kids for the weekend and takes them to her new boyfriend/girlfriends house.  Being a nasty divorce, the ex is less then forthcoming on any information concerning anything, especially contact information on his/her new fling.  So off they go, your kids going into the unknown.  Are they safe?  Who is this guy?  Where does he live?  Then, to make it worse, your little girl/boy comes home and tells you that mommy/daddy's new boyfriend/girlfriend gives them the creeps.  Unless the new friend has actually done something to the child, there is, unfortunately, little anyone can do.  (I know laws are different in some states concerning who children can spend the night with if they aren't relatives but I'm generalizing.)
One legal thing that you as the parent can do that is totally legal and will also make your child feel a little safer is the Amber Alert GPS.  It does cost a monthly fee, but I believe it is well worth it.  Some of its features are Predator Alert, alerting you when the child is within 500ft of a sex offenders residence.  There is a panic button, speed alert if your child is going too fast, a safe zone you can establish that will alert you if your child leaves the virtual boundary, and also Smart phone tracking among other things.  This is not a cheap piece of gear, but considering what the alternative could be, it may be the best thing you ever bought.
This isn't going to be a long post, I just wanted to throw that out there while I was thinking about it.  I will try to get back on task in a few weeks but we shall see...  

On-Line Predators

If you have read my agenda, you will notice that I am deviating from my intended order a bit simply because I feel that this topic is important and shouldn't wait. 

I will go into computer security (or rather common sense) at a later date, but right now I want to address the issue of on-line predators.  Beginning in 2008, after watching an episode of “To Catch a Predator”, I realized that I had no clue about on-line predators.  I didn’t know who they were, how they chose their victims, how they communicated, where they could be found in the on-line world.  I was dumb to a threat that (with kids) I would need to be wary of in several years’ time.  So, I began researching.  I knew that these guys were finding people in chat rooms, and I had a Yahoo account, so that is where I began.  What I found there were mostly gay men, men looking for girls, and girls pretending to chat with you and then telling you to click on a link…which either they got money for or sent you to a porn website that you had to pay to view.  No “predators” to my knowledge. That’s when I discovered Yahoo! 360.  Yahoo! 360 allowed you to create an on-line profile and basically share anything you wanted to with the world.  I created a profile and began perusing other users.  I started messaging several users who had young sounding names such as “volleyball_16” or “15yrs_amy” and didn’t receive very many responses.  But the responses I did receive and the chats I had turned out to be men pretending to be girls.  It took me quite a while to figure that out but very few 16 year olds I know make small talk and then want a picture of my feet or start talking about how their dad used to molest them and they liked it.  So that is what gave me the idea to create a profile pretending to be a 14 year old girl.  It took maybe a day and I had over 50 requests to be friends, numerous messages on chat, and a bunch of emails.  Most, like me, were guys pretending to be girls but they thought or wanted to believe I was a girl. One of the more sinister chats I had was with a young “girl” who asked me if I thought my parents would let me go to Spain, as the girl said she knew someone who could get me into modeling.  I’m sure I wasn’t the only one “she” had made that offer to.  I then created various profiles of different genders and different ages and by far the most “attractive” profile was the female aged between 13 and 16.  Yahoo! 360 wasn’t the only place I found this kind of thing.  Virtually every social site I went to had some form of predatory aspect to it.  Flickr, Yahoo, Windows Live, Yahoo games, MySpace, Facebook, (though with the right privacy settings Facebook does a good job of protecting its users) and a myriad of other chat rooms and social sites.  I have also seen young teens with their own webcams putting themselves out there voluntarily.  The threat is there, it is real, and it is just a few clicks away.  Regardless of whether they are male or female, as long as you are their legal guardian you NEED TO MONITOR YOUR CHILDREN!  If you are not monitoring what your children are doing on-line you are wrong, plain and simple.  If you need some help on this matter, I will throw out a few tips.  And if you want some more info, by all means message me.  I have spent a lot of late nights researching this and I wouldn’t recommend everyone trying their hand at it, but it is a serious threat that I feel needs to be addressed.  I am confident that I can spot a fake within ten minutes of a conversation and out of the numerous conversations I have had over the past three years with people claiming to be a certain type of person, not one has been real.  Not one!  Which is a good thing and bad.  It’s good because that means there are more fake than legit preteens and teens chatting, but it is bad because I have seen videos and live cams of teens and preteens doing things they shouldn’t which means those kids are out there and they don’t stand a chance against a grown adult who knows how to manipulate a child’s feelings.  Also, there is a whole T.V. show and volunteer group dedicated to catching on-line predators as well so that should give this post some credibility to even the most skeptical. 

I can’t address every situation, but below are a few tips to help keep your kids off pedophiles radar.  Again, if you have a situation you need advice on or just want some more information let me know, I can’t cover everything here.     

Let me start by saying that parents do need to trust their kids, and kids need to make their own mistakes in order to learn.  But the internet is one area where kids MUST be monitored; at least until you as the adult are certain that they are using it responsibly.  One great program to help with this is SpectorSoft spyware.  It will record everything they do, it will record their passwords, pictures they post, emails they receive, and you can set times when they can and cannot access the internet (if you’re not home), among a ton of other things.  Are you spying on your kids…yes.  But do you think your kids are really going to give you access to their REAL email or Facebook account, especially if they are doing something they know they shouldn’t?  

Be cognizant of what is in the pictures they post.  It does no good to teach them about not sharing where they live or telephone number or email when they post a public picture of them wearing a school sweatshirt.  All one has to do is Google that school and they will come up with a short list of where that child goes to school.  Or, a person could look at your child’s friend list and even though the predator can’t access their profile, maybe they have an outfit on that proclaims what school they go to and it’s an easy assumption from there that your child goes to the same school.  A lot of kids like to post track/volleyball/baseball pictures showing where they play as well.  Once the predator knows what school your child goes to, it is easy pickings from there.  I’m not saying that this kind of stalking is happening all of the time, but the potential is there and the risks of not mentoring your children far outweigh the hassle it will be to lend a firm, yet guiding hand. 

With the amount of kids with cellphones these days, hardly anyone chats on a messenger service anymore unless the y have friends that live out of the country.  Why would they with the convenience of texting?  So if your child is chatting you need to find out with whom.  Webcams are another issue.  These items should be controlled by the parent and the child should have to ask for it.  And if it’s a weekend and he/she is having a sleepover I wouldn’t recommend letting them play.  Or if you do let them, make sure you monitor it by checking on them and checking what websites they have open, not just what is on the screen.  I have seen that exact scenario play out countless of times on sites like JustinTV and Stickam.  If you don't believe me go to videarn.com and you won't even have to click on the videos to see what I am talking about.  Not only are the teens usually pushing the decency boundary in a sort of truth-or-dare like way (there is nothing but guys asking the girls to show their bodies or do things with each other), but identifiable information is almost always shown in what they are wearing, in the background, or what they say.  On top of that, there are programs that allow people to record webcams, so even if your child does something inappropriate and gets kicked off the site there is a good chance his/her picture will still wind up on the internet.   

I thought this was going to be a lengthy post but there is not much more to be said.  The internet is like a door to your house, a door that can let any kind of person in the WORLD in.  That kind of access is something that needs to be guarded and no child should have the power to make the decision of who should be let in.  They are too vulnerable and easily manipulated at that age.  Personally, I would talk to my child about internet safety but then secretly monitor them (key word is secret because if they know they are being watched you won’t get an honest assessment) until I am sure they are being responsible.  Some of you will cringe at the thought of spying on your kids but that is the only way to ensure their safety (and yours) without damaging your relationship with them at this sensitive time in their lives by openly invading their privacy.

Best of luck.              

More to come soon, I apologize for the delay but I have made a job change and have moved across the country so please bear with me in my absence!

Security for the Teen Male

Sorry for my long absence, with the holidays and work things have been a bit hectic.  Staying with the short posts for now, let’s discuss security for the teen male.

Teen males have a bit of a different security issue to deal with than females.  Males in their teens generally fall into one or two of three categories; they can be the leader, follower, or a loner.  And to clarify, being a loner is not necessarily a bad thing.  They can be the kind of loner that all of you may be thinking of, the kind that doesn’t fit in and may have anger and self-esteem issues.  But there are also those that are just quiet.  They get good grades, have a high self esteem, but for whatever reason don’t socialize according to the “norm”. 

Leaders:  Leaders can also fall into two separate categories; they can either be the alpha male jocks that others look up to in a positive way (for the most part) or they can be the bully that others look up to in a negative way.  This class may have the highest security issues due to the very nature of their personality and their attempt to maintain their popularity.  Because of their personality everyone takes notice of them, both the good and the bad elements.  For example, let’s say that Johnny is the most popular kid at school and he is going to throw a party…who is going to come?  That’s right!  EVERYONE.  From my own personal experiences, mass parties usually teeter on the brink of chaos and there is no way that one guy can regulate all of those people.  Things will be broken and stolen and fights will most probably break out, especially if alcohol is involved.  Also, because of his popularity he will probably have more face time with more people which could lead to more anger direct towards him.  Think of the less popular kid, who doesn’t have such an alluring personality, watching his girlfriend flirt and make ga ga eyes at Johnny.  I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.  Common sense tells us to drop the girl and find someone who really cares about you.  But almost all teens lack common sense at this age, especially when females are involved.  Now Johnny may have become a target and he doesn’t even know it.   The bully, on the other hand, makes enemies more directly.  But due to his confidence and perceived invincibility from those whom he torments may feel as if there will never be any ramifications for his actions.  Bullying has seen a decline in recent years after the many high profile suicides and shootings shown on national television resulted in sweeping reforms throughout the U.S., mostly in the educational arena.  Many schools now have a “no tolerance” policy towards bullying, harsher punishments specifically for bullying, and workshops for the teachers on how to recognize bullying and how to stop it starting at the elementary level.  

While the first line of defense for these “leaders” continues to be and has to be themselves, parents, peers, and role models come in a close second.  At this stage in life, many teens feel 10ft. tall and bullet proof and think nothing bad can ever happen to them.  It is up to the adults who care for the individual to discuss potential dangers with him and ensure that they are at least aware of the negative consequences that could come from being on “top”.   Parents also need to be mindful of the fact that their property could become collateral damage in any dispute their son may currently be involved in, even if he doesn’t know he is in a dispute  (yard jobs, house or cars being egged, house being toilet papered, broken windows, keyed cars…).

Followers:  The main concern with followers is that they can be loose cannons.  Leaders set the pace with their actions and personalities and a lot of followers try to imitate them and bask in the residuals they get just by being around them.  Some followers, however, feel the need to be recognized by the leader or outshine him in order to steal some of the spotlight and to that end will go above and beyond what their leader, who is already pushing the boundaries, would do.  Consider the leader who, at a party, decides to drag race his car down the street for a bit to the whistles and applause from the audience.  Seeing his chance, the follower does the same thing but needs to go faster and drive more recklessly in order to show that he can be better than the leader.  Or in the case of the bully, imagine the follower one-upping his leader and instead of throwing eggs at a car decides to throw rocks to show he has “balls”.  I mention these scenarios because I have seen them, and more, first hand. 

Again, in order to minimize the security threat the same recommendation I gave for the leader can also apply to follower. 

Loner:   The bad loner, the one everyone thinks of when you mention loner, can potentially be a real threat to himself and others.  The fact that he is a loner isn’t the issue, it is the why?  Early intervention from the key players mentioned above is critical.  There are a lot of reasons one could be a loner but more than likely, as a teen, he will see some negative responses because of it from his peers.  The good loner is usually the “safest” of the bunch due to his self esteem and low profile.  Most people leave him alone because they don’t really know he is there or he is easily forgettable, and those that do pick on him are immediately confronted either by the individual or those around him that feel the need to protect him, or he tells someone who can help. 

You may notice that this post has differed from the female version in that the female version I identified specific threats towards the girls that they may face.  In this post I gave an overview of the categories teen males typically fall into and what kind of security issues they may face because of it.  Males have it easy in the sense that if they keep to themselves, stay out of other people’s business, and ensure that their actions only affect themselves or others in a positive way they can expect to remain relatively safe except for the occasional random act of violence.  The problem is that we are males.  We don’t keep to ourselves a lot of the times, we put our nose in other people’s business for whatever reason, and have an “it’s a free country so sorry if your feelings are hurt by my actions” type attitude.  And males, as my wife constantly points out, differ from females in that we usually can’t put on a happy face for those that we don’t get along with like women can.  When men piss each other off, most of the time we take care of it on the spot and that is the end of it….usually.  That kind of conflict resolution makes it almost impossible to sit here and write contingencies for every situation that pops up, which is why I generalized it.  The important take-away here is to know your teen, know what he’s about, and guide him through the rollercoaster ride until he finds himself.  Be a parent, be a mentor, and be a role model. 

Security for the Teen Female

I have been getting feedback that I should shorten my posts so they are not so time consuming to read.   I will try it with this post but would like more feedback on if I should continue this way or go back to including all relevant information.  Thanks!

I have split up the categories such as teen female and teen male because each are unique in their circumstance.  Males have a different set of worries than females so they should be discussed separately in order to maximize safety.  Teens, regardless of gender, are at their most vulnerable during this stage in life.  They are trying to find out who they are and tend to either be a pack leader or follower.  As parents know, either path can lead to problems.  I am speaking strictly from an American point of few as many different countries have different views concerning girls and women and other countries also have a higher rate of sex crimes such as prostitution and trafficking that I am not qualified to comment or give advice on 

The main issue with girls at this age deals with sex.  Hormones on both sides are raging, they finally have the freedom to act on their emotions, and they want to feel in control of their lives.  I’m not making a case for abstinence; I’m simply saying that a lot of safety concerns for teen girls are of a sexual nature.   Not only are boys of the same age taking an interest, but men with much more experience in manipulation are unfortunately also taking an interest.  You the female need to be aware of this and on your guard. 

First and foremost, you need to be upfront with males.  They can’t process subtleties when their hormones are raging.  If you want a guy to leave you alone you have to draw a clear line.  I know it is not in most girls’ nature to be “rude” and tell a guy to stop calling but it needs to happen.  Ignoring their phone calls or blowing them off when they talk to you will not make them “get the hint”.  The guy will merely think that he needs to try harder.  If the situation persists, tell somebody.  Make it known.  Tell your parents, tell your girlfriends, tell your other guy friends, or tell your teachers.  Whoever you feel comfortable with.  You should definitely tell someone if an adult man is interested in you, regardless if he is pestering you or not.  Tread carefully and listen to your friends and your instincts.  If it doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.

Know who you are getting involved with.  If you like a guy that you don’t know very well, guard your personal information closely.  Don’t let him drop you off at home, don’t befriend him on Facebook or MySpace or any other social site where you have a lot of personal information available, and don’t give out your home telephone number.  Also, don’t allow yourself to be alone with him in a private setting until you are sure of his intentions.  Do your own research.  See if you can find him on Facebook.  Go through his pictures and wall posts if you are able and get a feel for what kind of friends this guy has and what he likes to do. 

I will hit internet security pretty hard in another post but for now I will throw out these few tips:  Do not add your home phone number to the white pages listing.  While there are other ways to find out your address or phone number through the internet, don’t make it too easy.  Ensure that you make everything private or “friends only” on your social sites, and then only add people you know.  Facebook has added a new application that allows you to post your current location, and also allows others to post your current location.  If you need help disabling that let me know.   Stay away from chat rooms and web cams. 

Watch your drinks at parties, and if you go to the bathroom make sure somebody else is watching it.  I’m a grown man and I still have someone watch my drink. 

Always have a way out at parties, ensure that there is someone available and reliable who can come and pick you up regardless of the time or place. 

If you are going out with a guy, ensure somebody knows where you are going and when you should be back.

You need to make a decision about sex before you and your guy are naked rolling around on the bed or wherever.  Most men see a “making out” session as a prelude to sex, while the girl simply views it as a wonderful time being together.  If you are not willing to go all the way, keep the “making out” and fondling  limited to someplace at least semi-public and again, set clear boundaries.  Every guy should respect a girl’s wish when she says no, but what if he doesn’t?  You can’t walk into a known bad neighborhood and then be surprised when you get mugged or assaulted.  You have to take some ownership for your actions and decisions, you have to be smart. 

Lastly, be aware of your surroundings.  I’ve covered how to do this in previous posts so if you haven’t read it go back and do so.  It will go a long way in keeping you out of trouble!

Again, this is the first time I’ve attempted to write a shorter post while maintaining the blog’s integrity.  If you like it and it still helps, please let me know.  If you think more sustenance is helpful tell me.

Either way I hope you learned something.

Canines for Security

Using canines to augment your security plan can be a great idea depending on your circumstances.   In this post I will cover a few things to think about when deciding if a dog is right for you, and I will also touch on a few breeds to help get you started.

When owning any pet, it is important that you ensure that you have the time, money, and ability to tend to its needs.  I suggest that after deciding on a particular dog, you check with your vet BEFORE you purchase it in order to find out all the ins and outs associating with your choice.  They will be able to tell you approximately how much you will have to spend yearly in vet bills for shots, check-ups, and preventative medicine (heartworm, flea and tick).  They will also be able to tell you any problems usually associated with your chosen breed (which you should already know from doing research) such as hip dysplasia.  You should also check with a few local dog training companies to see how much classes cost if you find that your pet needs some additional, professional guidance when it comes to behavior. 

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, the majority of the information that follows has been cited from http://www.homesecurityguru.com/recommended-watchdog-breeds.  It covers basically the same information I intended to but I will add an “Employment” section at the end in order to cover some tips in actually employing your guard/watch dog.

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"Throughout history one of the most popular ways to enhance home security has been through the usage of trained dogs. However, in choosing which to dog to guard your family or property you should way different options carefully, depending on your particular circumstances.

Family Watchdogs vs. Guard Dogs

One of the common misconceptions among dog owners is that watchdog is simply another name for guard dog. In essence, a watch dog acts as an alert, barking to warn occupants of approaching strangers. Many breeds of dogs, including miniatures such as Chihuahuas, may fit this role.

A guard dog, on the other hand, possesses the physical capability to render a would-be assailant incapable of harming the dog's owner either through restraint or injury.

Recommend Breeds as Guard Dogs

People wishing to adopt watch dogs or guard dogs should examine a number of factors before deciding which breed is best for them. Various breeds of dog naturally show different characteristics. These include:

A sense of the dog's territory

Aggressiveness

Strength

Courage

Resistance to counterattack

Tendency to protect the dog's adoptive family

Propensity to be properly trained

Aloofness to strangers is also regarded as a virtue because as aloof dogs are not swayed by superficial attempts at friendship. Although the dogs generally enjoy their role of protecting the entire property, a lone dog is also susceptible to attack from an armed intruder. The owner should note that a dog guards the family best within the house during hours when intrusion is most likely.

If a burglar is able to break into a house in an area which the guard dog outside cannot reach, the protection is moot.

Bull Mastiff - Many regard the Bull Mastiff as the ideal guard dog. These dogs are very strong, possessing a heavy amount of bulk and muscle. It is also an intelligent breed and highly alert, as well as very courageous. Despite its physical gifts and lack of fear, it is docile within a family environment, making it a good pet.

Doberman Pinscher - The Doberman Pinscher makes another fine guard dog. Like the bull mastiff, they are also strong, intelligent, alert, and fearless. However, they are also loyal and obedient to family. They are also quite fast runners and this characteristic may be advantageous for homeowners with large lots who need a guard dog that is able to reach a possible security breach quickly. Female Dobermans are thought to be more protective of family and more obedient, while males are more adept as finding solutions to problems.

Rottweiller - Rottweilers also serve well as guard dogs, possessing a combination of strength, confidence, and courage. They also show loyalty and a tendency to protect members of their adoptive families. Rottweillers tend to be aloof to strangers and are not swayed by superficial attempts at friendship.

Komodor - Not as well known as the other breeds, but another dog effective at providing guard duty is the Komodor. This dog is also powerfully built and courageous and was bred to guard flocks of sheep. It is loyal and faithful to its owner.

Puli - Pulis are very vigorous, active dogs originally bred as sheep dogs in Hungary. They make also good watchdogs as they have a suspicious nature.

Giant Schnauzer - The Giant Schnauzer is another strong and hardy dog that is also intelligent, alert, and courageous. They also adapt easily to training and are loyal. Thus, they also make good family pets.

German Shepherd - This breed retains a calm demeanor but is able to act when situations call for firmness or assistance, i.e., a good seeing-eye dog. It also retains a detached attitude that allows it to resist being swayed by superficial attempts at befriending.

Rhodesian Ridgeback - Rhodesian ridgebacks are strong and sturdy, fast dogs with even temperament. They are loyal to their owners but aloof to strangers.

Kuvasz - The Kuvasz represents another example of dogs fit for guard duty. It is a strongly muscled dog but also intelligent, loyal, and aloof to strangers. It is especially courageous and is even prone to self-sacrifice.

American Staffordshire Terrior - These dogs are strong and agile, as well as very courageous.

Chow Chow - Also strong and highly intelligent. The Chow Chow also does not automatically befriend strangers.

Belgian Sheepdog - These dogs are also strong, intelligent, courageous, alert, and devoted to their owners.

Belgian Malinois - The Belgian Malinois is strong and agile. It is typically aloof with strangers, but affectionate with its adoptive family.

Belgian Teruven - These dogs are also strong and agile. They are intelligent, courageous, and alert. They are protective of their owners.

Dogo Argentino - The Dogo Argentino (Argentine Mastiff) is another strong, intelligent, and even-tempered breed with exceptionally powerful jaws. They also often make good family pets, but can be aggressive towards other dogs.

Tosa Inu - The Tosa Inu will fiercely guard family members, however it rarely barks and therefore does not present a proactive deterrent.

South-African Boerboel - This breed is also large and strong as well as intelligent and obedient. It is noted as a breed that will guard the home without fail, but will only become aggressive when necessary.

Neapolitan Mastiff and Bulldog - These dogs are also very large and strong, as well as imposing. It is loyal to its owner and even-tempered. It is aggressive when necessary.

Cane Corso - Also strong and intelligent as well as brave and loyal, the Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) also makes an excellent pet for the entire family.

Bouvier des Flandres - This dog is not as large as the mastiff or bulldog, but it is strong, intelligent, and alert, as well as even-tempered.

Thai Ridgebacks - The Thai Ridgeback is alert and attentive to its owner. However, it can be difficult to train and needs strong oversight from its owner.

Beauceron - The Beauceron is also strong, intelligent, couageous, and obedient although some will display a degree of independence.

Other dogs noted as suitable for guard duty include the Ca de Bou, Akita Inu, Fila Brasileiro, Ovcharka, and the Dogue de Bordeaux. Other factors that potential dog owners may wish to consider include gender and color. As a general rule, females of many breeds may be less aggressive, however more protective of family members.

Although a dog's color has no direct correlation to its physical gifts or temperament, a darker dog, especially a black one, appears more menacing to would-be intruders. Also if a room or yard is very dark, a dark-colored dog may be difficult for an intruder to discern and make the intruder more hesitant.

Some dogs, such as many kinds of Pit Bull Terrier and the Presa de Canario have been used extensively as guard dogs. However, controversy surrounding these dogs have led many to distance themselves from them. Some jurisdictions have banned the ownership of these dogs altogether.

It is important to note that dog attacks are not a common occurrence and much of the source of aggression in dogs stems from abuse and mistraining by the dogs' owners.

Recommended Breeds as Watchdogs

As stated above, watchdogs and guard dogs differ in that watch dogs only alert their owners when they see a stranger approaching. They neither attack nor attempt to restrain or injure would-be assailants or burglars.

Therefore, the list of recommended watchdogs includes many small breeds that bark liberally but afford no physical protection. They also compensate for a lack of physical prowess with excellent hearing.

Nevertheless, some guard dogs such as Rottweilers and German Shepherds also serve as good watchdogs and should be included in this list (Please reference text for these breeds in the Recommended Guard Dogs section above).Since it is mostly their barking ability that suits them as watchdogs, further explanations of their temperament are beyond the scope of this article.

Recommended breeds include

Scottish Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Miniature Schnauzer

Yorkshire Terrier

Cairn Terrier

Chihuahua

Airedale Terrier

Poodle (standard/miniature)

Boston Terrier

Shih Tzu

Dachshund

Silky Terrier

Smooth Fox Terrier

Wire Fox Terrier

Miniature Pinscher

Less likely, but possibly inclined to bark include the Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdog, Lhasa Apso, Akita, Maltese Terrier, Pekingese, Boxer, Samoyed, English Springer Spaniel, Dalmatian, and Irish Setter.

Dogs to Avoid as Watch Dogs

Some of these dogs may very well make good pets, but their lack of inclination to bark makes them unfit for use as watchdogs. These include the Bloodhound, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Basset Hound, Bulldog, Old English Sheepdog, Clumber Spaniel, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, Pug, Siberian Husky, and Alaskan Malamute.

Care for Your Dog

The realization that you will be responsible for maintaining the well-being of your dog is an important factor when deciding to adopt one. It is important to remember that unlike other security measures such as lighting and fences, a dog is a living, breathing, feeling individual and thus requires and deserves attentive, serious care from its owner.

In addition, like any other investment, the care for your dog will ensure that it will provide you longer lasting security for you and your family.Also your dog will require special needs such as flea treatments and veterinary visits. Their size, demeanor, and disposition notwithstanding, almost every breed of dog requires companionship and love.

Most dogs require companionship and affection from the families and are eager to return it. Dogs not receiving such attention may be prone to psychological trauma. Like children, dogs do not come with instruction manuals. Prospective dog owners should consult experts on the care and well-being of their new dogs. They should also be aware that behavior for puppies will be different from that of full-grown dogs.

Fences are a concern for many dog owners. Those wishing to keep dogs on their property should erect fences high enough to disallow escape. When considering which kind of fence to buy consumers should remember that fences with high visual penetration allow outsiders to taunt dogs located inside the fence."


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Employment

As stated above, if your dog can not get to an area in which an intruder has invaded then it is reduced to a simple watch dog, regardless of the breed.  Crating a puppy at night and while you are gone is common when training it, but if you are still crating it as an adult you have done nothing to enhance your security.  You must make your dog part of the family, giving it free rein of the house if it is to be effective.  Also, keeping your dog fenced in outside will not deter an intruder who wants to enter your home. 

If you are utilizing motion sensors in your home security system, keep in mind that you may have to decide on whether you want your alarm system protecting your house while you are away or your dog.  Most dogs over 40lbs. will trigger motion detectors.  One option may be to crate or restrict your dog’s movement while you are away, leaving your motion sensors on, then turning them off at night and allowing your dog to do the work.  It’s a personal choice. 

Never rely solely on your dog to protect your home.  Use it to warn you of an intruder and stall (if it is a guard dog) him/them while you gather your wits about you and implement your security plan.  Those added seconds could mean the difference.  


p.s.  One breed left out that I feel should be added is the Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Kavkazskaïa Ovtcharka).  These are huge Molossers that are fiercely loyal and protective.  They tend to be more at home in the country or on land where they have freedom of movement.  Ideal for estate protection without groundskeepers unless the dog has been well socialized or knows the groundskeepers.  Below is a description:
"Caucasian Shepherds are typically assertive, brave, alert, strong, hardy and courageous to a fault. They are truly second to none in their bellicosity towards strangers. Unless properly socialized, they may exhibit unmanageable tendencies. They seldom have time for strangers (but will greet family friends warmly) and have extremely powerful guarding instincts. Everything and everyone who belongs to the family, including other dogs will be regarded by this dog as part of its family and as such will fall under its guardianship. Owing to their size and nature these dogs should not be left alone with children. Aggression toward unknown dogs should be expected unless the animal has been extensively socialized at an early age and even then some unwanted behaviors may occur." (Wikipedia)