27 years and Ive never taken a report of a burglary from a house with a good dog in it. Course dogs can be a pain in the rear. I love em but you gotta feed em, Doctor them, pick up their crap, house them when you go on vacation, listen to them whine. But burglars dont like them.
Had a break in back in Feb. My rather large dog who raises holy hell when anyone comes around somehow did not stop someone from breaking in during broad daylight through a window facing the street.
A dog is no guarantee, whether they pepper sprayed her, hit her with a stick, threw her a piece of meat, they somehow got past her.
The cops said they routinely get past viscous sounding dogs simply by yelling at them. They also said they have seen cases where the guard dog was simply cracked on the head with a bat or something. Unless you have a professionally trained guard dog, don't make the mistake I did by relying on one.
Seriously, I've heard the dog from outside, I never would have dreamed anyone would try to come in that house.
Sure turned out to be a false sense of security.
The MO is this. They will first knock on your door, if you answer they will make up some excuse. Need any yardwork done, have you seen lost cat? etc.
If you don't answer, they will know you aren't home regardless of how many lights or radios are on.
Best bet is iron window bars and security doors IMO.
An inexpensive wall safe to store guns, small valuables is also good.