Dog proofing the home

When was the last time your heard a burglar alarm & immediately dropped what you were doing to call the police? As a rule, the shrill, continual droning of a burglar alarm is the result of someone forgetting to let the cat out, a giant insect disturbing the sensor or basically a power cut.  Seldom are intruders apprehended on the presence of an alarm sounding, so those of us who require to add an additional element of security to our homes need to think past the burglar alarm systems of elderly.

Straying, dog theft & other disasters can cause untold stress to the unfortunate dog owner who must experience the aftermath of a dog going missing. In this comprehensive guide we give you some simple to implement instructions on the way you can make your home more secure and as close as feasible, dog proof.

You also need to be aware that canines don’t need to be in the garden to be tempted by an escape. A front door left open for a couple of seconds could be time for a bored dog to nip out in search of some fun only to get lost or worse, hit by a automobile.

For lots of of us, a dog is part of our household security, but if it is our dog that appears on the shopping list of a burglar the ‘beware of the dog’ sign will only serve as confirmation that the goods are inside.  Dogs being stolen to order is becoming more common, where rare pedigrees are concerned. This does not mean all of us need to shell out thousands on hi-tech intruder systems & James Bond style devices. Any police officer will tell you that your common sense is your best weapon against crime.

Effective home security depends on common sense over all else.  Are points of entry such as doors, windows & skylights blatant commercials to burglars that your home could simple pickings?  The most common point of entry in instances of breaking & entering is a ground floor window, at the rear of a property.

Windows

Double glazing is an obvious security enhancement, but there is usually a window that provides an opportunity. Does toilet downstairs have double glazing, or does it have that frosted glass that obscures the view inside? If it does, that is where your burglar will try to get in first. Nine out of 10 double glazed windows are as useful as no double glazed windows from a security point of view.

If a window can’t be basically smashed, it can often be levered open. John Davies of Everglaze explained why their windows offer an additional element of security.  ‘In independent tests, PVCu used in windows and doors has proven to be the most resistant of materials against break ins. This coupled with state of the art locking systems mean that you can have peace of mind as well as beautiful windows.’

Doors

Back doors are also commons means of break ins. Doors with glass paneling are the most popular for thieves, whereas doors with ‘yieldâ’ locks are the largest deterrent according to Home Office figures. Janette Taylor of Kershaw’s Door Warehouse explained how to select a secure door for keeping canines in & thieves out.   ‘A solid timber fire door is the most secure door you can get aside from the steel ones you see on army bases & in prisons.

The solid timber doors are not that pretty though, but they work by the rule that the door with the least amount of panels is the most secure, a solid timber fire door is piece of wood, so it’s no weak spots. In the event you require something more pleasing to the eye but still comparatively hard & resistant, go for a panel door with mortice & tennon joints.

These are normal looking doors with reinforced joints at the hinge & handle. As far as keeping canines inside you could go for a concealed door closer. The stress of the springs governs the time it takes for the door to close, but you are better off ensuring your dog is safely inside before you open the door, a number of those door closers snap shut quickly’.

Household Security

Canines have been known to escape through ground & first floor windows. There’s sophisticated locking systems obtainable that permit a window to be partially open & locked simultaneously, in the event you require to permit in some air whilst ensuring the window won’t be nudged open.

Elaborate camera & panic systems are effective in identifying intruders & alerting the police, but they seldom make sure your stolen goods are returned. Whilst being effective in improving the percentage of burglars being caught, one time your home has been breached any security measures you have taken become redundant.

Top Home Security Tips for Dog Owners:

    * Make your house unappealing to intruders by keeping it well lit.
    * Make sure all ground floor windows are double glazed, or at least have modern locking systems in place.
    * Make entry difficult by having solid or at least near solid doors.
    * All of the above are useless in the event you don’t use your common sense.
    * Lock doors, close windows & make sure your house does not become a soft target.
    * Don’t leave tools for a burglar in a place where they are visible. Ladders, house bricks & even skipping ropes have been used to break in to houses.

Dog Proof Your Garden

With some cautious preparation and elbow grease, your garden can be escape proof and more importantly it can be intruder proof. The last thing you need to do is spend money ensuring your dog stays on the right side of the fence, only for anyone to jump over & steal him.

The thing that strikes fear in to any dog owner is the thought that their dog may escape from the garden. This is why dog owners take definite precautions such as locking the gate, accompanying their dog when he is in the garden and in some cases actually keeping the dog on lead whilst he goes outside. There’s obvious risks and basically imagined worst case scenarios every time your dog scratches at the back to door to be let out.

Your garden doesn’t have to be a fortress.  Attractive and modern garden features can be made out of the most practical & functional elements of a garden. Ensuring that your garden combines security with style is not an simple combination, but it is feasible.

There’s main areas that provide security within your garden, the perimeter (fences & walls), the landscape (the layout, position of trees, ponds & other features) & the lighting (Deliberate lighting such as motion activated security lights as well as strategic positioning of trees & walls to permit for more light). Each of these areas provide focal points for any garden, adding character & charm as well as serving a practical function.

Perimeters

A determined dog can dig under a fence or even negotiate his way over. Since a tall fence may look displaced in some gardens, think about making access to the fence less tempting to a dog. Water features such as ponds and waterfalls can prevent a dog getting sufficient access to a fence to facilitate an escape.  Bushes and shrubs can perform a similar function whilst being cheaper and providing colour.  Hedging plants like hawthorn make excellent protection as farmers use them for their hedgerows in their fields as they are livestock proof – but they will take time to grow.

It imperative for the secure garden that the fence goes far in to the earth to prevent a dog from digging out.

In case you require to keep your dog away from definite parts of the garden, a fence with wood panels is an option.

Landscape

Restricting access to points of exit is key to achieving a secure garden. A well positioned pond or rockery can be more effective than an imposing fence or wall. Combined with an effective wall they can be doubly effective. The trick is to think like a dog. How would your dog try to escape? A rockery elevating a dog half way up a fence can do more harm than good in stopping an escape, and can also permit for ease of access for any would be intruder.

Tall trees provide an additional element to your perimeter. But they also reduce the amount of light getting in to your garden. A dark, concealed fence is a ideal entry point for an intruder, whereas a pond positioned underneath the lowest point of any fence or wall provides an additional hindrance for any intruder or potential escapee.

Lighting

Lighting is important for security of both house & home. Having placed motion detecting lights strategically around your garden (the cost of which obviously depends on the size of your garden) can be sure that any thieves are deprived of the cover of darkness. Lighting is often used as a deterrent to the opportunist thief.

Lighting can add style & beauty to any garden. Think about placing upwards pointing spot lamps underneath a tree or in a border. Make your garden look larger by arranging your lighting in the corners of your garden or at any elevated points such as a rockery or raised decking.

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