Dog owners the world over often remark on the power of their dog’s bark—one swift whoof and any would-be burglar takes a hike. But when it comes to fully protecting your family and belongings, should you really be leaving your trust in the paws of the family pet? We take a look at the downsides of how even the toughest of dogs can easily fall victim to a smart burglar.

Simon Says

Have you ever commanded a dog you’ve never met before to sit? What happens more often than not is they’ll respect your command. Should a burglar present himself as the alpha of the home, your dog may turn from an aggressor to a smiling pup. It’s not uncommon for police K9’s to be taught commands in a foreign language to avoid this very problem.

What’s in the box? What in the box?!

The classic cartoon setup of a robber warding off a guard dog with steak isn’t too far off; sometimes even the best of guard dogs succumb to their own taste buds. And if you shake a bag of treats before you give one to your dog, this may be the perfect setup for a robber. The operant conditioning of the sound being followed by a treat can click a dog’s brain over from bite mode to obey mode.

Close to Home

It may sound far-fetched, but it happens: a robber could be your acquaintance, friend, co-worker or even family member. If your dog already knows them, how much of a barker will your dog be? Will they alert you? Or will they be happy to see their friend and forgo their post for a rub on the belly? It’s a serious matter to consider.

Your dog likely isn’t the best security for your home, especially when compared to a state-of-the-art security system from SEi. With a live video feed to your smartphone, a direct line to the local authorities and a 24-hour monitoring center, a security system from SEi is heads (and tails) above the security a dog can offer. That’s not to say they aren’t welcome additions to your SEi system.