Do dogs stop burglars or only attack posties ?

[templek]

I remember a report by an insurance company which showed properties with dogs have the same rate of burglaries than those without. This made me think. I dont think i have ever heard of a guard dog catching or attacking an intruder or burglar. Im sure it must happen but i have never heard. However one keeps hearing of dogs attacking children, posties, delivery workers, health visitors etc. So are they a deterrent? I am sure experienced burglars know how to get round guard dogs, dont they use pepper or food drugged with sleeping pills etc?
I have heard of local yobbos pelting attacking pit bulls with bricks and the dogs then run off.

So are they offer some psychological comfort and not actual deterrance?

[eastie]

I live on my round and some dogs on my round who growl at me in uniform dont growl at me when in my own clothes.
Perhaps its the red bag or the headware that dogs dont like ?

[Redyam]

Definitely a deterrent. Would you walk into a house with a huge alsatian growling and barking at you?

The little yappy dogs wouldn't stop anything though.

[DGP1]

My dogs are just pets, if you want a guard dog then you need to train it to defend your property.

[fng]

My wife works in education in a prison. She is often told by the lads that a dog wont stop them.

Apparently beef jerky is the thing to carry.

Offered to the dog, they will either stop to eat it or at least stop to smell whats being handed out.

That stops the barking and gives the thief time to make a fuss of the dog and be life long buddies.

[Darren Bent]

It also could tell the Burglar this house had something worth stealing.

[andy2007]

Almost all the people I know who have dogs, have them as family pets, not guards. There's little point in having one to guard your house in Britain, as if it attacks an intruder, you'll most likley be prosecuted, and the dog will be put down. For reasons that I fail to comprehend. Criminals have the right to protection from violence. Whether it's from a person, or an animal.

[fng]

Almost all the people I know who have dogs, have them as family pets, not guards. There's little point in having one to guard your house in Britain, as if it attacks an intruder, you'll most likley be prosecuted, and the dog will be put down. For reasons that I fail to comprehend. Criminals have the right to protection from violence. Whether it's from a person, or an animal.

But the tide is turning..... there have been 4 high profile cases this year alone where the intruder has been "attacked" and then died and the homeowner has had no case to answer due to proportionate self defence.

[andy2007]

True. But dogs can't understand reasonable force, unless they're highly trained. And even then, it's debatable whether they actually understand what reasonable force is. Or if they're just following their training.

Also, for someone to be deemed to have used reasonable force. They have to be in imminent danger. For example: Someone threatening them with a weapon, or actually attacking them. You CAN'T attack someone for simply being in your home, even if they're loading a van up with your belongings.

[fng]

Hence my use of the term"tide turning" rather than tide turned (ie we are getting there slowly) and "Proportionate self defence" rather than "pre emptive attack"

[andy2007]

Sorry, I misunderstood your post.

[fng]

Sorry, I misunderstood your post.

No worries mate

[TeeferTiger]

I think it's the hi viz tbh. When I first got my St John Ambulance gear (including my fluorescent jacket) and came back home, my dog went berserk until he realised it was me.

Burglars don't tend to wear hi viz vests for some reason

Some dogs just can't be arsed... these are the dogs that sleep through earthquakes-like my Mum's dog did in 2005!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Burglars don't tend to wear hi viz vests for some reason

One did - http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... nt#p186895" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and he was an ex-postman

[TeeferTiger]

Burglars don't tend to wear hi viz vests for some reason

One did - http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... nt#p186895" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and he was an ex-postman

What a tit.