[entropy12]

I recently saw an interview with a reformed burglar and he said, a loud barking dog kept him away every time from that house.

You can have a howitzer at home, but if the intruder surprises you in sleep, he has the upper hand.

[Brandybux]

I recently saw an interview with a reformed burglar and he said, a loud barking dog kept him away every time from that house.

Well, we do have the barking dog -- three of them, in fact, so perhaps we've gone in for overkill. Still, while the dogs bark, they are NOT guard dogs. Anyone offering them a treat gets a big doggie welcome.

We've relied on pepper spray -- the really nasty brand used by police forces -- and it has its own advantages and disadvantages. I don't really relish using it against someone inside a house ... blowback, and general pollution, dontcha know.

With the pepper spray AND the Judge I've got some options. The dogs help, I'm sure. I just can't depend on them if the bad guy is determined, hopped up on crack, or whatever.