Since the ancient times, man has used methods such as a 'guard' animal, body guards, gates, and locks to protect him of anyone trying to harm him or steel his valuables.
Some of these methods are still used today.
How many people do you know who have a dog in their home? Have you seen a compound with a security guard at the entrance? With the advances in technology, residential home security has come a long way in the last 30 years and has made it more accessible and cheaper for people to get home security systems.
We hear all the advertising about how important it is to have a house alarm system.
But is that really true? Before you jump in and purchase one, you need to understand what are the advantages and disadvantages related to a house alarm system.
Advantages:

• 24/7 Monitoring- a representative from the security company is monitoring your home in real-time and will report any break-ins to the authorities right away.
  
• Signage-residential home security companies will give you signs to put on your windows.
  Statistics show that 60% of burglars will avoid breaking into homes with visible signs as they may not get enough time to take your possessions.
  
• Alarm - if a burglar breaks into your home, a loud alarm could frighten them away.
  
• Two-way voice response- using the two -way voice repose, representatives from the security company can hear what is going on in the premise and can assist you in getting help.
  
• Call Buttons on the Control Panel - with one touch of the button, you the police, fire department etc.
  are dispatched to your home.
  

Disadvantages:

• Dependence on a Phone Line- If your residential home security system is hooked up to you landline, if your line is cut, then your alarm system is useless.
  People can get around that by signing up for wireless service or having a back-up number with the home security company.
  
• Power Outages - During a power outage or if a thief intentionally cuts your power, your house alarm system will not work.
  Some monitoring companies will call you to ensure everything is alright or will have a back-up plan, but this has to be part of your service, otherwise you are stuck.
  
• Improper Installation- if you are installing it yourself, or have a small local security company doing it for you, the most common mistake is to put the control panel, siren and keypad all in one place.
  If a burglar breaks-in, and there is a delay before your alarm will go off, they can rip out the whole thing from the wall and no signal will be sent to the security company.
  

So what is better a dog or a house alarm system? Overall, it seems like it is better to have a residential home security system and by understanding the pitfalls, you can ask your security company to address them so you are getting the right security to meet your individual needs.
But that is for you to decide.