Each person has their own taste as far as a pistol goes. I prefer a revolver for safety reasons. Less chance of an unwanted DC and if loaded it's still ready to go otherwise. Teach family members firearm safety starting with kids at Toddler age. Teach older members from about 12 on up self defense.
Get a good dog. It doesn't have to be a Pit Bull, Dobie, or the likes. I use Two Ratty Security. They are accurate, alert me to things going on I can't hear {I'm half deaf, and there's no liability concerns. Smaller dogs are also easier to deal with living inside.
Next thing is security monitoring for detecting unwanted guest before they even get to your door. How expensive? How effective? How High Tech? I keep it simple. For about $15 a pop Harbor Freight sells battery powered Bunker Hill motion sensors and you can buy them to where they are on the same channel or different channels. By placing the receiver in separate locations from others you can tell where the perp is. Place them in positions the intruder has to pass by to enter the home. One drawback is animals sometimes set them off. Other drawback IMO is they are white so I use a Sharpie and change the color to that of where I'm placing it. Do not color the lens.
Next is real important and often the most overlooked and that is lighting. The idea is to discourage someone from wanting to try and break in. Outside lighting is the downfall in many cases. I use flood lights PAR 38 I think it is at about 90 watts because 120 watts is hard to find. A good energy saving alternative is a couple of well placed street lights. Don't skimp on the wattage. I like the floodlights because it puts perp at disadvantage of having to look into them. Next is indoor lighting. I keep about four lights on all night in a 1200 sq ft home. None of the lights are in direct line of sight from the bed. IOW I can see into the living room enough to identify anyone but they would have difficulty seeing me. The lighting doesn't blind me. Lighting gives you better aim conditions and really is a good idea in event of other issues such as a fire.
Other than that I make it difficult but not impossible to gain entry. The perp will have to make lots of noise which triggers the Two Terrier Home Security System LOL.
LOL...I can relate.
We have the Corgi [with ears like a bat] security system...that dog has hearing like no dog we've ever had before and she let's us know it.
Good post we have done most of those same things We don’t have motion sensors outside but we do have lights in and outside the house. A good monitored alarm system and a neighborhood patrolman who is an off duty HPD. We have 4 dogs which is better than 2. 3 are JRT’s and one is blind so his hearing is fantastic. The 4th is a big fat hound dog with a deep bark. All 4 dogs sleep in our bedroom......... NO ONE is going to sneak up on us.
Oh yeah, we are armed. :)
All good points in your advice. I only dissagree with lights on in the house. I want my house dark. I know where everything is, I assume a perp is less familiar and doesn’t have night vision goggles.
But as you say, I expect to be waiting for them by the time the finally get into the house. Soon after, there should be only some paperwork and mess to clean up.