Crimes of opportunity such as smash and grabs and easy pickings from open garages are not drastically lower unless the dog is outside with the owner. Home burglaries, esp. while the house is empty, however, are dramatically fewer when dogs are present.
I even read a story about a convict who admitted to being terrified of ANY dog, including when the bark indicated a smaller breed. His excuse, as I recall, was “Them small dogs bite the worst!”
I guess in a way I’d rather be mauled by a mastiff than chewed up by a chihuahua.
I live in Hillbilly Heaven where *everybody* is armed to the teeth.
Being alerted by the family dog always means being shot at by the family of hicks.
However, the people who were eventually caught were “flatlanders” from the city who may have not really understood that.
Although they are all my “own kind”, I would not dream of invading a hillbilly’s space, uninvited.
People up here in the hills are kinda funny.
:)
[frankly, I would prefer dogs to being attacked by *geese*]
LOL