Rural defense

[jmorris]

I use IR motion sensors that alert me inside to movement outside. They work better than anything else I’ve tried. I can’t say I’ve ever had any unwanted humans on our property but it’s the best way to catch unwanted varmints in the act, that I have.

 

[Keith G]

One of our Guineas. Odd creatures they are. I always tell people that whatever created them did a beautiful job on the body, and seemed to have just run out of time on the head.

 

[Keith G]

And sometimes they come to the front door and just stare at us. Weirdos.

 

[DoubleMag]

I scare 90% of people away with my breath. 99% of the other 10% simply haven't heard of my bad breath. Most animals, too. Post office volunteered ***and paid for*** a PO Box under the condition I would do pickups AFTER hours...

Ok back to seriously. What's the ratio of in town to rural break ins again? And does the break in on 12345 Main St Anytown, USA directly mean that certain perp decided to not attack New Country Cornflakes residence at RR2 Hilltucky ? There's only so much you can do for safety whether fire extinguishers, seat belts, or having good door locks, some type of driveway alert i.e. HFreight, police on speed dial, good neighbors to watch- whether living in the country vs. in town. To be dismissive or to be paranoid are opposites, extremes.

 

[ilbob]

We live pretty far out in the country on twenty acres of which 3/4 is fenced in. A Pitt Bull (check your homeowners insurance) and a Doberman.

Most pits and dobes do not make good watch dogs as they are just too friendly. They don't bark a lot either.

A little yapper that makes a lot of noise is probably a better watch dog.

 

[JTHunter]

View attachment 823519 And sometimes they come to the front door and just stare at us. Weirdos.

Are you sure they are looking in and not looking at their reflections?

 

[ilbob]

do you have trouble with black eyed children in your area?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I live on 185 acres about 3/4 of a mile from the county road, and about 13 miles from town. I don't have -- and refuse to have -- "security lights." I do have a pit bull, who is VERY protective, and keep a shotgun by the bed.

 

[SharpDog]

This probably won't apply to you but when I was out in the country, in addition to alarm systems, firearms, etc, I had 9 - 11 200+ lbs mastiffs running inside an 8' electrified fence (approx 3 acres). AFAIK no one broke in ... or at least I never found the remains.

 

[hdwhit]

Balrog asked:
...jurisdiction of the Sheriffs department. Not sure exactly what response time for law enforcement would be if there was a problem. I am thinking about how one would defend oneself there. Its not totally out in the boondocks, but it would definitely take a deputy 15 minutes to get there I would think.

Where I am - at the end of a dirt road, where the telephone company has a line-terminating resistor on the line, where the electric company has a line-terminating resistor on the pole - the average response time for a Sheriff's deputy in the case of a shooting is nearly to 45 minutes. This is mostly the time it takes them to travel to the crime scene. Check with the Sheriff's office in the area where you plan to locate, they should have kept statistics.

In general, in a self-defense situation, whether it be 5 minutes or 45 minutes, you are going to be on your own. Check out what the law requires of you in a self-defense situation and then check with the Sheriff's office about what they expect you to do - and not do. After all, they will be the ones who 1) respond to your self-defense shooting, 2) investigate that shooting, 3) interview the people involved, and 4) recommend charges to the Persecutor.

 

[hdwhit]

Balrog wrote:
...A good dog or two, exterior lighting, fence around the part with the house on it would all be good ideas. Do any people in rural areas have any other ideas on how to harden up property out in the country?

With a dog; whose nose and ears can alert the human with the spear (or bow, or gun), man becomes an Apex Predator. Absent the dog, man is little more than prey - particularly in the developing environment in the United States where Coyotes are inter-breeding with Wolves.

Dog(s) are an essential in my book. They smell and can alert to a threat in time for the human to respond.

Lights can help since both the human and the dog work best in good light.

Good fences make good neighbors. It's been a truism for more than 200 years. But, coyotes are not bothered by fences.

Bottom line; get a large breed dog; German Shepherd, Labrador Retreiver, Golden Retriever, Mastif, etc., of an opposite gender (i.e women should get a male dog and men should get a female) and train it to imprint on you. Don't let it become a lap-dog or a house-hold dog. It should be outside (except in extreme conditions) so it can use the sensors in its nose to warn you of an imminent threat.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

(i.e women should get a male dog and men should get a female)

Why?

 

[easy]

Bottom line; Don't let it become ...a house-hold dog. It should be outside (except in extreme conditions) so it can use the sensors in its nose to warn you of an imminent threat.

I disagree with this part. I have dogs(3) that 'alert' at a fart. Barking and 'alerting' at leaves blowing all night gets quite tiresome and more than a bit annoying. Dog inside will still alert for valid reasons.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I think a lot of folks here dont realize what it is to truly be "rural".

Since we moved rural a year and a half ago the only people we've had at the door are UPS, USPS, FedEx and the neighbor from down the road aways when she received a piece of our mail.

Folks truly in the sticks should be fine with a proper canine. We also have motion lights but theyre probably not necessary.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Two words... Cane Corso. They are downright friendly with family members and when away from home, but when someone comes in their territory uninvited... watch out.

Mine is about 9 years old now, and ever since he was a puppy he has patrolled the fence line every night; actually multiple times a night. He lets me know when anyone (or any thing) gets within 200 yards from any direction; but if I say they are OK, he’s fine with them. Only thing I would change about him would be for him to stop laying on my chest when I change the lawnmower blades.

 

[Old Dog]

For those unaware, the greater PNW, and the Puget Sound region in particular, is a hotbed of drug (primarily meth) and criminal activity -- home invasions are fairly common, and a number of homeowners have shot intruders (quite a few in Pierce County alone) over the past three or four years.

My rural home (on a dead-end road out in the woods) was broken into just once by a couple of tweakers (the alarm activation got them running, they were captured and both did time). We said no mas, and up-graded substantially.

Motion sensor lighting - check, 360 degree yard coverage
HD/PTZ outside security cameras - check, 360 degree yard/drive/entrances
Inside cameras - check, all halls/entrances
Inside alarm motion sensors - check, halls and MBR
Dogs - check, one goofy male GSD, one female police K9 (DP trained) Belgian Malinois, one female Rottweiler/Lab mix
Alarms - check, all windows and doors, SO or state patrol automatically called by alarm company if no response from me

 

[George Dickel]

If you go country, have her include guineas--NO ONE sneaks up on guineas without a lot of racket being made. See point 4 https://morningchores.com/about-guinea-fowl/

Geese also make a pretty good substitute and these are very territorial plus noisy.

My dad kept geese on the farm and they would raise a ruckus when ever any came down the driveway. They would attack you if my dad didn't intervene.

 

[Water Garden]

I have lived rural all my life and about the best response time I can expect from first responders is around 40 minutes. That said, most people accept that we are pretty much on our own regarding immediate action during any crisis. I benefit most from maintaining a good relationship with my neighbors and owning several large dogs. Every door is reinforced and every window has some sort of security film or ornamental iron to bolster its integrity. I also invest heavily in lighting, cameras, fences and gates. I always make sure that I have a vehicle at my home and do my best to appear home ( even when I am not).

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I always make sure that I have a vehicle at my home and do my best to appear home ( even when I am not).

That’s the ticket right there. The idea that some is home will deter all but the hardened criminals or desperate druggies from trying to break in.

And for God’s sake, don’t post selfies from the beach while on a week long vacation. At least until you’re back home.