Hello everyone,
As our world evolves and technology becomes more embedded in our lives, many of us use it to make our lives easier and safer.
For example, from the click of a button, we're able to see whether our guests have checked in depending on which safety measures you use (e.g. smart lock). Perhaps, you might even already have received a notification on your phone informing you of this!
In my neighbourhood, I've noticed the popularity of doorbell cameras. Surely, having such a device fitted will bring some form of safety and convenience, as some doorbell cameras enable you to communicate through them when you’re not at home! However, whilst having technology is great, I understand that sometimes technology can't always be applied to a home.
What do you have in place to keep your home secure, and which tips would you share with fellow Hosts?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Quincy
We have the greatest security device known to mankind. It never fails, nothing gets passed it undetected. Not only does it warn of impending trouble, it scares that impending trouble away!
It's our Aussie Shepherd dog Betts......
She is on duty 24 hours a day and the second anyone arrives on the property she lets out a howl that would wake the dead.
here is what I say to guests to warn them in my welcome message......
She is the loveliest gentle creature but, she is a shepherd.....she needs to alert the farmer when there is an intruder in the flock.
Although we live in a very crime free area where security is not a really high priority and many nights I do not even bother to lock the car.....some nights I have even left my wallet on the seat (not intentionally) but we feel secure that if there was a potential security risk, Betts would take care of it without us having to lift a finger.
Cheers........Rob
@Quincy Rob is spot on. For us our best deterrent is a Black Lab called Gordie. He is the softest creature going but can look quite daunting. He doesn't have Betts intuition for guarding, but I know his alarm bark (it is normally a deer strolling into the garden though). He also think that all our guests are here just to see him. He is rather special.
I know this is not the intent of @Quincy 's thread and we are getting off topic, but I want to tell it!
Yeah Ruth, Betts just loves guests because, guests mean food treats and pats. She's totally non-judgmental, she accepts every human as a new friend. She sits at the front gate and waits for the next guests to arrive......
But because of her welcoming bark I need to forewarn incoming guests that she will go into alarm mode as soon as she hears a car door shut out the front.
But some guests are afraid of dogs and are hesitant on arriving so, I have to give them good warning on my listing page and welcome message.
The thing about a dog that an electronic device can never do.....they are adaptive, they asses situations, sometimes with amazing consequences.
We had a one week booking from Nick and Hannah from London back in 2016. In his booking message he said his only reservation was, Hannah had been bitten by a dog as a youngster and had a life long canine fear. I told him I had a family member living 1.5 Kms away from here, I was quite happy to take Betts over there for the week but, Nick said, "Well lets see how we go", he explained the situation to Hannah and they were prepared to 'test the water' as it were.
The strangest thing happened Ruth....when Nick and Hannah arrived Betts just sat at the back door, wagged her tail but did not make a sound and did not rush to greet them as she would other guests!
What sort of sense do animals have that enables them to do something like that?
On the third afternoon of their stay we were all sitting around an outside table and Betts came up and just sat between Hannah and Ade, just sat there. After a while Hannah pushed a biscuit across and off the table which Betts gobbled up, that was it, nothing further.
On Thursday afternoon Hannah asked if she could come out with me while I threw the ball for Betts to retrieve as I do every afternoon. Hannah threw the ball a few times and Betts bought it back to her feet each time.....a definite bond was forming.
When they left on Saturday Hannah gave Betts a pat and said her personal goodbye to Betts.
Here was the review that Nick left for their stay........
This dog is a solution to every problem....
She is a faithful companion.
She is an intruder alarm.
She creates affection.
And she is a wonderful psychologist.
Cheers........Rob
