[Vicegrip]

all kidding aside don't get a dog unless you want a dog. If you happen to want a dog they do seem to have some deterent for low level B&E types. Deterent is key. Things like putting a "Ima gun owner" sign out is 100% not a deterent, it is a come on. Hand guns are the gold standard of small easy to fence stuff the B&E types are after. A gun is nothing but a chunk of easy to fence metal unless you are home to use it and the B&E boys are not hitting you when you are home.

Door and window to base unit systems are OK and offer warning when you are home. Motion based setups have advantages in setup but are no good if you have large enough pets and when home.

Door, window and some motion sensors with DVR video recording and cell backed up call out. Set up for video to record in light and IR all motion all stations inside and out when the alarm is set. Hide real DVR or secondary hard drive and leave live hooked up looking but not primary one for the pro to find.

For some reason standard res systems are often crappy hardware and the security co's that focus mostly on res tend to do sucky work. Look into com grade systems and methods.

You can get mon for the video too. While you are away the system transmits video feed to mon co. If there is a pixel change the cam in question pops up for them to see and check into. They see the bad dood (or dog or wind blown plastic bag or deer or kid from down the street looking for his baseball) in your side yard before any lights or alarms go on. Cuts way down on false hits and grumpy cops.