In order to gauge the severity of any potential threat, you have to time the barking interval. If it lasts longer than three minutes, there may be armed men outside your door. Or they have to pee. So when you open the door to let them out, the thugs can enter.
Not really. If you're looking for home security, get a terrier. They are high on loyalty and low on fear, so if they are barking, there's probably a non-packmate animal around. Some were bred to chase badgers down into their holes and kill them, after all. They're anything but timid.
Pit Bulls are terriers, and one reason they are so popular for lower-income city-dwellers is the manageable danger they present to unauthorized, non-packmate intruders in their range. You do not burgle a house with a Pit Bull or Staffordshire in it, period. And you think twice or thrice for any other type of dog. The fences, warning signs, food, vets, and boarding are very often cheaper in the long run than professional alarm system monitoring or contents replacement insurance.
Sit on the couch? Bark.
Stand up from the couch? Bark.
Phone rings? Bark.
Television channel changes? Bark.
Doorbell rings? BARKBARKBARKBARKBARKBARKYOURHEADASPLODE!
In order to gauge the severity of any potential threat, you have to time the barking interval. If it lasts longer than three minutes, there may be armed men outside your door. Or they have to pee. So when you open the door to let them out, the thugs can enter.
Properly calibrating your dog is important.