What's the best way to wake up if someone breaks in? Alarm system or other methods?

I’m a heavy sleeper. I’ve slept through alarms right in my ear before. What can I buy to ensure I wake up before intruders reach my bedroom?

Commenting to come back, I also worry about sleeping through something. A dog would be a good start. They’re more active than most alarm systems.

Desmond said:
Commenting to come back, I also worry about sleeping through something. A dog would be a good start. They’re more active than most alarm systems.

What breed do you recommend?

@Jeremiah
German shepherds have some loud, scary barks.

leecole1 said:
@Jeremiah
German shepherds have some loud, scary barks.

The growl of a German Shepherd in the dark is more frightening than the clack-clack of a shotgun.

@Jeremiah
Almost any dog will bark and alert you. German Shepherds have a great bark and can be great defenders, but they are often challenging dogs to own. I have a bully mix who almost never barks and sleeps through most things. Occasionally he grumbles if someone is being weird in the hallway. But he’s no guard dog despite his breed. My sister’s little dogs would be better protection. So the best dog is one that fits your lifestyle and you actually want, and hope they aren’t one of the few mutes like mine.

I live in an apartment and use a door stop alarm on my door. You push it against the closed door, so if it’s opened, it pushes down and sets off an alarm that would wake my whole building up. They sell them in 2 packs on Amazon. I gave the woman who lives across from me the second one.

@Jeremiah
I have a Great Dane mix, a very good boy. When he gives off ‘fuck around and find out’ vibes, no one wants to argue with him. He has treed a black bear and can catch most cars when he gets worked up. The size of a small horse, he can eat a soccer ball in one sitting. Most fences and doors are only a suggestion.

I think hearing impaired people have pillow/bed shakers, so maybe something like that?

Install any panel you want and add a Potter SSX-52. Only someone who is actually deaf could sleep through that.

My wife and I are super deep sleepers, even with dogs. The only solution that brought sound sleep was upgrading our bedroom door to the specs of an outside door. If people are attempting to kick my bedroom door in, I’m gonna wake up. With a deadbolt and crossbar, you’ve got ample time to get a 12-gauge and vest on should the door come down.

@Model
They also have panic buttons that, with proper planning, will immediately call law enforcement when pressed.

Clint said:
Dog. Rescue mutt.

I don’t know why the downvotes, but a dog works as an alarm and for protection. Read any true crime; the people attacked in their home, regardless of race or gender, all shared the common factor of not having a dog.

@Harley
Yep, and it doesn’t even need to be a Doberman or some big scary dog. Almost all dogs will alert you, except mine, who sleeps through almost everything and never barks. His system settings are off, lol.

Clint said:
Dog. Rescue mutt.

Can confirm. My two shelter dogs bark at all things, real and imaginary.

An additional perimeter alarm (think annoying store door chime) would likely help you. It also gives you time to turn lights on, prep, etc.

If you’re willing to take on the long-term commitment, I’m a woman and I sleep very soundly when I’m home alone because of my dog. She raises hell if someone touches any of our doors or if she hears something on the patio. You’ll also get to know their different types of bark. Like, a raccoon on the patio is a very different bark from a human intruder bark.

Obviously, a dog is a lot more work and more expensive than a gun or alarm system, but you get unconditional love.

I have very poor hearing for someone in his early 30s, so I had to address this exact issue.

For me, the perfect solution was a dog.

Something to keep in mind if considering this option: With the exception of only a few states, you will run into eligibility issues with your homeowners/renters insurance 99% of the time if you get a dog on the ‘Bully Breed’ list. So, Shepherds, Pitbulls, Cane Corsos, Dobermans, etc.

Any Lab mix will do the trick. They have a deep, loud, scary bark and definitely meet the criteria for an alarm/deterrent. The burglar won’t be able to differentiate between a Shepherd’s bark and a Lab’s.

I have a 95lb Lab Retriever-Ridgeback mix, and he’s my perfect little ride or die battle buddy. It could be 2 in the morning, and if someone comes onto my property and even tries opening a door or window, he will alert immediately, and I know this because I’ve tested it.

@RobertWilliams
Meanwhile, I own a bully mix and will come home from going out, and he’s still asleep on the bed. He barks like twice a year. So I have a door alarm for my apartment door.

To add to the Ring alarm, you can program your Alexa devices to flash lights, play really loud music, call family, and so on. Your Ring cameras can link to them, and you can warn people with the cameras automatically or with your own voice before they come into your home.

Reliable PoE Security Camera system with siren alarm + Yolink + Dog.

Want more than that? Hardwire some stuff to your NVR and have a hardwired alarm system and integrate everything together with Home Assistant (creating automations like turning lights on and TV on, etc).