My five (two Pits, a Beagle, a German Shepherd and an Australian Shepherd) use my sewing time to be extra-vigilant about alarming me about what's going on in the neighborhood.....including when one of their own cats gets up from a nap in the driveway and walks in the yard. That alone is good for letting me know there is major danger starting!!!!! We are on an in-out schedule and unless somebody is acting frantic, we stick with the schedule. (Something I learned as a middle school teacher!)