Do you have a pet or dog door? If so, it’s essential to ensure it is secure against break-ins. A pet door can be an easy target for thieves, and it’s important to take the necessary steps to protect your home and your pet. In this article, we will discuss some of the best ways to secure your pet door against break-ins.
Before I get in trouble with any pet owners, when I’m talking about a pet door, I also mean a cat door or dog door or whatever pet you want to give easy access 🙂 A pet door, while super convenient, can offer burglars easy access to your home, so it’s important to take measures to secure it when you’re away. The tips below could help deter burglars and keep your home safe.
How to choose the best pet door?
Choose the right pet door for your needs by factoring in the pet door size, security features, and installation location.
Most pet doors are made of flimsy plastic that can be easily ripped open by a determined intruder. If you’re looking for a pet door that offers some sort of security, choose a pet door that is made of strong materials. If you already have one, think about reinforcing your pet door by adding a metal or wooden frame around it.
It is also important to choose the right size. If your dog is not a Great Dane, you don’t need the biggest pet door available. The door opening should be large enough for your pet to get in and out comfortably, but it does not need to be bigger than your pet. Ultimately, we still want to prevent an adult or young person from getting through.
Regarding security features, look for pet doors with locks or other mechanisms to help prevent forced entry. Some pet doors even come with a security panel. This is a piece of metal or plastic that covers the pet door when it’s not in use. It’s a simple way to make your pet door much more difficult to break into.
You can also find security panels for pet doors at most pet stores, or you can order one online. They’re easy to install and give you an extra layer of protection against burglars.
Where to install a pet door?
One of the best options would be to install the pet door at a location that is not visible from the street. Ideally, it would be the backside of your house. In addition, you might want to conceal or cover the entrance with something like bushes or a doghouse with a back opening to avoid having the opening to your house right in plain sight. Criminals are looking for easy targets, so don’t give them one.
Door or Wall installation?
If I had to choose, I would always prefer a wall instead of an exterior door. With an exterior door, depending on the size of your pet and the pet door, intruders could have an easy way to reach inside and open the door. Even if they can’t get inside, it will give them an opening to insert tools to possibly open the door.
With a wall, you could choose any place in your house and have more options available. You could even designate a specific room for the pet door, which gives you an additional interior door to lock if needed.
Proper installation
One of the best ways to prevent a pet door break-in is to install it properly in the first place. This means ensuring that it’s installed securely in a door or wall and not just put in loosely. A pet door that’s not installed correctly is an easy target for burglars. While I could give more general suggestions on how to install a pet door, it would be best to follow the manufactures instructions.
If you’re unsure about how to install a pet door, it’s best to hire a professional. They’ll be able to do it quickly and correctly, so you can rest assured that your pet door is secure.
Tips to keep your pet door safe
In addition to the tips for choosing the best pet door, please take a look at the additional suggestions below.
Keep the pet door locked when you are not at home
This might sound inconvenient, but this could help in preventing anyone from breaking in and gaining access to your home in a very easy way. If you have a pet door that is not lockable, consider replacing it with a lockable one or check if you can upgrade it with a security panel.
Conceal the pet door
If you are leaving for an extended period, for example, for vacation, take the extra step and conceal the pet door if possible. Just put something in front of it so that the door is not easily spotted.
Access control
Another way to secure your pet door is by installing an automatic pet door opener. This type of product will open the pet door only when your pet is nearby, using either a unique collar key or an infrared sensor. This will also prevent any animals that don’t live in your household from being able to enter your home through the pet door.
Home Security
You may also want to consider installing a security camera near the pet door to deter would-be burglars and keep an eye on things while you’re away. At the same time, you might also want to install motion-activated lights near the pet door.
Maintenace
As with every other door, make sure to regularly check the pet door for signs of wear and tear. Replace the pet door if it becomes damaged or worn out.
In addition to this, you should also ensure that your pet is microchipped and registered with the local authorities. This will help them to identify your pet if they ever get lost or stolen – which has happened quite a couple of times.
Conclusion
By following these tips and suggestions, you can choose a pet door that will offer both convenience and security for you and your pet. Do you have any other tips for choosing a pet door? Please share them in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more ways to secure your home against break-ins, check out our blog post on home security tips.
– Stay safe!