Having a pet door may be critical to ensure that your furry friend's movements are not restricted when they need to go to the bathroom, but it does come with the drawback of providing an additional access point for intruders. Perceptive burglars have now taken to targeting pet doors as their primary point of entry since they are less secure than windows and main entrances. Nevertheless, this does not mean that your pet would not have to go without having a door or that you should leave your residence open to this risk. Below are handy tips that could help make sure that your pet door is not a security risk for your home.

Resist from installing a pet door on the main door

The typical location for pet doors is within other entries. And although this may seem logical, it does work to make your door easier to breach. When the pet door is installed inside another door, intruders could simply access the locks on the primary door through the opening. Instead, it would be better to have your pet door constructed through a wall. Additionally, have the door fitted a reasonable distance from any windows or other doorways so that potential intruders do not have a chance to access your internal locks.

Embrace smart technology

Another way to make your pet door an asset to your home rather than a security risk would be to embrace the technology available in securing these entryways. Modern pet doors can now be fitted with electronic locking systems that would need the use of chip for the door to unlock. The chip can then be installed directly into your dog's collar. Whenever your pet approaches the door, it opens automatically and grants them access in and out of your home. The main thing to note about this smart technology is that it will cost more than most traditional door flaps, but it does make a worthwhile investment for the security of your home. 

Install a security alarm

Your first thought about a pet alarm for your pet door would probably be that it would be a nuisance for your entire household each time your pet walks through the entryway. The truth of it is that these pet alarms do not work in that manner. To have a pet alarm fitted, you would need your dog's weight measured. Sensors are then put into the pet door, and they are triggered whenever anything above the weight on record tries to gain access through the doorway. Not only would this alert you to potential intruders, but you would also get a heads up regarding any unwanted animals.