Tips to Keep Your Pets from Tripping Up Your Security System

Security systems are becoming a necessity for every home day by day. Ever-increasing population and crime rate are becoming a challenge not only for law agencies, but also for citizens. Burglary and theft cases are on the rise since the last few years.

You can never be too careful and require a fool proof security system that provides protection to you, your family and your assets. Many security providers now provide complete security systems covering your entire home, from your driveway to your living room.

The latest innovations in the field of security devices provide a wide range of sensors complemented by surveillance cameras and alarm systems that can protect every inch of your home. Motion sensors in particular have found extensive application in the field of security and are available in a wide range based on their detection methodology, range of detection and their sensitivity.

However, many of the motion sensors cannot distinguish between humans and animals. If you have pets at home then your pets can also trigger your security alarms and make your life difficult. Moreover, you may end up confusing an intruder with your pet which is obviously dangerous. In order to avoid this, you can learn from the following tips.

Install pet friendly motion detectors 

If you are about to install a security system in your home, you can select infra-red motion sensors that are pet immune. These detectors only detect motion of animals which weigh more than 80 lbs. Some can even be adjusted to reduce this threshold to 40 lbs. One such system is being offered by ADT which is best for bigger pets. You may want to weigh your pet before adjusting the sensitivity of your motion sensors.

Have a proper & intelligent security layout planning

You can get programmable security systems installed and you can schedule the timing of detection. If your pets have a set routine then you can adjust your system to ignore movement during that particular time of the day. However, this would not be without risk. This system is being offered by numerous companies and one such brand is Simplisafe which can help you schedule scanning time and will also ignore pets lighter than 50 lbs.

Install face-detection security cameras indoor & outdoor 

Some security cameras come with the feature of face detection and you can feed pictures of known faces, human and non-human, so that the alarm does not activate whenever a known face or your pet breaks the motion sensor’s circuit.

Identify the best access points

Another way of minimizing the triggering of your security system because of your own pet is to place your sensors in places where they are not easily accessible to your pets. For instance, if you have a pet cat, you can install your sensors higher than waist level. This would obviously not eliminate the possibility of false alarms all together and would vary according to the type of pet you have.

If you have outdoor pets, you may want to install outdoor security cameras with face detection features. Installing a doggie door in your home would also be a good idea so that your dog uses it, instead of any access point where you have installed motion sensors. You can also consider installing an automatic door for your pet which can be activated by a chip fixed in your pet’s collar.

Provide them proper care & grooming 

If your pets are jittery or aggressive, or simply naughty, the chances of false triggering are much higher. You may want to consider the probable reasons for their anxiety, such as unclean environment or inadequate diet, etc. You can also use pet products that reduce anxiety. If you have dogs, you can use dog’s wellbeing products such as a pet deodorizer. One such innovative business is Propooch which provides grooming and wellbeing products for your dogs.

Monitoring the behavior of your pets

Monitoring pet behavior is very important. Pets cannot talk, but would let you know through their actions and behavior if there is anything disturbing them. Some pets require more socializing than others. If you have long work hours you may want to install an audio communication system for your pets with which you can communicate with them. Their hygiene and grooming is absolutely essential for developing their behavior.

Sync Live Surveillance to Keep an Eye

Many security systems allow you to sync live surveillance with your cell phones. This allows you to constantly monitor your home and your pets whether you are at work or on a trip. You do need a 24 hour uninterrupted wifi connection for this. You can even turn off alerts and alarms when you know that it’s your pet who is causing them instead of an intruder.

Security companies that provide 24 hour surveillance for a subscription fee can ensure that even if false alarms are triggered they are accounted for. However, please note that when using infra-red motion sensors, these sensors detect heat and send alerts accordingly. They cannot differentiate between animals and humans.

Identify safe position for your motion sensors

 

 If your pets are in the habit of jumping onto things, hanging on the drapes, throwing stuff around, you can try keeping temporary barriers between and the access points of your security system. 

Train your pets to regard the sensors

Training your guard dog to work with your security system will be a perfect security combination. Try providing better training to your pets so that they learn to avoid detection areas. You can groom them so that they do not create unnecessary alarms or at least such incidents are minimized.

Conclusion 

Pets and security systems with motion sensors can co-exist if you follow the above tips. You can minimize false alarms triggered by security systems by installing them intelligently. Your pets will have to be trained a bit as well and you will have to be vigilant to make necessary changes when required.