Is doggy door truly a safety risk?

[19-3Ben]

I was talking with my wife. We are getting a new dog. We were thinking of putting in a doggy door. Now, normally, I'd think that having a hole in a door would be a security risk. But. we would only need a 1'x1' doggy door. I don't think any bad guys can slip through that. It's really a pretty small hole. Unless the bad guy has a trained imp that the can throw through the doggy door, it's not like the hole is going to help him at all.
Also, the door would be reinforced. Door jamb-armor, solid door, etc... So no issue with weakness of the door.

On the other hand I can't shake the feeling that this would be a seriously bad idea. I mean, a hole of any size in an exterior door seems like a serious breach.

I hope that this is an ok question to post since it has to do with home security, even though it's not directly firearms related.

 

[heeler]

Well a 1'x1' foot door is very small for most men to get through but not for some 13 year old delinquent with larceny on his mind.
A now deceased old friend of mine woke up one night with an intruder in his home and he came in through a doggy door that was slightly bigger than the one you mentioned.

 

[Old Shooter]

On the one hand it probably is a security risk to some degree but a 1'x1' opening would probably be more likely to invite some of the local wildlife inside (skunks, racoons squirrels, mice/rats, etc).

If I was casing a house and saw a doggie door with a big water dish and a couple of large, gnawed femurs nearby, I'd probably go elsewhere for my own safety.

The door would indicate a dog inside that would complicate any plans for a break-in.

 

[uspJ]

i never had one myself but a coworker mentioned to me once that his dog door was controlled by the dog collar, when the collar got close to the door it would allow the dog to pass through, once through the door would lock itself back. i don't know how much they cost, or where you get them but i'm sure a little interweb research should bring up something.

 

[Sav .250]

More than sized challenged people can come threw that doggie door.

 

[robmkivseries70]

It's not uncommon eg. "Oliver!" for the crook to have a kid get in a small window, doggie door etc. and open the main door. I'd sure look at securing it somehow with that weakness in mind.
Best,
Rob

 

[Thedub88]

I agree with uspj. They make doors that are solid, hinge at the top, and are locked until the coller comes within a foot of the door.

 

[aka108]

We stopped by my Dad's for a visit one time when the kids were small. He was out, house was locked. One of our kids went thru the doggydoor, opened the reqular door and we were in.

 

[DeepSouth]

Windows are made of glass. If they want in they will get in, it's just not that hard to do.


They do make doggy doors that lock, some even lock and unlock using an electronic chip on your dog's collar.

 

[R. Deckard]

+1 on what oldshooter said. If they know a dog is in the house they will most likely move on and not take the risk. Even if it is just a little dog that can bark. We also have "Beware of Dog" signs on all three gates to enter the back yard which is a good deterent.

Deckard

 

[heron]

I'd think it hilarious if some BG stuck his head through the doggie door and then the dog on the inside started chewing hunks off his face -- even better if there were another dog on the outside to go to work on him from the other end!

Seriously, though, get one that locks. If it's electrically locked, make sure it's fail-safe -- if your power goes out, it should stay locked.

 

[Scrapperz]

I had 1 foot by 1 foot doggie door and I know from experience if left open you welcome other critters in your home even if your dog is a true protector,LOL. Raccoons and snakes have no problem with sneaking in around rover.

 

[Crawford]

It may also depend on where you live. As both Scrapperz and Old Shooter said, wild life could be more of a problem. There was a case in Colorado a few years back where these yups had moved up to the mountains and thought is was interesting to watch the kitty cat (read that as lion) on the deck during supper. Turns out the cat was looking at their collie for supper and came through the doggie door to get it.

 

[JHK94]

We stopped by my Dad's for a visit one time when the kids were small. He was out, house was locked. One of our kids went thru the doggydoor, opened the reqular door and we were in.

I have also done this...well, I was the kid, but nevertheless!

Windows are made of glass. If they want in they will get in, it's just not that hard to do.

This is true, but having someone go in through the doggy door and unlock the door is silent and leaves no obvious damage. If you see a window broken, you are going to notice quick, but it might not be as obvious to you, or your neighbors, if someone got in via the dog door.

 

[BULLSI]

A friend of mine got ripped off through the doggie door a few years ago. For my dog I would need a big door and wouldnt do it. Was thinking about making one for the screen door as he likes to go in and out and I dont like the bugs getting in here.

 

[Cosmoline]

But. we would only need a 1'x1' doggy door. I don't think any bad guys can slip through that.

Don't bet on it! Just last week a tweaker who was cuffed in the back seat of a cruiser managed to flip the cuffs around to the front and squeeze through a tiny opening between the back and front seats, then nearly drove off with the officer's car before being noticed and subdued. I don't know the exact dimensions of the little window between the front and back seats of those cruisers, but it's pretty small.

As far as the presence of a dog, there are plenty of criminals who either don't think that far ahead or have enough experience to know that fido is not a serious threat. Esp. one coming from a dog door that small.

 

[CoRoMo]

It's not necessarily or only about getting through the doggy door. Some guys probably could do it, some couldn't.

Could a burglar reach up and unlock that door by using the doggy door hole? That's something to consider.

The doggy door in this video is definitely narrower than 12", but that doesn't stop the teenager.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_66rz9vpq0
But surely no criminal could do the same thing, right?

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

i could get through that hole till i turned 42

 

[WharfRat]

Then again, things don't always go as planned.

Man Found Dead, Stuck In Cat Door

http://www.news4jax.com/news/14577366/detail.html

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Don't do it. Dogs can be trained.

 

[WardenWolf]

Those locking doggy doors are really intended to deter things like raccoons and other dogs. They typically have magnetic locks or plastic catches, things designed to appear like a solid wall to an animal and be resistant to basic pushing. They could easily be kicked in. Keep in mind that these things also create a hole in your door that can easily be expanded in a few minutes with a saw. That wouldn't make much noise or attract too much attention if it's in your backyard. A 1 foot by 1 foot door could quickly become something larger.

Also, a person only need fit their head and 1 arm through the hole to potentially gain access to your home. If he can reach the doorknob or handle, he may be able to unlock it. With a simple tool, he could also easily knock the hingepins out and gain access that way.

 

[uspJ]

if a person wants in your home, they can easily get in without a doggy door. unless you have bars over your windows and a steel gate over your doors the average burglar will still be able to get inside relatively quick and easily. if you want a dog door get one the risk it adds to me is downright negligable.

 

[19-3Ben]

I knew I'd get great answers by asking here.

Thanks so much guys. I had never heard of the electronic locking doors. I like the idea. I have looked around, and it seems that there are some that are relatively weak and could be easily kicked in (as Mike the Wolf brought up.) But then there are ones that seem much stronger.
I'll do more research, but now I at least have a basis for not completely nixing the idea of a doggy door as I had done in the past.
Thank you all so much!

 

[Mandolin]

I'd think it hilarious if some BG stuck his head through the doggie door and then the dog on the inside started chewing hunks off his face -- even better if there were another dog on the outside to go to work on him from the other end!

Anyone else remember when the bad guy in Home Alone stuck his head in the doogy door and got shot? Unless the bad guy is 12 years old and skinny, you're fine.

 

[JEB]

personally i wouldnt have a problem with it during the day, but i would want a way to lock it at night or when i was away from home.