Pet-Friendly Alarm Systems: What to Look For
One of the most common questions we get asked when quoting an alarm system is some version of “will this go off every time my dog walks past?” It’s a fair concern, and it stops a lot of pet owners from getting an alarm at all, worried they’ll end up with constant false alarms or a system they have to disarm every time they leave the dog inside. The good news is a properly specified system genuinely can tell the difference.
Why standard motion sensors trigger on pets
Most motion sensors work by detecting heat and movement, which means a moving pet can look a lot like a moving person to a basic sensor. Cheaper or incorrectly configured systems don’t account for this, so every time the dog jumps on the couch or the cat wanders past, the alarm thinks it’s an intruder.
What pet-immune sensors actually do
Proper pet-immune sensors are built to filter this out. They’re typically rated to ignore movement up to a certain weight, commonly around 25 to 45kg depending on the sensor, using a combination of detection zones and sensitivity settings that distinguish between a smaller pet moving at floor level and a person moving through the space at a different height and pattern. Ajax’s sensors, for example, include pet-immune settings as standard, which is one of the reasons we lean toward Ajax for homes with animals.
It’s not just about the sensor
Sensor choice matters, but placement matters just as much. Even a good pet-immune sensor can still trigger falsely if it’s mounted somewhere your pet can get close enough to set it off regardless of the weight rating, like a spot they can jump up near or a windowsill they like to sit on. Part of doing this properly is thinking through where your pets actually go in the house, not just installing sensors in the standard spots and hoping for the best.
What to ask for if you’ve got pets
If you’re getting a quote for an alarm system and you’ve got pets at home, it’s worth being upfront about it early. A few things worth discussing:
- The size and typical movement patterns of your pets, a small cat that stays low to the ground is a different consideration to a large dog that jumps on furniture
- Which rooms or areas your pets have access to, so sensor placement can account for it
- Whether you want certain zones excluded entirely, like a laundry or pet area, rather than relying purely on pet-immune settings
Getting it right the first time
A system that constantly false alarms because of the family pet is a system people stop trusting, and eventually stop using properly altogether. Getting the sensor choice and placement right from the start means you actually get the security you’re paying for, without the alarm going off every time the dog decides to patrol the hallway at 2am.
Ready to Protect What Matters Most?
Book a free quote online or call us on 0459 943 223. We’re locally based in Toowoomba and ready to help.