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A standard pet door flap is, functionally, a hole in your wall or door with a curtain over it. For small pets that's rarely a concern, but for larger openings sized for bigger dogs, that same gap can become a real point of entry for any critter or burglar motivated enough to push through it. Deadbolt-rated Power Pet Door models are built specifically to close that security gap. It's a tradeoff most owners don't think about until someone points it out — sizing a door up for a larger dog also means sizing up the opening, and without additional security built in, that opening scales right along with it.
Note: Only the Power Pet Classic models offer a deadbolt lock. This feature is coming to our newest line, Power Pet Roll-Up doors, soon!
Why size changes the security calculation
A pet door sized for a large or extra large dog could also be big enough for a person to fit through. For most dog doors, that's a safety problem. Not for Power Pet.
What "deadbolt-rated" actually means
Rather than a simple flap or magnetic latch, Power Pet Door models use an actual mechanical deadbolt mechanism to secure the panel in place when locked. This isn't a stronger spring or a heavier flap — it's a fundamentally different locking mechanism, built to resist the kind of force that would easily defeat a standard pet door flap. Make no mistake about it: Power Pet is burglar-proof, bullet proof, and critter-proof. That's why over 200,000 happy customers trust it.
Where this actually matters
This becomes especially relevant for ground-floor doors, doors facing the street or a shared alley, and any home where the pet door is a large enough opening to be a genuine access point rather than just a pet-sized gap. It's less about assuming the worst and more about not leaving an obvious vulnerability in an otherwise secure home.
Balancing security with pet access
The deadbolt only engages when the door is set to locked mode — during normal operation, your dog still has the same collar-activated or scheduled access as any other automatic door in the line. Security and everyday convenience aren't in conflict here; the deadbolt is specifically for the hours or situations where you want the opening fully secured, like overnight or while you're away.
How it fits into a broader home security setup
A deadbolt-rated pet door is most effective as part of a home's overall security approach, not as a standalone fix. If you already lock your doors and windows at night or arm a security system while you're away, a large pet door left on standard flap security is often the one opening that hasn't been brought up to the same standard as everything else. Pairing a deadbolt-rated Power Pet Door with your existing routine — locking it alongside the rest of the house rather than treating it as a separate step — closes that gap without adding real complexity to your day.
What to check on the specific model
Not all deadbolt-rated pet doors lock the same way, so it's worth confirming whether the deadbolt is manually engaged, scheduled, or app-controlled, and how it interacts with the door's normal collar-activated access. Some models let you set the deadbolt to engage automatically at set hours, which removes the step of remembering to lock it manually every night.
Related Reading
Meet the Most Secure Dog Door on the Market: Bulletproof Access Panel Explained
Could a Neighborhood Dog Open Your Smart Dog Door? Why Signal Authentication Matters
Ready to Upgrade?
If you've sized up to a larger dog door and haven't thought about what that opening means for home security, a deadbolt-lock Power Pet door model is worth a look. It's an easy detail to overlook when you're mainly focused on finding a door your dog can comfortably use, but the security implications of a large opening are worth the same amount of attention as the size and access features — especially for a ground-floor entry point that's otherwise easy to reach.