Sadly, many pet owners injure their pets in their garage doors, but by taking the right precautions, you can avoid the unthinkable. If your pup hangs out in your garage or mills around between your garage and yard, you need to ensure this area is safe for him or her. To boost the safety of your garage doors, here are four tips to help you:

1. Make sure the sensors for your automatic door are working

If you have an automatic garage door, you need to make sure the sensors are clean and working. The sensors detect if anything is obstructing the garage door's path, and if something is, they signal for the door to stop moving and go back up.

On automatic garage doors, the sensors are located along the bottom of the track on each side of the garage door, very near the floor. Take a clean rag and periodically wipe them off to ensure they are free of dust or debris, and then perform two tests: the box test and the ball test.

For the box test, simply set a cardboard box under the garage door, and hit the button for it to close. When it hits the box, it should immediately propel upward. If that test is successful, roll a soccer or kickball underneath the door as it's closing. The sensors should similarly sense the ball and stop the garage door from closing. If either of these tests fail, call a garage door professional to fix your door.

2. Don't put a doggy door in the garage door

If your dog is going to be spending time in the garage while you are at work and you want him or her to be able to go outside, do not put a doggy door in the garage door. These doors make your house and your dog vulnerable to thieves or vandals.

If you need to install a doggy door in your garage, put it in a discrete spot leading to the back yard, and locate it far from other doors and windows so thieves cannot reach in and open them. If possible, consider putting an automatic opener on the dog door. Controlled by a simple device that attaches to your dog's collar, automatic doors are one of the safest options for puppy portals.

Additionally, you don't want to encourage your dog to crawl around or through the door when it is closed. It could set a dangerous precedent, and your dog could end up playing near the door when it is opening or closing, and even if you are pretty sure your sensors are working, it is always better to be on the safe side.

3. Lock your garage door from the inside

If you really want your dog and your home to be safe when you are not there, consider adding a lock to your garage door so that you can lock it from the inside before you leave the house.

It makes the process of leaving the house a tiny bit more cumbersome as you will have to back the car out of the garage, go inside the house through the front door, re-enter the garage, lock the garage door from the inside, and finally, go back out and lock your front door. It takes about an extra minute everyday, but it makes your garage impenetrable.

4. Don't tie your dog to your garage door

If you are working in the yard and you want your dog restrained, do not tie your dog to the garage door.

If your dog pulls on the door, it could damage it. Garage doors are not made to handle those sort of pressures, and it could put additional strain out the cables, springs, hinges, tracks or other parts of the garage door if your dog pulls at the restraint. Click here for more information about garage doors in your area.