What is Sentry Mode?
Sentry Mode is an integrated surveillance system offered by Tesla to enhance security for their vehicles when parked (https://www.notateslaapp.com/tesla-reference/1303/tesla-sentry-mode-what-it-is-how-to-use-it-and-battery-drain). It uses the Autopilot sensors and cameras already installed in Tesla vehicles to monitor the area around the car for potential threats.
When enabled, Sentry Mode switches the car into a “Standby” state, drawing minimal power while watching for suspicious activity. If a minimal threat is detected, such as someone leaning on the car, Sentry Mode switches to “Alert” state and displays a message on the touchscreen warning the person they are being recorded. For more severe threats like someone breaking a window, Sentry Mode will switch to “Alarm” state, blaring music through the audio system, activating the headlights and displaying a warning on the touchscreen.
In all cases, Sentry Mode records video clips of the events from multiple camera angles to capture evidence. Owners can review the footage later in the car’s touchscreen or Tesla mobile app. This allows Sentry Mode to actively deter malicious behavior around an unattended Tesla, or provide video evidence if a threat occurs.
What is Dog Mode?
Tesla’s Dog Mode is a climate control setting designed to keep pets safe and comfortable while left unattended in a Tesla vehicle. It allows Tesla owners to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car for their dogs or other pets.
Dog Mode works by using the climate control system to regulate the temperature and keep the interior at a cool 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius). It draws power from the battery to run the air conditioning or heating as needed, even when the car is turned off and not actively charging. This ensures pets don’t overheat on hot days or get too cold on frigid nights.
The key purpose of Dog Mode is to provide a safe environment for pets without requiring the owner to leave the car idling for extended periods. It’s an energy-efficient alternative to keeping the AC or heat on the entire time the pet is alone in the vehicle.
When Dog Mode is active, the touchscreen displays a message that reads “My owner will be back soon” to let passersby know the pet is not in danger and is being monitored. The climate system and camera remain on so owners can check the internal temperature and view their pet remotely using the mobile app.
How Sentry and Dog Modes Differ
Sentry Mode and Dog Mode are two separate features in Tesla vehicles that serve different purposes.
Sentry Mode is a security feature that uses the vehicle’s external cameras to detect potential threats when the car is left unattended. As Tesla’s support page explains, “When a minimal threat is detected, such as someone leaning on a car, Sentry Mode switches to an ‘Alert’ state and displays a message on the touchscreen warning that its cameras are recording. If a more severe threat is detected, such as someone breaking a window, Sentry Mode switches to an ‘Alarm’ state, which activates the car alarm, increases the brightness of the center display, and plays loud music through the car’s audio system.”
Dog Mode, on the other hand, is designed to keep pets comfortable and safe inside the car on hot days. When Dog Mode is activated, the air conditioning system remains on to regulate the temperature and a message displays on the touchscreen letting passersby know that pets are safe inside the car.
The key difference is that Sentry Mode is for security and surveillance, while Dog Mode is focused on maintaining a comfortable environment for pets. They serve distinct purposes and cannot be used simultaneously since Sentry Mode triggers alarms and loud music that could startle animals.
Can You Use Both Modes Together?
Unfortunately, Tesla’s Sentry and Dog Modes cannot be activated at the same time. When Dog Mode is enabled, Sentry Mode is automatically disabled according to Tesla’s owner’s manual. This is because Sentry Mode plays loud music to deter potential thieves, which would likely startle pets left inside the vehicle.
As explained on Tesla Motors Club, the loud sentry alarm music is purposely disabled when Dog Mode is on. However, the car still records footage from the exterior cameras for safety purposes. But the interior cabin camera used by Sentry Mode remains off.
Some Tesla owners wish the two modes were compatible so maximum security could be maintained while pets are in the car. But for now, owners have to choose between Sentry Mode or Dog Mode – both cannot run concurrently.
Testing Sentry Mode with Pets
Some Tesla owners have conducted tests to see how Sentry Mode functions when pets are in the vehicle. According to posts on the Tesla Motors Club forum, enabling both Sentry Mode and Dog Mode simultaneously will disable the audio alerts and flashing lights of Sentry Mode to avoid startling pets (source). However, the cameras will still record footage of any activity around the car. Owners have confirmed that their Teslas recorded video while in both modes, capturing approaches to the vehicle or window tapping incidents while pets were inside.
The owner’s manual also states that when Dog Mode and Sentry Mode are enabled together, Sentry Mode defaults to disabling audio alerts to protect pets onboard (source). So it appears Sentry Mode’s cameras remain active but the loud music and flashing lights are suppressed when pets are present.
Overall, testing indicates that Sentry Mode and Dog Mode can be used simultaneously. The cameras still record while muting the audible deterrents. This allows owners to monitor their vehicle’s surroundings without disturbing pets inside.
Potential Challenges
Using Sentry Mode while pets are in the car can potentially lead to some issues. The loud alarm sounds and flashing lights triggered by Sentry Mode could startle or frighten pets left unattended in Dog Mode. According to some owners, the disruptive alarms have caused their pets to panic and even damage the vehicle interior while trying to escape (source).
The constant motion detection and recordings from Sentry Mode may also capture unnecessary footage of pets moving around the cabin. This can quickly fill up the USB storage device. Additionally, the climate control settings may potentially be disrupted if Sentry Mode is triggered and the alarm sounds are played inside the cabin.
There are also legal concerns with leaving pets unattended in vehicles. Even with Dog Mode on, some areas prohibit leaving animals alone in cars. Using Sentry Mode to monitor the vehicle may be perceived as intentionally leaving a pet completely unattended for extended periods (source).
Owner Experiences
Many Tesla owners have tested using Sentry Mode while leaving pets in the car in Dog Mode. Experiences seem to vary depending on the temperament of the pet.
One owner reported on the Tesla Motors Club forum that they tested Sentry Mode with Dog Mode using their very quiet and calm Labrador. The owner set up a camera to record what happened inside the car. When the owner walked away from the car, triggering Sentry Mode, the loud music deterrent did not play inside the cabin as expected. The dog barely reacted and just slept through the entire test, leading the owner to conclude you can safely use both modes together with a relaxed pet.
However, other owners warn that high energy, anxious, or noise-sensitive dogs may react poorly to Sentry Mode activations with loud music if trapped inside the cabin. One owner on Reddit reported their German Shepherd became very stressed and tried to escape when Sentry Mode was triggered while in Dog Mode during a test.
Overall, it seems using both modes together may work with calm pets, but could distress pets that are easily frightened by loud noises. Owners are advised to carefully test how their pet reacts first before relying on dual mode use.
Best Practices
There are some tips to follow to safely use Sentry Mode and Dog Mode together:
- Keep the climate control on a comfortable temperature for your pet in Dog Mode. Sentry Mode will not interfere with climate settings.
- Position the camera view to focus on the interior of the car rather than the exterior when using both modes. This ensures your pet is monitored while reducing false alarms.
- Be aware that the alarm sounds in Sentry Mode are muted in Dog Mode, so as not to startle pets. Check the mobile app for any Sentry Mode triggers.
- Turn up the radio volume in Dog Mode if outside noises startle your pet, to help drown those out.
- Disable Sentry Mode’s “Tilt/Intrusion” setting to avoid triggering alarms from pet movement inside the car.
- Consider placing something over the interior camera if your pet is prone to setting off motion alerts.
Following these tips will allow both safety features to operate smoothly together and keep your pet happy and secure.
Expert Insights
There are differing opinions among Tesla experts on using Sentry Mode while Dog Mode is enabled. According to an experienced Tesla owner on Tesla Motors Club, Sentry Mode gets disabled when Dog Mode is turned on because Sentry Mode plays loud music to deter potential thieves, which could startle pets left in the car.
However, according to a Tesla sales advisor interviewed on Quora, while the car disables Sentry Mode’s audible alarm when Dog Mode is on, it still records footage from the vehicle cameras for safety and security. So Sentry Mode still partially works to capture incidents, just without the disruptive alarm sounds.
Overall, experts agree it’s not recommended to rely solely on Sentry Mode for pet safety, as Dog Mode is designed specifically for leaving pets unattended. But Sentry Mode can provide an additional layer of security if owners enable Dog Mode first before activating Sentry.
The Bottom Line
Sentry mode and Dog mode cannot be used simultaneously in Tesla vehicles. When Dog mode is activated, Sentry mode is automatically disabled. This is by design, as Sentry mode plays loud music and displays bright screens to deter potential thieves, which could startle pets left inside the car. While Sentry mode’s cameras still record footage when in Dog mode, the alarm system and other deterrents are deactivated. Owners have noted that attempting to enable Sentry mode after activating Dog mode results in a warning that Sentry mode is unavailable. So in summary, Tesla vehicles prioritize pet comfort over security when Dog mode is turned on, disabling Sentry mode.
According to Tesla’s support page, Sentry Mode requires at least 20% battery charge to operate (1). Therefore, Dog mode and a low battery state could also prevent Sentry mode from activating simultaneously. Owners are advised to ensure sufficient battery charge if hoping to use both Dog and Sentry modes together during short stops.
