Alarm and locking problem

[quest63]

I have two problems with my 5.5 estate perhaps they have the same cause?

Firstly the car regularly locks itself when I exit it followed by the alarm going off.

Secondly when I leave the car with dogs in it and press the button on the door pillar and lock the car the alarm goes off.

Previously this button seemed to work the majority of the time now it almost never works.

Damn things driving me mad.

Thanks in advance.