4 Different Types of Dog Doors

Dog doors are plentiful but the type you select will depend on several factors.  The size of your pet, the type of doorway you intend to use, the safety in you neighborhood, and more.  When you go to look for dog doors, either online or in a store, keep your options open but plan ahead.

For Doors
Designed to be placed within an existing door, these devices require you to make a hole within the door itself.  Available with either one or two flaps they can provide a reasonable amount of insulation against the weather.  These type of doors are ideal if you have a fenced back yard for your dog to play in while you are out for the day.  Your pet can go out to run around, eliminate, or just enjoy the sunshine.

For Walls
Wider than door mounted versions, these can be placed in a wall, as long as you aren’t cutting weight bearing beams to install it.  While there aren’t as many sizes available and you want to make sure it can adjust to fit a variety of wall thicknesses, it can be a very practical solution if you don’t have a back door to use.  You may need to frame out the wall if the door you choose doesn’t come framed.  Use caution if you frame it yourself as electrical lines are lethal.

Sliding Glass Doors
In many homes, the back door is a sliding glass door.  Until recently, that meant you had to use the wall if you wanted a dog door.  Now you can get a door specifically to fit within the track of a sliding glass door.

This door has the advantage of mobility; if you move, you can take it with you.  Careful measurements are important for a good fit, but there are several models available and they can accommodate all but the largest dogs safely.

Another version of this kind of door fits right into the glass itself and requires a glazier to install.  These doors are really only suitable for small dogs and cats.

Electronic Doors
These really are the safest of the doors in many respects.  The door will only open if it is approached by the animal wearing the right collar.  Each door is fitted with an electronic receiver that unlocks when it “hears” the right radio signal.  This allows you to keep out other animals or people who might try to break in through the door, while keeping children safely in the confines of the house.

Safety
All doors available have some sort of locking mechanism; either a panel you insert or a latch you can lock.  These features allow you to determine when the door is accessible and keep out the weather when needed.  These panels are usually designed to slide into place which makes them easy to install and remove.

Dog doors are great accessories.  They provide both you and your dog with a greater degree of mobility and freedom.  For a dog that has never seen a dog door, it may take a little training, but once they realize that they can get outside on their own, they never look back. Now your dog can have the perfect amount of freedom with a dog door and invisible dog fence.