In and Out and In and Out......

Whenever your dog needs to pee he will be able to use the dog door to get into your back yard and your dog can go out and run around whenever he pleases. This is not a substitute for your daily walks and games of fetch but it may help your dog maintain his health.

If you have a dog house in the yard a dog door will give your dog access to his house. (See Dog Houses for more details on dog houses).

Concerns with manual dog doors

You may have thought about adding a manual dog door but been concerned by the problems of a manual style dog door. A manual dog door is basically a simple wooden or plastic flap installed into a main door at ground level. This will allow your dog to come and go as he pleases but it will also allow any other animal that fits through the dog door to come and go too. Visits from other dogs, cats and in certain parts of the world racoons is not unknown. Another problem is that if you have multiple pets it’s impossible to allow only some of them to use the dog door and not others. So it may be best to look at electronic or magnetic dog doors. 

Magnetic and electronic style dog doors

 An electronic or magnetic dog door addresses many of the issues and problems of a manual dog door. With an electronic dog door the door stays closed until an infrared key attached to your dog’s collar triggers it to open. With a magnetic dog door, a strong magnet attached to your dog’s collar will release the latch that opens the door. See Dog Collars for more details on dog collars).

The electronic or magnetic dog doors are more expensive but they do add the security of only allowing your dog into and out of the house. Some of the more sophisticated electronic dog doors can also be connected to your home security system.  

Some things to consider before you buy a dog door

 There are some minimum requirements you should consider no matter what type of dog door you decide to install. You need to think about the type of climate you live in and the effect of having a reasonably big hole in one of your doors. If you live in a comfortable climate then this may not be a big concern. If you live in hot or cold climates then you’ll need to look at dog doors that are properly insulated. Look at buying a dog door made out of thicker or insulated materials. Check that the flap forms a good seal on the dog door when it’s closed. Some of the higher end dog doors have magnets that hold the flap in place. If you live in a harsh climate then a dog door with a double flap is an excellent option.

 You should also buy a dog door that locks securely. If you already have a dog door installed that does not lock then you can buy a special pane that you can drop into place over the flap that secures it.

 Dog doors can be a real boon to dog owners but you should make sure that you buy a dog door that suits your purpose – and of course one that your dog can fit through!!!