Dog Doors - Cat Doors

Q. What should I consider before purchasing a doggie door or cat door?

A. Criteria to consider include:

• Your budget. Cat doors and doggie doors are available in a wide range of prices. For a high end dog door we recommend Plexidor Dog Doors. Or see budget brands that still offer a good value for the money such as PetSafe Dog Doors or Ideal Dog Doors.


• Type of pet door (i.e. for sliding glass doors, for walls, for regular doors, for windows, etc.)


• Electronic motorized pet door or a manual flap


• Quality and energy efficiency


• Size


• Training pets to use cat and doggie doors

Q. What are my options on where to install a cat door or doggie door?

A. The four most popular types of mounting methods are: Door Mount, Wall Mount, Window Mount and Patio Pet Door inserts for sliding glass doors. Also for sliding glass doors is the new Automatic Patio Door Opener by AutoSlide. AutoSlide comes in two models; one is activated by a motion sensor and the other is dog collar activated.

• Patio Pet Door insert with a built in dog door: A patio pet door, also known as a sliding door doggie door or patio door dog door, is a good solution for anyone who doesn't want to cut a hole into a door or wall.
  
  A patio pet door is a full-size panel that matches the height of your sliding glass doors. The panel has a built-in dog door so installation is usually as simple as inserting the panel into the upper and lower inside track of your sliding door. If your sliding doors are over 90" tall or under 77" tall, please see our extra tall sliding glass pet door section or our pet doors for short sliding doors section.

  FYI America's Pet Store also carries cat doors for sliding glass doors.

  It is important to know whether your sliding glass doors are aluminum or vinyl as most patio dog doors will fit only one type of sliding door - but not both. If you have vinyl sliding glass doors such as Pella patio doors or Andersen doors, please see pet doors for vinyl sliding doors.

  If you have aluminum please see doggie doors for aluminum sliders. Our top sellers by far are Endura Flap Thermo Panel IIIe models which are high-quality, double pane pet doors made by Patio Pacific. They also make a line of single pane doggie doors called the Quick Panel III that cost a bit less.




• Door-Mount Dog Doors: Installation requires you to cut a hole through your house door so it is essential that you measure carefully - and measure twice to be sure. Door mount dog doors are somewhat easier to install than wall mount doors, and can usually be installed by anyone handy with tools.



• Wall-Mount Dog Doors: Dog doors for walls are installed through an exterior facing wall in your house using a tunnel that goes through the wall and attaches to the inside and outside frame of the dog door.



• Pet Doors for Windows: Window pet doors are usually for cats but Hale Pet Doors makes models that are big enough for dogs, including large breeds. See Hale Pet Doors for Windows.



• Pet Doors for Screen Doors: A dog door for a screen door is a great option during the summer months. Most pet doors for screens come in smaller sizes for cats. However, Hale Pet Doors makes some great dog doors for screens that come in 11 different sizes so they will work for almost all sizes of dogs.

Here are some other considerations in selecting the proper doggie door or cat door:

• Energy Efficiency: One of the largest quality differences in dog doors is the level of energy efficiency. Energy-efficient dog doors are more expensive, higher quality dog doors than their counterparts. However, in most instances the extra money spent on an energy efficient pet door is recouped with home energy savings.

  Q. What size pet door do I need?

  A. The only way to select the proper size dog door or cat door is to measure your pet.

  There are two important measurements you will need:

  Width of your dog - The width of a dog door flap should be at least 2" wider than the width of your dog as measured across the shoulders. If your dog is not yet full grown do your best to factor in future growth.

  Height of your dog's shoulders while on all fours - here are general guidelines.

  • Shoulder heights of up to 8 1/2" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 7 1/2"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 9" - 13" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 9 1/2"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 13 1/2" - 15" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 12 1/2"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 15 1/2" - 20" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 16"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 20 1/2" - 24" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 19 1/2"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 24 1/2" - 27" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 23 1/2"
  
  
  
  • Shoulder heights between 27 1/2" - 31" = a dog door flap with a minimum height of 27 1/2"

  For shopping convenience America's Pet Store does segment cat doors and dog doors by size such as small, large and extra large which are really big dog doors. But we can't stress it enough, we highly recommend measuring your pet prior to making a purchase to ensure a proper fit.

  Q. What about security concerns?

  A. Some people have concerns about skunks, raccoons or even people (if the dog door is large enough) gaining entry into their home.

  Most pet doors come standard with a slide in security panel that will block off the pet door entirely when it will not be in use such as when you are away on vacation with your dog.

  If skunks or raccoons are a concern see our lineup of collar activated pet doors. These are automatic doggie doors that will open only for pets wearing the electronic collar. Even among electric dog doors there is a wide range of security options. The most secure model is the Plexidor Electronic Dog Door that allows you to program the collar key among thousands of possible combinations.

  Q. How long will a pet door flap last before you need to replace it?

  A. Some vinyl pet flaps will crack, warp, tear and/or become very rigid over. Vinyl pet flaps can also scratch easily and collect dirt and bacteria within those scratches which is hard to remove and is unslightly. Worn out flaps can be replaced but replacement flaps can cost almost as much as you paid for the dog door itself. On the plus side flexible vinyl flaps are safer and quieter than most rigid flaps.

  If your dog is a big chewer and you think a vinyl flap would never last we do carry heavy-duty dog kennel doors including the popular line of Gun Dog Doors.

  Q. What is the best dog door?
  
  A. It all depends on an individual's specific needs. For example, someone who lives in an extreme climate will likely have different requirements than someone who lives in a moderate climate. Or, for giant breeds such as an Irish Wolfhound or Spanish Mastiff, you'll need to purchase a dog door manufactured by a company that makes really big dog doors. Almost all major dog door manufacturers make large and extra large sizes. But they don't all make giant sizes.

  Here is a partial list of dog door brands we carry and the special features they offer:

  Patio Pacific Pet Doors – Patio Pacific is well-known for their award-winning Endura Flap. The Endura Flap comes with a 15-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects. There are very few dog doors on the market that can even come close to such a warranty on a flexible pet flap.

  DogWalk Dog Doors - DogWalk dog doors have a heavy-duty aluminum frame but theirs is beveled, something like a picture frame, and to some people it is more stylish. They offer door-mount and wall-mount models and take pride in offering a dog door that is very easy to install. They also make CatWalk Cat Doors.

  High Tech Pet Power Pet Doors – These are electronic dog doors that open and close by reading a signal from a special collar worn by your pet. When the dog door detects your pet's collar it slides up to open, very similar to a garage door. After a few seconds it automatically closes.

  Staywell Pet Doors – Staywell offers magnetic dog doors and cat flaps that are collar activated for security purposes. Staywell also offers pet doors with manual style flaps available in either an aluminum frame or plastic frame.

  
  Q. How do you train a dog to use a doggy door?

  A. Start with propping the doggie flap. Make sure the door flap is securely open because if it accidentally falls and hits a timid dog they may never try it again.

  Get some of your dog's favorite treats and put out a "Hansel and Gretel" trail of treats from one side of the door to the other. As with most training exercises in which you use food or a treat as an incentive, it helps to work with a hungry dog.