Patio Dog Doors

Are you thinking about buying a patio dog door? Patio dog doors, also known as patio panels or sliding glass dog doors, can be the most helpful, time-efficient pet products on the planet when installed correctly. Carefully researching the full line of patio dog doors on the market is very important as it will ensure that you choose the best solution for you, your home and your dogs.

What are patio dog doors?

A patio dog door is built in to a full length panel that equals the height of your sliding doors. To install they are inserted directly into the opening of your patio doors and held in place by the upper and lower track of your patio doors. The patio dog door will therefore, reduce the distance that your sliding glass doors can be opened equal to the width of the patio dog door that you choose. So if you have narrow patio doors and are looking to purchase an extra large patio dog door, installing a patio dog door just might not work for you. It is important to properly measure the height of the inside track of your patio doors to make sure that you are ordering the proper size. At the bottom of the patio dog door panel is a dog door flap from where your dog can enter and exit your house at will.

Patio dog doors are a temporary solution to an on-going need. That's why patio dog doors are the best answer for your rental home, vacation home, or for any other temporary dog door need. Perhaps you have an aging pet or a puppy that needs access to the great outdoors more often than you can afford to run back and forth? A patio dog door would be the best temporary solution. Install the patio dog door when you need it and take it down when you no longer do. These doors can be easily installed without cutting holes into your walls or into a permanent door. They are also simple to remove, and patio dog doors won’t leave marks or damage your existing sliding glass door. However, please review specific product literature as some patio dog doors (particularly those made for sliders that are taller than a standard sliding glass door) must be screwed into the existing sliding glass doors for stability and security.

When reviewing our lineup of patio door dog doors it is important to first determine whether you have vinyl sliding glass doors (typically Andersen and Pella brand patio doors are vinyl) or aluminum framed sliding doors. If your sliding doors are vinyl it is important to note that you can only use patio dog doors that are specifically made for use with vinyl patio doors. See Ideal VIP Patio Pet Doors or Hale OMNI Patio Pet Doors. HINT: Ideal VIP models cost a lot less than Hale OMNI models...both are high quality patio pet doors that will work with most Andersen or Pella sliding doors. However, Hale has pet doors in more sizes than any other brand which comes in handy if you have an irregular size dog.

In addition to Ideal and Hale dog doors America's Pet Store customers have also had some success in using Patio Pacific Thermo Panel patio dog doors with vinyl sliders, however, please be aware that this brand is not made specifically to be installed with vinyl sliders. For more instructions on how to best install Patio Pacific Thermo Panel patio dog doors in vinyl sliders, an America's Pet Store customer service representative can assist you.

Patio dog doors are also available in single pane and dual pane glass models. Unless you live in a very mild climate, we would recommend purchasing a dual pane glass patio dog door. Typically, America's Pet Store recommends purchasing a single pane patio dog door if you have single pane patio doors and we would recommend a dual pane patio dog door if you have dual pane patio doors. However, as long as the patio dog door is thinner than the track of your sliding glass doors, the patio dog door should work in your sliders. So, generally, you can use a single pane patio dog door with dual pane glass patio doors, but a dual pane patio dog door will probably not work with single pane patio doors.

Check out our selection of automatic dog doors for patio doors. These are a great solution for keeping out those unwanted pests, such as raccoons, feral cats and maybe even your neighbor's pet. They are all collar-activated pet doors that can be powered via magnets, electro-magnetic, electric, radio frequency and ultra sonic. Your dog door will open when your dog approaches the patio dog door while wearing the electronic collar.

In most cases, the existing lock on your patio door will not work once a patio dog door is installed. Some patio dog doors are available with a key lock kit (such as the Ideal patio dog doors). For dog doors that do not have a lock option, we recommend purchasing a "charley bar". A charley bar is a security bar that functions similar to placing a piece of wood in the track of your sliding glass doors. Some patio dog doors come with a charley bar and others do not. You can purchase a Charley Bar separately on America's Pet Store.

If you have any questions about patio dog doors or other products available at America's Pet Store, our Customer Service Representatives are standing by to assist you.

America's Pet Store carries the largest selection of dog doors online, including infrared dog doors, big dog doors, electric dog doors, energy efficient dog doors and many others. Choose from among the most popular brands including PetSafe Dog Doors, Ideal Dog Doors, Ruff Weather Dog Doors, Staywell Dog Doors, Plexidor Dog Doors and Patio Pacific, also known as Endura Flap dog doors.