There are several important factors to consider when purchasing a pet door:
- Size of the pet door
- Type of pet door
- Where installed
- Automatic or traditional
- Quality and energy efficiency
- Security
- Ease of Installation
- Training your pet how to use a pet door
What size pet door do I need?
Despite the best attempt to recommend the correct size of pet door by breed or weight, the only way to accurately select the proper size pet doors is by physically measuring your pet. There are two important measurements you need:
- The width of the pet door opening should be at least 1" wider than the width of your pet as measured across the shoulders.
- The height of the pet door opening should be at least 2" greater than the difference between the height of your pet measured from the floor to the top of the shoulders and the ground clearance of your pet measured from the floor to the bottom of the chest.
The rise of the door (how high off the ground the pet door is installed) should be set to 1" below the chest/belly. Some types of pet doors such as certain patio panels have limited options for the rise, so instead make sure the top of the door is set at the proper height based on the pet’s shoulders.
The end goal is to have a 1" clearance at the shoulder width, a 1" clearance at the chest/belly, and 1" clearance at the back/shoulders.
As you may not find a door with the exact size you want, you should select size that will meet your needs and make allowances for your pet’s age, weight, agility, and future growth. If you have multiple pets, you may need to purchase a larger door where the top is set to the height of larger pet’s shoulders and the rise and bottom of the door can accommodate your shorter pets.
Types of Pet Doors
There are many types of dog doors and cat doors on the market today.
- Depending on where you plan to install the pet door, there are products designed specifically to mount in them in doors, walls, sliding patio doors, French doors, storm doors, screen doors, garage doors, glass, and sash windows. There are also many styles of doors designed specifically for cats.
- There are various electronic pet doors and electronic patio panels that open and close automatically using infra-red or electro-magnetic sensor technologies.
- Not all pet doors are created equal when it comes to energy efficiency or construction quality. Look at the manufacturer’s warranties and construction materials. There are many options ranging from entry level doors to commercial grade doors for use in kennels and other professional installations. Choose between a flexible flap model or a door with a rigid flap. Some pet doors have single or dual flap options for added protection from the elements.
- Security panels or locking mechanisms provide added security to keep your pets inside and the raccoons outside. Please make sure you spend time to teach your pet about security locks so they don’t hurt themselves.
- Each pet door has varying degrees of skill required for installation. Be sure to understand installation requirements before purchasing. There are many professional installers in most areas if special assistance is required.
Pet Door Training
Often times, people buy pet doors and realize their dog won’t go through them. As with most things with dogs, they just need to learn what to do. This is similar to teaching an agility obstacle like the tunnel or the collapsed tunnel.
Start with propping the dog door flap open or holding it in your hand. 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. Allow the dog to approach the treats and eat them without interfering. In an attempt to help, many people may unintentionally pressure or coerce their dog to try new things and this usually makes the dog want to avoid it even more.
If the dog shows no interest in using the dog door, you may not have the right treats or you might be asking for too much of your pet too quickly. As with most training exercises in which you use food or a treat as an incentive, it helps to work with a hungry dog.
Once the dog will comfortably go in and out of the door following the trail, have someone hold the dog on one side and just hold a treat on the other to see if he will come through the door to get it. If you like, you can add a command to this behavior at this point in time. Don’t rush this behavior. You are trying to build confidence so your dog can ultimately do this alone.
Next slightly lower the pet door flap by only an inch or so. When you can lure the dog through for that, then lower it another inch or so. Continue this at small increments until the dog is actually pushing on the door flap to get through. Make sure you praise your pet each time and give plenty of positive reinforcement. Dogs that are timid may take days or weeks before they are confident enough to go through a dog door while other dogs may go through within minutes of training.
To address a misconception for puppies, you need to teach housebreaking and using a dog door separately, and then put them together for a final behavior. Do not think that just having a dog door will automatically housebreak your dog. You still need to teach your dog to go potty outside.
This article was co-authored by America’s Pet Store and Michelle Blount-Jordan and may not be reproduced without permission. It has been written to provide general information on product selection and training. It is not intended to be a substitution for the information that comes with your product. If you have a dog with behavioral problems and particularly with fear or aggression issues, you should contact a reputable and local trainer who can assist you with your dog.
Michelle Blount-Jordan
www.doghuman.com
