XL Pet Doors

If you have a big dog and are searching for XL pet doors, some valuable information follows to help you in your search, and to ensure that you end up with the perfect pet door for your pet and your home.

In your search for XL pet doors it is important to note that an XL pet door made by one manufacturer is not the same size as an XL pet door made by another. There is no industry standard across the board so XL pet doors can vary widely in their actual dimensions, depending on the manufacturer. (This is of course true for large pet doors, small pet doors, etc.)

For example, the opening of XL pet doors manufactured by Ideal Pet Products measures 10 1/2”w x 15”h which is smaller than the large pet door manufactured by Plexidor, which measures 11 3/4” x 16”. Ideal does have a size that they call “super large” which matches up in size to typical XL pet doors for most other manufacturers. Hale manufactures the largest number of XL pet doors, and specifically carries a line of extra tall pet doors for the tallest breeds such as Great Danes. Their tallest is 27 1/2 inches high.

This means that you really can’t depend on the labels: small, medium, large, or XL pet doors to ensure you’ll choose the correct size for your dog or cat. The only sizing information you can reliably depend on are the actual dimensions of the flap opening or, in the case of many automatic pet doors, the actual dimensions of the entrance. Then compare those dimensions with the actual size of your pet.

Here is an interesting fact: most people who guess the size needed for a pet door end up with a pet door that is too large, not too small.

Why is it so important to get the right size pet door? Well, obviously, if the entrance is too small your dog or cat won’t be able to use it. However, most people who guess tend to end up with pet doors that are too large. Sometimes they can make them work anyway, if their dog is agile and/or young enough to manage stepping over a rise that is too high in proportion to their size. But for pets that are injured or suffer from age-related ailments such as arthritis or joint pain, stepping over a rise that is too high…or too low…can be uncomfortable or even painful.

Tip: Even if your dog is a spry pup, it’s a good idea to think ahead for when he or she might begin to show signs of aging. Pet doors can last for many years so if you take your pet’s aging into consideration now, you may be able to avoid having to re-position or even replace your pet’s door later. This is particularly good advice for people who own breeds that are prone to hip problems later in life such as German Shepherds.

Dogs and cats need to step over the bottom portion of the pet door’s frame in order to pass through the flap/entrance. This portion of the pet door is called the “rise” and its height (as measured from the floor or ground level) is important for your pet’s comfort, health and safety. XL pet doors, of course, would have a higher rise than say medium pet doors would.

A good rule of thumb to follow would be to make sure your pet does not have to step up or down a distance any greater than his or her “elbows”.

Tip: Don’t forget to take note of how high or low the ground is outside the pet door. If there is a big drop for your pet once it gets through the door, you’ll want to take that into consideration and either install the pet door commensurately lower and/or get a pet door with a lower rise.

Some pet doors for dogs and cats carried by America’s Pet Store have an adjustable rise that generally provides a few inches to work with, up or down. Quality brands that offer an adjustable rise (or an option to customize) include: pet doors for sliding glass doors made by Pet 1 Product, Patio Pacific’s pet doors for sliders and Hale’s pet doors for patio doors, both their Omni and Standard series.

Tip: There is one foolproof way to determine if the flap/entrance on a pet door is the correct size for your pet. Cut a hole out of a piece of cardboard that is the exact dimension of the pet door you are thinking about purchasing. If your pet can walk through the cut-out opening in the cardboard, the flap/entrance is large enough. Take note if it is too large. (Ideally you want at least a 1” clearance all the way around your pet.) Why pay for a larger pet door than you need? XL pet doors will cost more than say medium sized pet doors, and so on.

America’s Pet Store carries all kinds of pet doors including automatic pet doors for walls, doors and sliding glass doors. Please note: we no longer carry storm doors with pet doors.