Best Dog Doors For Home

By | January 4, 2026

Best Dog Doors For Home – Choose a dog door sealed with newspaper and ventilation to prevent energy-saving warm air from escaping. Shown: PetSafe Weatherproof Aluminum Pet Door, from $130; Petsafe

While most owners wouldn’t trade their dog for the world, being a member of the family means dealing with some inconveniences. Routine: Getting up to open the door every time your doll wants to go out. A dog door eliminates this problem.

Best Dog Doors For Home

But people are often hesitant to add one because they don’t want warm or cold air escaping, or they hear stories about intruders.

The 7 Best Dog Doors Of 2024, Tested And Reviewed

General contractor Tom Silva knows a little about this. His 90-year-old mother once argued with the family’s Shar-Pei dog through the door when he was locked out of his brother Dickie’s house. “He told us he went in, no problem,” she said. The story may be good for a laugh, but it also shows how a dog can open up its home.

Fortunately, today’s dog doors have gotten better at keeping the weather out with weather-resistant flaps and sensor controls. Here’s what to consider when choosing one for your home.

“While both require precise drilling, installing a dog door on an exterior door is easier than attaching it to a wall. With the door, you don’t have to worry about pipes, wires, structures and how to polish the stone from the outside. – Tom Silva, General Contractor

Glass, fiberglass, wood, metal and screen doors are available for dog doors, patio sliders and French doors and shutters (“Choose Your Look” below). The flaps themselves range from flexible plastic, good for older, gentler dogs, to rigid panels; Some have saloon-style double doors, while more expensive models have motorized doors that slide against the door or wall.

The 7 Best Pet Cameras, Tested In Our Lab

Dog doors usually come in four sizes, from small to large, depending on the weight of the pet they accommodate. You’ll want to measure it from the floor above the dog’s shoulders while standing. Then when you install the dog door, leave about 2 inches of space between your dog’s back and the top of the opening.

From left: PlexiDor electronic dog door, $887; PlexiDor | Right: Endura Flap Vinyl Sliding Glass Dog Door, $430; Endura flap

Left: Electronic dog doors are opened simply by a button attached to your pet’s collar. Some have flaps that open saloon-style or retract through the door (or wall).

Right: Spring-loaded or glue-in panels are a convenient way to add pet access to sliding doors. Some models have energy-saving double-pane Low-E glass.

The Best Dog Doors

From left: Anlin Malibu Series glass interior doors with sliding doors, price upon request; Online Windows • Doors for Retailers | Right: PlexiDor wall series, from $556; PlexiDor |

Left: A new porch, entryway or storm door with pet access gives it a more streamlined and sophisticated look.

Right: Large dog doors accommodate puppies up to 220 pounds. Soft flaps and cabin-style doors can be more comfortable than solid panels for difficult, slow-moving animals.

Many dog ​​doors come as accessories that can be installed on the underside of your door. Unless you have a glass storm door that requires special tools, this can be a DIY project. Note that drilling holes in the access door to install a pet door voids the warranty.

Flea Eggs Vs Dandruff: How To Spot The Difference

For a more attractive and appealing look, consider replacing your entry, storm or sliding door with a factory-fitted pet entrance, such as Vintage Doors.

Homeowners with sliding patio doors can purchase a vinyl or aluminum sidelight frame with a glass or plexiglass panel and a dog door on the bottom. These are located between the edge of the slider and the jamb and are held in place with double-sided tape or spring-loaded, so they are easy to remove for seasonal use.

The downside is that it narrows the aperture that people use. Also, the original garage door lock will no longer work, so most brands have a locking kit to protect the slider.

Adding a dog door through the wall makes sense in some situations where there is no door, perhaps you want to take advantage of existing security lighting or a fenced yard. A wall opening with steps or ramps can make it easier for small dogs or the elderly to enter.

How To Choose A Dog Door

Most door handles work through the wall. First, consider the depth of the wall; Anything thicker than normal 2×4 construction may require an adapter.

Plastic strip designs, the cheapest option, may be adequate for daytime use as long as they can be locked at night and no one is home, usually with a metal accessory panel placed over the door. But the new generation of products is doing a better job of addressing security issues.

Electronically operated “smart” dog doors are battery-operated, plugged into a wall outlet, or hard-wired to open only when your dog feels a button next to them. Fobs are usually magnetic or use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology – they usually release the lock and your dog can then enter the door, but in some models the fob automatically moves the door up and down; Garage door.

Electronic dog doors help prevent other animals from getting in and can be programmed to operate only at certain times of the day. Bring your pet from 5 to 9 p.m. bring between Put one on a timer so they can access it. For example, when you get home from work and then lock up overnight.

How To Choose The Best Flooring For Dogs

A non-electronic dog door can be made more secure by adding a device that alerts you when the door is used, such as a contact sensor or motion sensor as part of a smart home system. Almost every type of dog door comes with a secondary panel that slides into the frame and locks when not in use.

Also, most models allow you to lock the entrance in one or both directions, so your pet can go out but not come back in. This mudguard keeps dogs (and critters) from running around the house. When installing a dog door, make sure the door handle or window is not easily accessible if someone tries to slide their hands through it. This is especially important if you have a large dog, as the opening can be 2 feet for larger breeds. long

A clever way to hide the plastic cover of the wall door and make it safe for anyone to come and go? Keep the pet entrance in the main closet. Here, an aluminum threshold protects the sash and a solid wooden door is secured with turn bolts. The interior paint blends in with the rest of the kitchen.

This smart jump makes pet access safer and more energy efficient. The structure acts as a buffer zone, weatherproofed at both ends. Its 2×4 frame is covered with decking, siding and asphalt shingles to give the house a compact look, to ensure the dog has enough room to roam.

Pets: Options For Doggie Doors

There’s no way around it: punching holes in the house means you’re losing energy. “It’s a trade-off, you get the convenience, but you lose some energy efficiency,” Tom says.

Look for doors made of beef with weather-resistant gaskets or insulated glass, and use security panels to prevent wind, rain and snow from entering the home. Are you building your own dog door kit?

Keep extra ventilation and an exterior level handle on hand to make sure the dog door frame is tightly closed so your pet can roam freely while keeping your home as dry and open as possible.

Get vintage home news, trusted tips, tricks and DIY smart projects straight to your inbox from our experts. Dog doors make life easier for people and pets. Instead of walking your dog in and out, you can relax. Many dog ​​doors come with convenient, locking panels if you want Fido to stay outside overnight or if you’re working with him.

In Or Out Pet Products

Before you buy, decide where to put the pet door. Some are designed to be mounted on doors or walls, while others are available as accessories for sliding glass patio doors. Many door fitting models can be used for interior or exterior doors.

There are also dog doors that fit garage doors, but they have some security concerns. Your dog can walk in the door while the garage door is open. If the dog is less afraid of the automatic garage door and closed on it, there is also the possibility of injury.

Measure the wall or door where you will install the dog door to determine the size of the dog door. Also, measure your dog’s height from the shoulder to the floor. Don’t count from the head, as most dogs duck when using a dog door.

Make sure you select

The Best Dog Doors Of 2023, Tested And Reviewed, 60% Off

Best security locks for home doors, best doors for home, best dog doors for stucco walls, best screen doors for home, best interior doors for home, best doors for home security, best dog doors for large dogs, best dog doors for sliding glass doors, best doors for home office, best steel doors for home, best exterior doors for home, best dog doors for walls