Does Anyone Have a Dog Door?

[k2campbell]

Hey Everyone,

Kate just loves being outside, we were off from work last week and she was out almost every morning (into afternoon) 'lounging' for a few hours.  She has a room (sort of - laundry room) she stays in (with a gate) while we're at work, and we'd like to put a dog door off of that room (right next to the back door) so she would have free roam to the backyard while we're at work.

Anyone have a dog door (brand) they'd suggest?  And maybe some install tips?  Would appreciate any/all info here. 

Thanks!

[shangrila]

I don't have one, however, I would suggest you look into the ones that have security built into them. I know they make ones that only open when the sensor that the dog wears on it's collar is near it. I don't know how much they cost but I think they are deffinately worth looking into since any door big enough for one of our big-paws to go out is also big enough for a stranger to go in.

[brandon]

I don't have one, however, I would suggest you look into the ones that have security built into them. I know they make ones that only open when the sensor that the dog wears on it's collar is near it. I don't know how much they cost but I think they are deffinately worth looking into since any door big enough for one of our big-paws to go out is also big enough for a stranger to go in.

Can't imagine a crook crawling into a house with a dog that needs a doggie-door the size of a dishwasher
But then again, there is Dumb Crook news for a reason.

[k2campbell]

Thanks guys    Ha ha - too funny (doggie door the size of a dishwasher)!     It's true though when you think of it!

Good thing is, we have neighbours directly on our back yard (no alleyway) so they're really the only ones who could even see that we have the doggie door.  Unless someone came into our backyard (but) I doubt that...

Regardless, we're getting a lock for our gate...

Kelly

[newflvr]

We have a dog-door...and yep, it's about the size of a small dishwasher.  I think we got it from dogdoors.com.  And about security:  as the dog trainer told us, anybody who has a dog door that size doesn't want to see the dog that goes with it.  If the bad guys only knew ! 

Our biggest problem with it is that our cats also use it and they love to bring their kill in to the house every night.  I've ended up taping the door shut at night so we don't wake up to a murder scene every morning  !  EWWW!

[brandon]

I'm glad you said that about the cats, we're planning on installing a dog door and I've been worried about that same thing.  Our little siamese mix got out the other night and showed up at the patio window a couple of hours later with a wiggling snake in her mouth, wanting us to let he back in.  It's bad enough when it's dead but brining in live snakes?   Taping it at night sounds like a good idea... I dont know what we'll do I wish we could fix it so it takes more force than the cats could muster to open it.

[GR8DAME]

We toyed with the idea of a doggy door, but decided against it. We live in a very urban area, and don't like the idea of the dogs being outside when we are not home to monitor. Especially with puppies I am afraid that they may not be there when we come back. Too many threads have been posted here on stolen dogs.
Stella

[Gunnersmom]

We have always had a dog door, but not for use when we're not home. Too afraid of the dogs being stolen. Most doors come with a slide that you put in to close it off when you want to keep the dogs in. And unfortunately I've had to use this door twice when I have locked myself out of the house!   Good thing I have a big dog door, I barely squeezed through! But it is nice not to have to get up every twenty minutes to let the dogs in and out.  House training is a breeze with a dog door also.

[k2campbell]

Thanks all for your advice!

I am a little weary too of letting Kate have access to outside when we're not home (scared she'd be stolen, seeing as she's so darn friendly)!  We are still thinking about it, but the good thing is, we are getting a really good gate lock, and our fence is 6 ft high.  Also, our neighbour doesn't work and is home everyday, she could totally keep an eye out for anything 'suspicious'.

But, I'm still scared to do it!  Regardless, the door would be good for evenings and weekends, as Kate wants out a lot!

Anyone recommend any dog door brands?  Or are they all pretty much the same?

Thanks again everyone

[Icerotti]

We don't have a dog door for one reason Farley!  He would dig a hole under the fence and be gone. He still needs supervision in that department. We have to do a fence check every couple days. So far he has only dug holes up next to the house.   The boy is a bit confused.

I think the doors are a great idea. If we just had Puck. I would put one in in an instant. Puck loves to be outside. It would be great if he cold come and go as he pleased. Maybe when Farley matures it may be a possible.

[newflvr]

The door we got through www.dogdoors.c om is the one with the glass doors and it works well.  There is also one that is operated by a magnet that the dog wears to open the door....I wish now that we'd gotten that one and the cats wouldn't get the secret code!!  I have no idea how well it works, but I like the idea!

[k2campbell]

Thanks for the info guys!

I will check out that dog door with the magnet from that website, thanks Newflvr.  Don't really need all the neighbourhood cats showing up in our house (but it would be funny) hee hee

Thanks again - and I hope Farley breaks his habit soon enough so you can get a dog door IceRotti!

[mynameislola]

Dog doors are wonderful. 

One of our dogs' doors goes to a fenced yard which the big dogs use when we are home. 

When we are away, they use another dog door which opens onto a kennel with a concrete floor and chain-link panels for the walls and roof.  The panels are bolted to the cement and the nuts welded on.  There is a human-sized gate in one panel with a lock.

I prefer the flexible types with magnetic flaps and inserts to close the hole.  When it is windy, the magnets are not strong enough to hold the flap shut on the biggest door, but the small ones stays shut.  We have tried the ones where the door flap is solid plastic, and a nine pound dog broke the hinges off the first door in about five minutes.

[Thelma]

we have one that goes out to a fenced in yard and porch. Best thing we ever did.  They love it and I love that they can go out on their own.
We bought a Staywell XL and it works just fine.
Hope that helps

[macybean]

Snow? What's snow? 

We don't even get that much rain, but that's a good point. Maybe if you restrict the area the dogs can get to when they come inside (if the door is off of the kitchen or dining room, let's say). Or you can just lock the door on rainy days so they can't get out. Not sure. I love the comment about seeing what size dog comes out of the door-no kidding!