Pet Doors

If you own a cat or a dog, you proably wonder what you can do to give them a bit more independence, specially if you work long hours and there isn’t anyone to take care of your pet. After all, cats and dogs are not naturally domesticated animals and desire to have some sort of freedom. On the other hand, pets have to be protected from things that might hurt them, like cars on the street, and with pet doors, most owner can satisfy both needs.

What They Are

In case you don’t know, pet doors are trap or flaps that are installed on your door and that allow your pet to go outside (or come in) without your assistance. They are easy to install with the right tools and with little training. If you decide to carry out the installation yourself, consider getting some tips and information from your local pet supply store or home depot. If you don’t have much experience doing this type of job, then you’re better off hiring a professional to do it for you.

Are Pet Doors Useful and Safe?

While useful, pet doors are not recommended for every single case. The first instance that comes to mind is apartment buildings, where pet doors are a bad idea. Another case when pet doors are not a good idea is if you do not have a fenced in yard. Even for people with big areas, it’s not a good idea to let you pet outside without restrain. In many cases it is even illegal. Even if not prohibited by law, you have to take into consideration your dog’s safety above all.

Your pet could be hit by a car, picked up by someone who thinks he or she is a stray, or your pet could possibly harm someone and bring you into lengthy litigation as well that could possibly force your pet to be terminated. You have to consider all of these before you install a pet door in your property.

Installing pet doors is a way of giving some independence to your pet. They are very convenient in most cases, but not all, for example, in apartment buildings. If you think your pet might benefit from pet doors, consult an expert first.

If you have a dog, you must be responsible for it, which means that you’ll acquire some obligations. Sometimes, parents cede to their children’s pressure and get them a pup, but when the pup grows and it’s not cute anymore, the responsabilities of having it also increase.

Dogs (and cats too) don’t live only on pet food, they also need water, a place to sleep, a place where to relieve themselves, sun and protection from it, etc. Installing a pet door might be something you have thought about to help meet the basic needs of your animal. Here is a small list of things that have to be taken into consideration when selecting a pet door, or even to decide if you should get one or not.

Safety

In order to be totally safe, pet doors have to be correctly installed. There are some people that think that a burglar can break into their houses through a pet door, and in a few cases, they might not be too far from the truth. Big and large breeds will need a corresponding pet door, and if big enough, this door might let a human reach inside in an attempt to open the door from the inside. What you need to check when you are thinking of the safety of installing a pet door is how far you can reach your arm inside the door when reaching through the door for the pet. If you can reach your doorknob, obviously the door is not safe. This is not a problem for pet doors that are designed for small animals.

Usability

One thing to consider when installing a pet door is that it will be used A LOT by your pet. Your dog has to be able to go through the door comfortably; don’t forget to take into account that young pups will grow very fast.

Some people buy a pup and then are surprised to learn the responsabilities they acquired as well. Fortunately, installing a pet door can help you take care of some of your pet’s needs. You can get a pet door online or at most pet supply stores.

Patio panel pet doors are great for dog owners who are lucky enough to have a patio on the back of their house where they can take their pets. Because patios usually have sliding doors, people used to think that it was impossible to install a patio panel pet door on one of them, but fortunately, today the market offers some models that do precisely that. Thus, it is very easy to find a pet door that can be used to give access to the dog, regardless of the size and age of the door and the type of material of the door.

Selections and Choices

One option in patio panel pet doors is to get a double paned or insulated one so that the door is still energy efficient even though the pet door is in it. Before going shopping for a patio pet door, people should check to see if their glass door is single or double paned so that they can make the appropriate choices at the store.

Another thing that has to be decided is whether the patio panel pet door will be installed permanently or just temporary, and if it’s going to be temporary, how long. The temporary patio pet door is very convenient since it can be taken out when necessary, such as when moving to another house or even for long vacations. A patio panel pet door still needs to be screwed to the sliding door that it’s attached to; that way, thieves can’t use it to get into the house.

There are also different options in the patio panel pet door in terms of the security that can be gained with them. Securty can be improved even more by using a lock on the pet door, or even by installing an alarm on it. There are pin locks and dead bolt locks that can be used on these patio pet doors, which both serve to lock the doors against intruders when the owners want the home to be completely secure.

If you have a patio where your dog spends most of the time, you should install a patio panel pet door. New models can even be installed on glass doors. A patio panel pet door is screwed to the patio door, so it can’t be pulled off by thieves.

In some cases the magnetic cat door operates on batteries or electricity, but most do not which means they are not subject to battery or electrical failure and are ever-lasting. This is one of its main advantages, because it means that the cat won’t be locked out of the house if the power failure occurs when the owner is away at work or on vacation.

How These Doors Operate

This kind of door can sense a magnet that is installed on the collar of the cat, which works as some sort of “key” that will open the door to the cat. When this magnet is close to the door due to the approach of the cat, the door opens. The cat is then free to go and come at their convenience.

The main purpose of the magnetic cat door is to let the cat into or out the house without the help of the owner, who can even go out on vacation without worrying about the cat.

Offers Security

One of the safety features of the magnetic cat door is that it only opens for your cat and for nothing else, locking itself after the cat is inside the house. So, if your cat is chased by animals or by mean spirited children, once it’s inside the house, the door will protect it from pursuers. As an extra feature, since the door is locked, burglars can’t use it to sneak into the house or to insert an object that will open the lock.

These doors normally come with the following settings which can be set to the owners liking: In and Out, In only, Out only and Locked. Magnetic cat doors aren’t really harder to install than regular cat doors.

Generally the magnetic pet door is weatherproofed which will help keep out drafty cold weather in the winter and blazing hot heat from the sun in summer. Convenient as they may be, magnetic cat doors aren’t recommended for young kitties.

Cost

Their price is about $50. However, some models cost up to $100. Luxurious or custom made models can cost even more.

If you have a cat, installing a magnetic cat door is a very good idea. This way, there’s no need to open the door or a window every time the cat goes in or out. Oh, and amagnetic pet door will ONLY open for your cat.

Traditional dog doors have one big disadvantage: they let in not only our dogs, but other animals that might be chasing it. With the development of electronic dog doors, our pets can come safely into the house where they’ll be safe from other animals or mean children. Before you go out and buy the first electronic door that you see, you should do some research, either on internet or with pet supplies stores in order to find out what options you have.

Types of Electronic Dog Doors

There are two types of electronic pet doors depending on the sensors they have. The first one uses sensors that detect motion while the second one uses sensors that detect electromagnetic fields. While the former one is operated based on the working of an innovative sensor that senses the motion of the dog and differentiates the motion of the dog from that of humans, the latter is based on an electro magnetic signal that is sent from the collar unit worn by the dog.

When compared, the ones that work with electromagnetic fields are better, since they give you 100% guarantee that no one but your dog will be able to come into your house.

Advantages

Just because they use electronics, that doesn’t mean that electronic dog doors are difficult to install. They are waterproof (from the outside) and they can be used constantly without a problem. Some models even let you customize times and modes of access.

Selecting the Best Electronic Dog Door

Always ask about different models in several stores or online before making a purchase since you might find one that has a feature that will be extremely useful and practical in your case. The height of the dog, the ease of handling, the customizability with respect to entry and exit and the activation methodology are a few major factors that need intent consideration before placing the order.

The main advantage of electronic dog doors over regular ones is that they keep other animals out of the house. They are also a good choice in areas where there’s a lot of rain or snow, since they will keep those outside too. Always consider the size of your dog when looking at electronic pet doors.

The electronic dog door is powered either by batteries, electrical plugs or by both. This type of door uses high technology in oder to make life easier for the dog and its owner. These doors are specially designed and will only open for the dog that is wearing a special collar piece. With this system, no other animal will be able to get into your house. An electronic pet door costs more than other types of pet doors, but they are worth the price.

One of the advantages of these doors is that, unlike regular pet doors, they can’t be pushed open and will always be closed, keeping water and snow from coming into the house. Traditional pet doors can be entered anytime but electronic doors close right after the pet has passed through it and stay closed until the pet returns.

How do they work?

Although they can vary a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, these doors usually work in the same way. The door has some sensors which make the door open when they detect a magnetic (sometimes infrared) signal emitted by a collar that your dog has to wear at all times.

Whether the dog comes from inside or outside the house, the door will open for the pet and then it will lock itself again. There are some types which include a remote control that let the owner keep the door closed or opened regardless of where the collar is.

One of the unique features about an electronic pet door is that people cannot activate the door because the high-tech sensors can detect the difference between an animal and a person

Price

Since the level of technology used plays a great role in the price aside from the material and size of the dog door, models can go from $40 to $700 in price.

Extra features include several locking modes and aesthetic designs.

The electronic dog door is powered by normal electrical current or by batteries. It locks after the dog comes in, keeping animals and rain outside. Depending on your specificelectronic pet door model, you may get different features.

For any person that has a dog, putting a doggie door into one of the doors of the home that leads to the back yard is essential to keeping everyone happy. Despite the common misconception, for those who have a sliding glass doors, there are some types of doggie doors that can be installed on them. Actually, there are two kinds of doggie doors that can installed on glass doors without breaking them or rendering them more fragile.

Types of Doggie Doors

The two types of doggy doors that can be put into sliding glass doors are the panel type and a door within the door. The first type is a door that measure the same as the sliding door, and while it reduces the space that people have to get out, it works as a normal doggie door otherwise.

The door within the door requires that a hole be cut in the glass so that the door for the pet can be installed

In addition to dog doors that can be installed on glass doors, there are also other types that work on regular doors, like the automatic slider doggie doors. These doors are better suited for large dogs because they open completely whenever the dog goes through them, giving them more space. However, the most common type of doggie door by far is the flap door, which is usually installed at the bottom of the door and has to be pushed by the dog whenever it comes in our out.

Due to the popularity of doggie doors, manufacturers are always trying to come up with new types of doggie doors, such as the sash doors and the door mounts. WIth so many types of doors available, any customer can find the most appropriate doggy door for his or her pet, no matter the size, age, and characteristics of the dog.

Installing a doggie door is very easy and practical. They can even be installed in glass doors. You can pretty much install a doggy door in any kind of door.

For people who are too busy or spend most of the time on the second floor of their house, dog doors are a great solution for not having to open the door for the dog every time it needs to go out. Thus, they allow dog owners to continue with their activities interrupted so that when they finish they can dedicate some quality time to their pets.

Common Types of Dog Doors

There are several sorts of dog doors; some of the most common are plastic doors, metal doors, glass doors, and even electronic dog doors

Plastic doors can be transparent so your dog can see what’s outside or inside and avoid bumping into people. However, that also means that people who are willing to crouch or lie down will see inside your house. Metal doors are the most resistant, but they might be too heavy for your dog to push open and they tend to make noise with time.

Glass doors are prefered by people who want something transparent. Electronic dog doors have been the latest type that is in vogue today. These have a remote key attached to their collar that enables automatic opening and closing of the door using magnets.

A Few Pointers for Selecting the Right Dog Door

Think about what you need first, then try to find a door that satisfies that. Some people don’t like transparent dogs because they don’t want outsiders to see into their houses, while others believe that the extra sunlight is a welcome addition. Measure the size of your dog and try to purchase dog doors of suitable size for that would make it compact and impressive. Although it might sound obvious, some dog owners buy doors for their puppies and forget that they will outgrow them in very little time.

Training of the dog to use the door is pretty simple. Just show it a couple of times, and the dog’s own needs will take it from there. If you have the money, always get a professional to install the door.

For some people, dog doors means no interruptions when cooking, sleeping, or watching TV. They allow your dog to go to the yard by itself. When comparing dog doors, consider your dog’s size above all.

If you have a dog, you might be trying to figure out how to foster his or her independence. For example, it can be very annoying to have to wake up at 5 AM because your dog needs to go out. You might think that if you install a dog door for your dog that he or she will have more independence and you will be able to sleep late in the morning instead of having to get up at the crack of dawn to walk your pup!.

There are some important things to take into consideration when choosing and buying a dog door for your home.

Some Basic Safety Rules

When getting a dog door installed, there are a few things to consider. If you have a small dog, you will not have to worry as much about the safety of this little door for your pup. However, large breeds will need corresponding large dog doors so that they can come in comfortably. The bigger the dog door is, the easier it makes it for a burglar to try to use it to get into your house. There are even some thieves that will try to reach for the door lock through the small dog doors.

Make sure to point out these or other concerns to the person that will sell you the dog door. You can find that sort of information at your local pet supply store as well.

Can Your Pet Use It?

It is also important to check to make sure your pet can actually navigate the door. If the dog can’t use it, there’s simply no point in getting that door in specific; that includes not only the size of the door, but also the dog being able to open it. This last part is sometimes overlooked and then owners have to replace the door at a bigger expense.

Getting a dog door is very convenient. No more getting up at night to let your dog out urgently. When buying a dog door always see that your dog can fit through it and open it before purchasing it.

If you have a a cat, then you might want to consider installing a couple of cat flaps in your house, specially if you get more than one. Cat flaps are popular because they let you continue doing what you were doing without having to interrupt it just because your cat wants to go out again.

You may need to consider having them fitted by a professional builder or workman, depending on what your door is made of, as it is important to get a good fit, to ensure that the cat door remains water tight, and is fitted in the correct place

Think About Burglars

One of the important safety points to take into account is to make sure that the installation of cat flaps won’t make it easier for people to break into your house when you’re not at home. That why a lot of people prefer to place cat doors in the lowest part of their doors, which also lets the car get in the house by walking through it, instead of having to jump or climb.

While cat doors aren’t big enough for burglars to go through them, if they were installed in a higher location, they could be used by them to reach for the door knob from inside and try to see if it opens.

Other Cats

Even if cat doors won’t let burglars of thieves break into your house, the neighborhood cats will have no trouble at all getting into your house, something that you might want to consider. A simple way to get around this problem is to have a cat flap with a locking system, which identifies the cat by a small tag, added to his collar.

These cat doors normally are locked with the use of a magnet, in such a way that any other cat will not be able to open the door, even if it pushes it, as the magnets will hold it in place.

cat flaps will let your cat come in and out as it pleases without your help. If installed properly, they won’t represent a safety risk. There are even some cat doors that will only open for your cat.