A dog door, how does it work? In what situations can you use a dog door? What are the benefits of having a pet door installed?

A dog door OR cat door are relatively simple devices. Dog doors are basically a hinged flap allowing the pet to come and go as they wish into or out of an area or room. Some dog doors also have the ability to lock. Cat doors can be a little more complex there are several types of cat door some two way locking, some are four way locking some are magnetic

There are also several types of Patio pet door or sliding screen pet door inserts for both cats and dogs. And the least common pet door is the wall entry dog door or pet door.

I'll summarise each of the types in concise small paragraphs for you.

Basic dog doors are mostly fitted through security screens Petway pet doors are a good example and for pet doors through wooden doors the Staywell 600 series are great option

Patio panel doors or screen door insert these are full inserts of that are the height of the sliding door or screen door, the panel slides in to the track of the sliding door or screen door.

Pet Doors for Glass are a bit specialized. In most cases you will require a glazier to cut the glass to insert the dog door.

Two way locking pet doors the two basic mechanisms for two way locking are 1. Totally open unrestricted entry or exit 2. Totally locked no entry no exit. There are several examples of 2 way locking pet doors so it might be better to look through the catagory

Four way locking cat doors the four basic mechanisms for a four way locking door are 1. Totally locked no entry no exit 2. Totally open unrestricted exit or entry 3. One-way entry but locked exit 4. One-way exit but no entry. The Petsafe Deluxe 4 way cat flap is a great example of this.

Magnetic locking cat doors The Staywell Magnetic Cat Flap is a great solution for selective entry of cats and small dogs. The pet would wear a small token or mouse on its collar which is essentially a magnet when the pet approaches the pet door the door unlocks allowing the pet entry.

Wall entry pet doors are a special type of pet door that allows for a longer "tunnel section" , should you wish your pet door to go through external walls including brick. The Petsafe wall entry aluminum pet door is a great example

Safety for small children please take care when installing dog and pet doors if you have small children. If you have an unfenced belowground pool or other form of danger in your backyard be aware that toddlers may be able to exit the pet door and find themselves in a dangerous or life-threatening situation.

Author: