Dog Door – How to Get the Right Size for Your Pet

You need to pick the right size and locking features, at the very least, when planning to install a dog door in your home.

Size and size-cut matters – measure your dog for a comfortable “fit”

Dog doors come in many sizes, some can be enough to fit a range of dog heights and shoulder widths. Is your dog as big as a small horse – then consider getting large dog doors for your pet. Better yet, consider a custom-made door. You won’t have a problem with the size and shoulder width this way, since most dog doors of this size are of limited range only.

But if your getting the usual dog door that fits most small and medium sized dogs, that means you get to choose a size cut that fits your dog. So you get a good fit for your dog, you need to measure the height and shoulder width of your pet. A majority of dog doors are sold with or comes with size cut guides that list weight range, height, and shoulder width. Carefully measure your pet’s dimensions and then simply follow the size cut guide.

There’s probably no one who knows your pet better than you do, but just to be on the safe size, if you make a mistake and choose a smaller cut size of the dog door for your pet, you could end up inconveniencing your dog. You don’t want your pet to kneel and crawl like a thief sneaking into a hole that’s too tight.

Some pets are known to muscle their way when they see a way in or out, one in which they think they can fit through. That happens when they’re playing. That’s when the smaller sized dog door comes into play – your dog could get injured or at least hurt when it forces itself through that ill-fitting dog door. What if your dog was being chased by an enemy dog, or is running scared of an intruder? Kneeling to get through that door is a hassle.

Soft or hard flaps – your choice

With many dogs and a large place, you may have dogs that view your home as one big large playground. You’ll need a dog door with a soft flap for that, so your dogs can enjoy the run and the exercise, which is good for them. For small home with over-energetic dogs that may abuse a soft flap, it’s recommended you use a hard flap.

Security concerns – why lock settings are vital for dog doors

Flaps swing both ways, but dog doors with added lock setting can be configured. You can set it up to lock after your dog comes home at night, so the dog can’t leave again. If you want to vacuum the house, for example, you can do the reverse – so your dog will be locked out when it leaves through dog door. For added security, consider an automatic dog door. This type of door can be set to unlock and let your pet in or out.