The Dog Door

[goforette]

Chris and I have finally I think decided to get brave and install a dog door in the wall of the house... hopefully this isn't a bad idea - but I figured we've already modified the house is so many ways to accomodate the dogs - what's one more thing. We were going to have a professional company come and do it - but I suppose I'm hoping they'll take to it or at least like it - they just hit 1 year old so hopefully they'll take to it and learn how to use it - hopefully I'm not creating a bigger problem/headache... for those of you that have dog doors do you like them?

Additionally is $425 too much for professional door/w installation? We had thought about a door that goes into the sliding glass door for $109 but wasn't sure how sturdy or secure it would be.

[Sarah]

We're set to close on a house in a couple of weeks that already has a dog door installed in one of the walls. I don't think they're a bad idea at all, but I also haven't started using one yet, either. We'll see how it goes. Ours is in the dining room wall, but it's not too obvious. I like the idea of the door being part of the wall and not part of the door, too, so I'm happy that it's already there for us! Please update and let us know how it all goes. I'm curious about how well yours like it and learn to use it since they're very close in age to Henry. We'll be going from no off leash freedom at all (condo living) to a dog door and big fenced yard. I think he'll be pretty happy, but I think it's going to be an adjustment since we've spent the past year teaching him to sit/stay at the sight of an open door. I hope it will be easy to balance those rules with the dog door freedom!

[Amber and the zoo]

I had thought about having a doggie door installed too. I looked at them at Petsmart just this week actually. Even though we have a very well fenced in yard, it still makes me a little nervous knowing that I am not there to "look out". We already bought some chain link to install around the bottom of our picket fence, into the ground, because Ellie is trying to dig there.

[wellygoggles]

We have concertina folding glass doors into our courtyard and Fergus' dogdoor is in one of the panes of glass. The glass company who did the installation, replaced the pane the door was going to be inserted in with safety glass. This means if Fergus does break the glass in his exhuberance to get out, it won't shatter all over him, just crack.

The door has catches each side to lock from either side or both sides if required. If Fergus starts barking at something outside, I call him in, then quickly run outside and flick the clips so that he can't go pelting out into the yard again barking. He's had a few head butting moments against the locked door when he's come panting down the stairs like a pocket rocket, ready to go into a barking frenzy at the noisy children nextdoor, only to bounce off the perspex flap on his dogdoor cos it's locked These days he is more cautious about charging his door.

I've never heard or seen in the doors inserted in house walls, but I'm in NZ. I think it's a good idea if it gives you peace of mind about the safety glass breaking.

Fergus took no time at all to master hopping in and out of the door. I just stood on one side of the door with a treat and gently pushed the flap to show him it moved, and out he came for his treat.

We've had this discussion before on the forum and one member disapproved of the dogdoor because a drug addict had gained access into her house through it They must have been very young, or else a vertically challenged person!

Cheers, Welly & Fergus

[goforette]

The dog door we were considering is through this company:

http://halepetdoor.com/

It has unbreakable security cover and pin lock for extra security - I can't imagine with the size we're getting that any person could actually get through it - the racoons maybe - maybe a tiny fox - but that's why we were leaning towards this dog door rather than a panel that went into our glass sliding door - is for more security - it's just a little bit more money than I think I realized...

[OzGirl]

We have a doggy door fitted into the bottom panel of one of our family room windows. Hubby made it by sectioning off part of the window with a wooden frame and fitting a perspex door into the frame. He also fitted a track on the inside so I can slide a wooden door down to lock them in/out. Having the wooden frame makes it safer cos I don't have to worry about them breaking the window when they go charging through the door. Also as it is only 20cm x 20cm there is no way a person could fit through so there is no issues with security.

My two love their little door it means they can take themselves out whenever they want/need to (provided I am home).

The only trouble they have is when they try to go out it carrying someting too big to fit through.

[Tracy A.]

We have two dog doors. One from the family room into the garage, and one from the garage into the fenced dog run. We installed ours- I mean my husband installed them. Ours are pretty basic, they have a locking system on them where you can in only, out only, Locked, and Open. After we installed them, they boys did not want to use them. It took about a week, I remeber holding the dog door open with a cookie in my hand trying to get one of them to come through the opening. Now you hear them slamming through the dog doors playing highspeed chase... LOL we lock the dog doors at night if the boys aren't sleeping with us because if they hear something they'll go out in to the dog run and bark up a storm... or give 'whatever' hell.

[goforette]

Hollie loves the dog door.... no training required... Brystal HATES the doggie door... no matter what I try she won't go through it.... I'm hoping time helps....

[wellygoggles]

Which one did you go for - the one through the house wall or through the glass sliding door?

[goforette]

We opted to go for the wall unit because it would save on our near white carpet... it took a big breath for me to allow a hole in my house wall... but I did it without totally freaking out... (baby steps... HA!)

[Darcy's Folks]

cool! Just makes sure you lock it at night so they don't have any encounters with coyotes here in Colorado!

Also... clicker training will do wonders with Brystal.

[toomanypaws]

I must be in the minority here, so sorry for this post. I honestly can't even imagine having a dog door for my Cairns. I must be way too overprotective as I'd be worrying about them all night long. My oldest Cairn, Kiara is the advid hunter and would probably never come inside. I couldn't sleep at night thinking about her outside in hunting mode and the possibility of digging out. Then there's the dirt that's tracked in. I don't want to sound like a clean freak, but w/ my crew I can't imagine them coming in and out as they please. I love nice sunny days, but when the weather calls for rain, I go through alot of towels drying paws off before they enter the house. Mine have actually learned to wait at the door to have their feet wiped when commanded. Then there's the critters. I don't even want to think about what Kiara would kill and possibly drag back into the house. Do those of you who have these dog doors lock them at night? I know that my Kiara would become an outside dog really fast and hunt all night. We have coyotes around here and there's no way I could relax w/ mine outside for any duration w/o me checking on them.

Am I the only one who doesn't have a doggie door???

[Cairnmania]

Toomanypaws,

No comment on the "clean freak" - I gave up worrying about muddy pawprints long ago. :-) If you wipe paws every time that dogs come inside the house, then dog doors may not be right for you.

I would not be without dog doors. I've also lived in an area with coyotes, big ones. I've always had my dog doors exit into a securely fenced area - basically an extra large outdoor kennel run. This means if the dogs need to go outside to relieve themselves or just for a spot of fresh air they can do so whenever they wish, even though I am not home. The secure area has a gate that opens onto my fenced garden. The only time my dogs were ever allowed in the garden is when I am at home. Same now, even though I am in a coyote-free zone.

[OzGirl]

Glad to see Hollie likes her new door, has Brystal decided to use it yet? It took a little while for Susie to like using the doggy door, I'm sure Brystal will get the hang of it soon.

Toomanypaws,

My two are allowed to go out into our fenced backyard anytime we are home, even at night up until we go to bed then they are locked in their crates (they do tend to hang around the family most of the time though). I keep it locked when no one is home because I worry they might try to dig out or just drive the neighbours crazy by barkingtheirfoolheadsoff, especially Roxy. The one downside to it is sometimes they bring in a yukky treasure to finish eating or to play with.

[goforette]

Brystal figured it out! It's a miracle - she's slower at it - but she's doing it! Yeah I was worried about the dirt etc - but that's why we went through the wall into the kitchen so that they wouldn't track in dirt as they come and go... and kitchen is gated off from the carpet so it helps control the dirt - as I like a very clean house too... that's why we went for the Hale pet door because it had the double flap feature that would keep bugs and be a critter deturrant - and we always shut it and lock it up for the night - the girls have a curfew of 9-10pm and they don't have access to it while I'm not home - not yet (they haven't demonstrated enough Cairn responsiblity yet...) - and it has a great lock on it so no one could lift it up from the outside. It cost more - but was worth the extra security features. So far it's been great not to open the sliding glass door every 30 minuters to a half hour for in and out potty trips - it has been great to let them come and go on their own.

[Sarah]

I'm glad Brystal and Hollie became accustomed to it quickly. I hope Henry does so well!

I'm not really too worried about coyotes or other dogs because we will be living in an urban environment and will have a fence. I think the most I'll have to worry about is squirrels (and his barking). I don't plan to let Henry have free reign with the door, though. It has a lock, and will not be open at all times. He's still going to sleep in his crate at night and stay in his pen when we aren't home. I'm mostly excited about not having to take him out on a leash for every potty break. I am, though, a total clean freak. I have the most issues with floors, so I'm planning to put a rug under the door to catch some of the dirt. Hardwood is not as bad to clean as carpet (for me), so I'm not too worried about it. I clean the floors everyday anyway. I figure a little bit of dirt tracked in on rainy days is worth the convenience.