Dog Door Questions

About Dog Doors

At first thought, a dog door seems very simple and straight forward. It is only when you start to look at the various models offered, coupled with the possible locations that one could install a dog door that you may find yourself getting overwhelmed by information. You want to make the best choices; once a door is installed, you may have trouble removing it from a human door.

Then once you think you have chosen the right door for the right place, you are hit with other important decisions. Is it the right size? How do I size a pet door for my dog? Will it work in the future when they get older? What if I get another pet like a puppy or a cat? People either put off the decision or browse the internet, hoping the answer jumps up to their faces.

The staff at Moore Pet Supplies lives and breathes everything and anything about pet doors. We want to make the decision process easy for every owner so that your dog or cat can receive a comfortable entrance in a timely manner.

Choosing The Right Door

Choosing a suitable product is not as formidable as once may think, especially if you break down the decision making into defined steps. We believe that every owner should ask these questions.

1. Where does it work best to install a pet door in my home?

2. Am I concerned with the insulating and sealing ability of the door?

3. Am I concerned with the lasting quality of the door?

4. Is it possible that I may have other pets in the future or another dog similar in size?

5. Will the cost be a limiting factor in my decision process?

These five steps will help get you thinking in the right direction before you begin to look at various pet doors on the market. Certain specifics such as the appropriate size of door for the breed are important also, and often a brief discussion with someone familiar with pet doors can quickly help with this. We will address this facet of the journey a little later.

Where Am I Installing My Pet Door?

Decide if you want to do a wall or a door mount and if you want the doors to lead outside or to other rooms in the house. Consider how people with dogs and cats may want to designate territory to avoid inter-house conflicts. Having a cat or dog flap will also mean that the pets have the run of the house and don?t have to fear closed doors.

The advantage of a wall-mounted door are that you can create ramps for elderly dogs, to ease the aches on their joints. Also, the hole can be patched if you want to move the entrance, while patching is harder on a person?s door. The tradeoff is that you should use a handyman or display expertise to install one to prevent electrical accidents or unnecessary damage to your house.

Should I Have A Weatherproof Dog Door?

You should if you live in a place with volatile conditions. While a door may not protect against a cyclone, they can keep heat from escaping the house in cold weather and vice-versa during the summer. You can save on energy costs, and keep out unwanted rain and dampness.

Am I Concerned With The Insulating And Sealing Ability Of The Door?

As mentioned, few models truly provide a quality seal or barrier to the outdoors. With that said, you can find models that better retain heat in the house. Let?s focus our attention on those characteristics that make one design better than another.

In general, there are two design types when it comes to dog doors: flexible flap versions and rigid flap versions. Eighty-five percent of the dog doors on the market are flexible flaps. The reason for this is that this type of design tends to seal better than a rigid flap. Another reason is that dogs and cats tend to shy away from a rigid flap because of the drag along their back and in some models, the weight of the flap on their back.

The better flexible flap doors are found in the dual flap models. A dual flap door has an interior and exterior flap with an air space in-between. This air space is a great insulator when the flaps seal perfectly each time after use. Dual flap models are not any more difficult for dogs or cats to use than a single flap.

Secure Pet Doors

Am I Concerned With The Lasting Quality Of The Door?

Everyone has heard the phrase ?You get what you pay for?, the same is true with a pet door. The market is bloated with mass-produced, outsourced products. In truth, these fine foreign models are the ones that you will find in the local pet store, Home Depot or Walmart. They seem convenient, but the buyer needs to beware.

The reason they are abundant is that they are cheaply made. Retailers offer a few sizes to correctly correlate with your dog?s size, and good luck finding a replacement part. Pet owners find it more cost-effective to replace the entire unit than offer a replacement part to maintain the unit you so eagerly purchased initially.

Next time you are in one of these stores, pick one up, take a look. Ask yourself, ?If I was buying windows or doors for my home would I get them from the bargain bin at Big Lots?? Choosing the right pet door and being happy with the product is directly relative to the quality of the product.

How Does Moore Pet Supplies Dog Doors compare to a Big Box Store?

Here is another point to keep in mind. Let?s say you install a pet door through a wall in your home, you spent $65 on a wondrous plastic dog door, spend a beautiful Saturday morning installing the door, or have hired a handyman to do the install for you. Life is grand and wondrous.

Then comes the storm. Maybe your house suffers a snowstorm, cold front, pouring rain, or heavy wind. Suddenly the door is damaged, as is the area around it.

You may have a resentful feeling towards the big box store. Adding insult to injury, you are finally ready to take that vacation you have been planning, then it hits you: a plastic locking panel for the door, thinner than a plastic plate used on picnics, stands between someone on the outside trying to get into your home when you?re gone. That?s.not a secure feeling.

Lastly, you run the risk of installing several pet doors into the same location because they break or wear out. Choosing a pet door that is maintainable means that you won?t be revisiting the install process every spring. That helps you save on costs in the long run, as well as increasing your peace of mind. Pay a higher price for quality and security.

As a reference customers should view a MaxSeal Dog Door offered by Security Boss. These models not only offer the high-performance seal and reliable insulation, but also unsurpassed security when the door is locked.

Is It Possible That I May Have Other Pets In The Future Or Another Dog Similar In Size?

Assuming you will be choosing a pet door that is of good quality, many customers wonder about the proper sizing for their pet, or for future additions to the family. You want to train a puppy or kitten to come inside after either doing their business or chewing on grass.

Dog Door Sizing

The dog door opening should clear the back of the tallest dog by 1.5 to 2 inches, and the bottom of the pet door should be low enough to the ground to allow easy navigation.

You will want to consider the type of breed you have as the most important factor when applying the Pet Door Golden Rule. Small and mid-sized dogs tend to stay relatively mobile in their later years. Large and giant breeds tend to have mobility issues as they age. This could show in arthritic conditions, hip problems or general malaise.

When choosing an entrance for these larger friends, you still need the top of the opening to clear the dogs back, but the bottom of the opening should have a very low step-over rise. One without the other makes the door useless and discomfiting.

For example, German Shepherds are very active for a large part of their lives. A pet door that is 7-8 inches off the floor is not a problem for them. In later life that 7-8 inch step over height becomes more difficult and you notice that they may drag their legs through the pet opening, scraping the frame. This is a danger sign.

A dog that is using a pet door that is too small will drag or hit the bottom of the door with their legs, this is usually followed by a small aggravating injury that can become worse. Veterinary bills and a diminished lifestyle for your dog are at the front door. Avoid this by getting an amply-sized dog door from the beginning. If you are not sure of the size needed, call an expert with experience, we are open 7 days a week.

Will The Cost Be A Limiting Factor In My Decision Process?

We covered most of the concerns of cost versus quality previously. in conclusion, when looking at your options for the perfect pet door, consider both your situation and your pets. Addressing these concerns and evaluating the pitfalls before you buy can save aggravation and regret in the long haul. You can decide if you want to buy a less expensive door and replace the flaps regularly or get a more costly door whose parts last longer.

There are many dog door models available, but few that are of a quality that one would really consider dressing a hole in their home. The more you contemplate the process and what you are expecting, the better the decision you will make.

Find Electronic Or Manual Pet Doors At Moore Pet Supplies

Moore Pet Supplies wants to do more than break through the complexities of choosing a cat or dog door. We also want to improve your pets? life quality and comfort. Our customer service will help you with ordering and choosing the right supplies.
Contact us today to get started. We are ready to help you find the right flaps for your extra-large or small dog.