Are you tired of having to be the doorman for your dog every time they need to go out?
Looking for a solution to let your furry friend access to the outdoors whenever they want?
You’ve landed at the right page.
Below you will find the 10 best dog doors in 2023.
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1. Editor’s Choice - PetSafe Extreme Weather Pet Door
It’s hard to go wrong with the products from PetSafe. The company is the one of the largest electronic pet training products manufacturers in the U.S.A. and has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry.
This dog door has a durable metal frame with reinforced aluminium corners designed to handle multiple pets. The 3-flap insulation system can keep your house warm and able to block 3 times more thermal energy than a standard dog door. This is great as it helps you to save on your air conditioning bill in the summer and winter. It also features the magnetic seal that helps to protect your home from the elements.
For safety purposes, PetSafe Extreme Weather Pet Door has a slide-in closing panel to prevent intruders from coming in. It can be installed in most exterior doors such as paneled, wood, PVC and metal doors, and has 3 sizes available.
2. Best Value - Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door
Ideal Pet Products is a reliable brand when it comes to pet doors. They have been around since 1979, committed to providing high quality pet supplies.
This is a durable, energy-efficient and all-weather dog door that offers a great thermal protection. It has a structural foam molded plastic frame and comes with 2 vinyl flaps which creates a 3-inch air pocket to provide maximum insulation. Each flap has a magnetic strip to make sure it is secure and for added protection.
In addition, Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door includes a slide-in lockout panel to control your dog’s access. It also has an optional wall kit installation available which is sold separately.
3. Best Overall Performance - PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door
Just like its name indicates, this is a wall entry dog door. It offers 2 flaps that provide great insulation for energy efficiency, along with a sliding closing panel for added insulation and to prevent other animals from entering. It can be installed in interior or exterior walls, and includes a cut-out template and step-by-step instruction allowing you to install it by yourself.
PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door has a durable frame and telescoping tunnel that can accommodate walls between 4.75 and 7.25 inches thick. You can also buy the compatible extension kits separately to fit a wall that is thicker than 7.25 inches. Perfect for homes where installation to doors is not practical.
4. Runner-Up Overall Performance - Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Modular Pet Patio Door
Similar to PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door, the height is adjustable. You can simply do this by loosening the locking knob. It also includes a slide-in panel for added security and to keep your dog in and out.
Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Modular Pet Patio Door is made of sturdy aluminium with clear tempered glass and can only fit aluminium patio sliders. It comes with 2 modular sections that can be easily assembled to a full size door, making it very easy to install and remove.
5. Best for Extreme Weather - Endura Flap Wall Mount Insulated Door
Endura Flap is a popular brand known for their high quality pet doors.
This is an award winning dog door that needs to be installed through a wall. It includes 2 UV retardant flaps engineered to withstand temperatures up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and to prevent cracking in extreme weather. Additionally, it is fitted with patented and high quality magnets to ensure the flaps will stay shut in winds up to 50 miles per hour, hence maximizing your home insulation.
Endura Flap Wall Mount Insulated Door is made of heavy duty extruded metal for durability and longevity, suitable for walls up to 8 inches thick. It has been tested rigorously and is one of the best dog doors on the market.
6. Most Secure - High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door
High Tech Pet was founded in 1986 and is one of the largest and most trusted electronic pet products manufacturers in the U.S.A.
This dog door is fully automatic and uses the most advanced technology. It has a motor driven vertically-sliding door and can be activated by the tiny MS-4 ultrasonic collar put on your dog. It gives your pooch the flexibility to go out anytime they want while keeping out other stray animals.
Thanks to the directional sensing system, the door can only be open when your dog is on a direct approach, not when they are wandering by. Apart from that, the High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door has a 4-way access control such as in only, out only, full access or closed and locked.
It is also weatherproof and has an automatic deadbolt locking for safety purposes, yet the door panel is bulletproof to ensure a high level of home security. It can be easily installed in doors or walls and is operated using a standard AC adapter or an optional rechargeable battery.
7. Best Microchip - SureFlap Microchip Pet Door
Unlike any other dog doors recommended, it uses a unique and patented microchip reading technology to allow your dog through the flap, yet keeping it locked for unwelcome wildlife. You can also buy the programmable collar separately if your dog is not microchipped.
Additionally, it can learn up to 32 identities which is great if you have multiple pets at home. What we also like about this door is that it gives you the ability to lock or unlock it at a specific time, meaning you don’t have to worry about your dog going outside in the middle of the night.
SureFlap Microchip Pet Door is operated using 4 C non-rechargeable batteries and has a light indicator that will flash in red when the power is low. It is suitable for small size dogs and can be installed in doors, windows, or walls.
8. Best for Renters - PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door
This dog door has a flexible flap with magnetic closure to keep the heat in and the cold out. Featuring the weather-resistant aluminium and shatter-resistant tempered glass for durability, yet the slide-in closing panel to control your dog’s access to the outdoors.
PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door is easy to install which you don’t have to cut into walls or doors. The patio panel is also adjustable to ensure it fits your door frame. This may be a great pick up if you are a renter as the door is detachable.
9. Best for Chewers - BarksBar Original Plastic Dog Door
This dog door is constructed using a sturdy thermoplastic impact-resistant frame with glossy aluminium edging so that it can last longer and it has also been tested to be bite and chew proof. This is great if you have an aggressive chewer as you don’t have to worry about the door being chewed up, ultimately saving you the hassle of buying and installing a new door.
BarksBar Original Plastic Dog Door has 2 soft vinyl flaps with magnetic closure to help protect against air drafts, bugs and insects. When the door is not in use, you can simply slide down the self-locking panel to prevent any unwanted guests from entering.
10. Best for Budget - PetSafe Plastic Pet Door with Soft Tinted Flap
This is a very basic and simple dog door that is designed for moderate use. It has a durable and paintable plastic frame which means you can customize it to match your door and decor. It comes with a soft vinyl flap to ensure it is easy for your dog to use.
PetSafe Plastic Pet Door with Soft Tinted Flap includes a snap-on closing panel to help seal out the weather and drafts. It is also easy to install and has 4 sizes available from S to XL.
Why Use a Dog Door?
Some owners might ask why they need a dog door when they can simply open the door for their pooch. This is true to some extent, but how do you know exactly when they need to go outside to get some fresh air and stretch their legs? And what if they want to go to the backyard when you are not home? This is something often overlooked by most people and below are the benefits of using a dog door.
- It is convenient. It can be frustrating when you are busy working and your dog wants to go outside as you need to stop what you are doing to open the door for them. A dog door allows your pooch access to the outdoors without relying on you.
- A cleaner house. Your dog can go out and relieve themselves whenever they need to. This means it will reduce the chances of them pee and poop in the house.
- Minimize the risk of urinary disease. Holding it in for an extended period of time can be very uncomfortable for your dog and could potentially lead to a serious urinary cancer called Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), which you don’t want that to happen.
- A healthier and happier dog. It also gives your dog the flexibility to go and play or exercise in the backyard as they please, hence healthier and happier.
Given that your dog can go out whenever they want, it may be a good idea to constantly check on them to ensure they are safe. You may also want to take extra safety precautions such as using a dog GPS tracker to pinpoint their location in case they run off. And if your dog loves to be outdoors most of the time, you should also consider an outdoor dog bed so that they have a comfortable place to rest.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Dog Door
Yes, it may be great to give your dog the freedom of going outside anytime they want without the need of you opening the door for them. However, it is important to note that most dog doors will require you to cut into doors or walls which means there will be an extra path for other animals to get into your house. And below are the few factors that you need to take into consideration when buying a dog door.
1. Types of Dog Doors
There are a few types of dog doors available on the market, let’s take a look at them to see which one suits you best.
- Door-Mounted Dog Doors. This is the most common dog door that is often installed in the lower part of your door so that your pooch can easily go in and out.
- Wall-Mounted Dog Doors. This door is designed to be mounted on the wall and the great thing about it is that it can be installed anywhere you want. It provides your dog direct access to a certain area and will be ideal when a door access is not an option.
- Electronic Dog Doors. One of the biggest advantages of this dog door is that it is more secure and can either be installed in doors or walls. It is designed to only give access when it detects the programmable collar or the microchip in your dog.
- Sliding Dog Doors. You should probably look into this type of dog door if you are a renter or if you only need the door temporarily. Reason is that you don’t need to cut into part of the house. It is typically built to be detachable which gives you the ability to remove the door when you don’t need it.
2. Security
This is very important as you don’t want any unwanted animals or guests to enter your house. You will find most dog doors come with a slide-in closing panel to ensure it is secure. High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door and SureFlap Microchip Pet Door offer a higher level of home security as they will only be activated when they detect an identified microchip.
3. Insulation and Energy Efficiency
This is crucial for those who live in extreme climates. Consider an insulated dog door which typically includes 2 or 3 flaps designed to eliminate air drafts and keep the bad weather out. This also means it is energy efficient as you don’t need to constantly turn on the air conditioning.
Some of the great examples of insulated dog doors are Endura Flap Wall Mount Insulated Door, PetSafe Extreme Weather Pet Door, Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door or PetSafe Wall Entry Pet Door.
4. Installation
It can be difficult when it comes to installing the dog door. And if you want something that is relatively easy to install and doesn’t require any alterations to your home, you may want to consider PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door and Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Modular Pet Patio Door.
5. Size
And of course you need to pick the right size. Make sure you choose the one that fits your dog so that they can get in and out with ease. If you have a puppy, it may also be a good idea to get a bigger dog door that can accommodate their full grown size.
