There are many reasons why a pet door can be beneficial. There are also many reasons to be educated about the abilities of your newly installed doggy door. In Arizona, depending on the time of year, there are many different types of prey that may be stalking your pet (especially a smaller one). Coyote, javelina, venomous snakes, hawks etc may leave your pet vulnerable to an attack. Due to these reasons, dog doors have evolved and become essential part of day to day living with a beloved pet. They now have a variety of options to accommodate almost any lifestyle. There are pet doors that have a simple flap passageway to newer, more evolved, electronic pet doors.
Choosing the best pet door for your situation may require you to consider several variables. Lets talk about some of the most common options.
1. Electronic Pet Doors
Electronic pet doors allow only pets wearing sensor tags to enter or exit through the door. The door and tags can be programmed to allow pets in and out at certain times of the day, and the door remains locked at other times. Some electronic doors can be programmed to work with an animal’s microchip. An added bonus: The Humane Society says pet doors with sensors are the best way to keep out raccoons, skunks and other unwanted wildlife.
2. Sliding-Glass Door Panels
Some companies sell panels with built-in pet doors for sliding glass doors. They slide in next to a partially open sliding glass door. Few tools or skills are required for installation. Make sure there’s a locking mechanism if you plan to leave the panel in place. Some models come with weatherstripping that adheres onto the side of the panel. Some versions have three height adjustments and fits most sliding glass doors. PetSafe also sells a variety of sliding door inserts.
3. Cat Doors
Pet doors are a no-brainer for dogs, as long as they’re exiting to a safe, enclosed space such as a backyard. But for health and safety reasons, some discourage the use of cat doors, unless it’s to an enclosed outdoor playhouse, or “catio,” If you have an indoor-outdoor cat, keep in mind that cats prefer to travel through doors with hard flaps they can see through rather than soft flaps that brush against their backs.
4. Installed in a Door
A simple pet door meant to be installed in a home’s exterior door has a frame of aluminum or plastic and one or two hard or soft flaps that pets pass through. Of all the pet doors, this is usually the easiest to install yourself.
Consider that plastic can be flimsy and break; flaps and aluminum tend to expand and contract with changing temperatures, eventually becoming warped. Most pet door companies sell replacement flaps.
Models with dual flaps tend to be more energy-efficient; some extreme-weather models utilize three flaps. Some have lock-out panels that can be slid into place for security when the door is not in use.
We hope this article may help you make an informed decision about choosing the best pet door for your situation. If you’re in Arizona and are in need of any type of pet door installation, Response Crew Handyman is here to help. Give us a call anytime to request a free estimate over the phone.
