Are you constantly having to let your dog in and out of your house? A pet door will stop you repeatedly muttering under your breath ‘Make your mind up where you want to be!’ as you go to answer the 15th bout of scratching on the door in an afternoon. Nowadays most pet doors are usually easy to install, energy-efficient, and secure, and there are some elegant solutions from everything for doors, walls, and patio or screen doors. Here’s our round up of the best offerings.
PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door
A great no-fuss patio pet door
Want to give your four-legged friend access to the garden through your patio doors but don’t want to have to cut a hole in existing glass doors or surrounding walls? This insert for sliding patio doors is a great solution. With a variety of sizes and colors, and with its height being adjustable for a perfect fit, you’ll be able to match it to your existing doors and frame. The flap itself is tinted and has a magnetic closure to help keep the weather out. Made from weather-resistant aluminum and shatter-resistant tempered glass, it’s great for renters as it causes no damage to the property and is easily removable when you leave.
PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor
A pet door to ensures it’s just your dog that’s being let into your house
This energy-efficient, insulated dog flap with UV sun protection helps to keep unwanted visitors out. Access is granted by a waterproof smart key that attaches to your pet's collar. The door uses radio-frequency technology to identify the unique signal of your pooch’s key and triggers the battery power-driven flap to unlock. It works for multi-pet households too – it’s programmable to accept 5 separate smart keys.
Namsan Pet Screen Door
Keep your screen door closed while letting your pooch out in the open
This dog flap for screen doors is designed to keep the flies out while letting your four-legged friend in. Made from sturdy plastic and ABS material it can be installed on patio door screens, screen doors, or screens around pool areas. With a decorative large paw print on the front and 2 magnets to keep the flap closed, it’s an attractive and convenient addition to your home. And when you want to bar your dog entry there are locking latches to control your pooch’s access.
PERFECT PET The All-Weather Energy Efficient Dog Door
Stop losing all the heat to your back yard with this insulated pet door
Want to let your dog into your house but not the drafts? This dog door features an insulating air pocket between 2 soft flaps so you can let your pooch in but keep the weather out. The clear flaps allow your pooch to monitor the outside world and are magnetized to keep them closed while still giving your dog access in and out. Constructed from energy-efficient structural foam molded plastic, additional panels allow you to lock the flaps securely when the door is not in use. Coming in four sizes - small, medium, extra large, and super large – you can accommodate pretty much any breed of dog.
Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door
Let your inquisitive pooch out while keeping the heat in
Your dog doesn’t care if it’s cold outside, they simply need to check that next-door’s cat hasn’t invaded their garden again, usually taking all the heat with them as they do so. This insulated dog door solves that problem with a clever double-flap design to block airflow and create an insulated air pocket within the door or wall. Magnets keep the door closed, and it has a lock for when you want to keep your furry friend in or out.
Endura Flap Pet Door Double Flap Wall Mount
An impressively insulated dog flap that can be located on both interior and exterior walls
For installation in walls up to 8 inches thick and with the ability to stand up to extreme weather, this is a locate-anywhere dog flap that won’t increase your heating bills when you do. There are heavy-duty magnets on three sides of the frame ensuring the double flaps are kept closed even if the winds outside get up to 50mph and it’s insulated enough to resist energy loss from your home even at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. For peace of mind, there are secure locking flaps included to stop you from giving unwanted critters access at night or when you go on vacation.
How to choose the best dog door
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The first thing you need to think about when choosing a dog door is location, followed by whether letting your four-legged friend in will bring the weather or unwanted visitors with them. Our top pick is a great non-permanent solution for those with patio doors, the easy-to-fit, non-destructive PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel Sliding Glass Pet Door. Those who want to ensure it’s only their pets being given free passage in and out of their house should look at the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor, which works with a personalized collar key to limit access.
Those looking for a wall-mounted and strongly insulated option should look at the Endura Flap Pet Door Double Flap Wall Mount which is suitable for both interior and exterior walls. And if you want to give your dog access through a screen door while keeping the bugs out, a great option is the Namsan Pet Screen Door. Whichever one you choose, the days of getting up every five minutes just so your canine companion can investigate the latest visitors to your yard will be a thing of the past.
