The main benefit of a dog door is obvious: with the addition of a simple flap to your back door, your dog will be free to come and go from your house. With a dog door, you will no longer have to wake up before dawn to let your howling dog out. Whenever nature calls, your dog will be able to use your dog door to get to your backyard. And while it is not a substitute for walks and games of fetch, allowing your dog to go outside when it wants to run around will help your dog maintain its health.
PROBLEMS WITH MANUAL DOG DOORS
There are some potential problems with having a dog door, however. A manual dog door, a simple wooden or plastic flap installed in a wall or door at ground level, can cause a host of problems. The main problem is that, in the process of allowing your dog to come and go when it wants, you could also be opening your house up to anything else that can fit through the dog door. Stray dogs and cats have been known to wander into houses through the open flap. Also, if you have multiple pets, it will be difficult to allow only some of them to use the door. And if the hole is sufficiently large, a bugler could use it to gain access to your house.
ELECTRONIC AND MAGNETIC DOG DOORS
Getting an electronic or magnetic dog door can address many of the concerns you may have with a manual flap. With an electronic dog door, the door remains bolted shut until an infrared key attached to your dog's collar triggers it. Similarly, a strong magnet on your dog's collar would unlatch a magnetic door. While more expensive, an electronic or magnetic dog door will help ensure that it is only your dog that is making it into or out of your house. Indeed, electronic dog doors can even be attached to your home security system.
THINGS TO THINKS ABOUT BEFORE YOU BUY A DOG DOOR
No matter what type of dog door you decide to install in your home, you should at a minimum consider the following features. For security purposes, it is best to get a dog door that can be securely locked. If you already have one that cannot be properly locked, you can purchase a pane that can drop into place over the hole.
A final consideration is your local climate and the potential loss of cold or hot air through the new hole in your door or wall. If you live in a fairly temperate area where you do not have to heat or cool your house, then this will not be a major concern. Otherwise, you should take steps to ensure that your dog door is properly insulated. This requires buying a dog door with thicker materials, and with a panel that forms a perfect seal when closed. In particularly harsh climates, you may want to consider purchasing a model with a double flap.
Once a homeowner has decided to give the freedom of a pet door for their pet, the journey of picking just the right model begins. A variety of considerations often arises when approaching the purchase of a dog door, as one starts to mull over security issues and wondering if a stray animal will find its way into their home. With the purchase of an IR (infrared) dog door, various models offer coded locks that keep children in the house and other animals on the outside.
The shielding barrier associated with an IR dog door is important to not only enclosing dogs, but also safeguarding the safety of a home. Many pet owners have delay the installation of a dog door because they are not completely sure on the idea of having an unrestricted entrance to their house. While dogs can easily come and go as they please, wild rodents like raccoons, curious cats and stray animals are kept outside. Preventing these kinds of situations, an infrared locking dog door with barriers becomes an effective solution.
An IR dog door is comprised of a self-closing magnetic cover that allows only a dog wearing a collar with an attached digitally coded infrared key to gain access to a home. Since the door only communicates with this key, entry to the home is restricted to appointed pets. The collar key is powered by a CR2 lithium battery. The pet door also requires four AA 1.5V alkaline batteries in order to work.
The collar key sends out a digitally coded infrared signal so that when dogs come near of the door (about 24 inches), they are able to pass through with the door locking behind them. Consumers are also able to customize the length of time that the door will automatically latch. Depending on the IR pet door you pick, a consumer may encounter a variety of locking systems, including In Only, In and Out, Out Only or Locked.
Depending on the model and brand, the typical IR dog door may come with a door (interior, exterior with flap, and sometimes a tunnel), locking barrier; one key, one key ring, CR2 lithium battery for collar key, mounting materials, 2 four-way locking handles, warranty card and instructions.
Benefits of Using an IR Dog Door
Pet owners like pet doors because they allow their dogs the freedom of coming and leaving as they please. They also don't have to worry about letting the dog in and out of the home or forgetting to let them in from the cold. When pet owners and dogs are not on the premises, a consumer may place a barrier (offered with most models) to prevent any entrance into the home.
Since the opening to the home is magnetic ? rain, loss of heat, and drafts do not become a problem when compared to the traditional dog flaps. The magnetic locks effectively keep meandering cats and wild creatures out of the home.
Possible Disadvantage of IR Dog Doors
Some pet owners are worried that the cost of an IR dog door will cost an arm and a leg. However, most units are priced around $185 to $300. Pet owners are also worried about the size of an IR dog door, as most models work well with dogs between 30 and 100 pounds. Smaller breeds may work best with a cat door with infrared lock.
Since most IR pet doors require AA batteries, some consumers do not want the hassle of constantly changing these items. Luckily, there are some models that work with an A/C adapter, which uses the batteries as backup. Some consumers have also reported about the noisiness of an IR dog door, which has a knack of creating a banging sound when the magnets and plastic come together. When installing, it is recommended to avoid attaching to doors located close to bedrooms.
Both David Amos & Natalie Williams are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
David Amos has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dog Care, Pets and Dog Pet Food. David Amos is a dog lover and long time dog owner. For more information about dog doors click and for more about dog care and keeping your dog happy. David Amos's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Natalie Williams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medicine, Bikini Wax and Types of Cancer. Natalie Williams is the creator of . Visit her site to get more free tips on selecting the right pet door for your pet.. Natalie Williams's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.