Dog door recommendations

[thedarkwolf]

http://www.handymaams.com/Pet Door 1.JPG
I have one of those ATM. Just a standard all plastic double flap through the wall dog door. My problem is the all plastic part. When one of my dogs wants out HE WANTS OUT!!!! so when I used the plastic block off plate to keep them in the house he destroyed the plastic plate and got out. I built a new block off plate out of STEEL and he just pulled on it until he broke all the plastic tabs that hold the block off door in place and got out. Luckily it has plastic tabs on the outside part of the door too so you can block the door off from either side. For now I'm just going to block it off from the outside but that doesn't provide much security if somebody wants to break in. Anyway I was wondering if anybody knows of an all metal dog door that isn't crazy expensive? I've found a few with aluminum frames but from the reviews they sound badly built and they still have plastic block off doors.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've purchased several dog doors from here - http://www.petdoors.com/ and been very happy with them.

I've only used dog doors for sliding glass doors and for regular doors, not walls.

Maybe something like this with metal slot for the cover plate and uses a bolt to hold it in place - http://www.petdoors.com/hale-pet-doors-for-walls.html

 

[gypsyman]

I like the sliding glass dog door. Easy to install and available at lot of places.

http://reviews.lowes.com/0534/1199567/reviews.htm

 

[FoBoT]

http://gizmodo.com/5029833/plexidor-is-automatic-star-trek+like-door-for-your-pets-and-only-yours

you pop a weatherproof RFID tag in their collar, and when they approach the Plexidor pet door it automatically slides up to let your pets in or out. Its safety mechanism means it won't guillotine your pet if they dawdle, and it shuts automatically so you only get your animals in your home. It's made of the same stuff as football helmets, so it should withstand some tough weather, and it's available now for between $130 and $800, depending on features and size.

 

[BoomerD]

I like the sliding glass dog door. Easy to install and available at lot of places.

http://reviews.lowes.com/0534/1199567/reviews.htm

Those are terrible. Poor insulating factor, even worse home security.

We installed one of these about 5 years ago:

http://www.moorepet.com/MaxSeal-Wall-Mount-Pet-Doors-s/196.htm

No more piss-poor slider pet door. Even our cats use it without problem. (although it did take some getting used to for them)

We bought the "double flap" model as it provides a bit more "insulation."

 

[thedarkwolf]

thanks guys some good ideas there. I hate that I'm going to have to spend more money on a damn dog door then a did for my front people door lol.

 

[BoomerD]

thanks guys some good ideas there. I hate that I'm going to have to spend more money on a damn dog door then a did for my front people door lol.

Really? Did you put in a Masonite Hollow Core door? Around here, that's about the only door that's less than $200...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Those are terrible. Poor insulating factor, even worse home security.

We installed one of these about 5 years ago:

http://www.moorepet.com/MaxSeal-Wall-Mount-Pet-Doors-s/196.htm

No more piss-poor slider pet door. Even our cats use it without problem. (although it did take some getting used to for them)

We bought the "double flap" model as it provides a bit more "insulation."

Not everyone wants to cut a hole in their wall. And not all sliding glass door doggie doors are built the same. I live in the city and in the cold Northeast.

This is what I use - http://www.petdoors.com/endura-flap-thermo-panel-iiie.html

Not only is it very well insulated but I can adjust the height of the door which allows my large and my elderly small dog to use it without issue.

For security, any burglary is going to break a window then spend the time to get thru the sliding glass doors based on how I've got them locked and secured.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Really? Did you put in a Masonite Hollow Core door? Around here, that's about the only door that's less than $200...

Just a plain wood core, probably sawdust and glue, with metal sheeting door. Didn't want any windows or anything in it. Think it was $200 give or take from Home Depot.

Boomer what size MaxSeal dog door did you go with and how big is your dog? My current flap is 9 3/4 x 17 and they are calling that a cocker spaniel sized door. My big dog is an 80lb shepherd husky mix and my door is plenty big enough for him

 

[DrPizza]

Really? Did you put in a Masonite Hollow Core door? Around here, that's about the only door that's less than $200...

Hollow core doors were on sale a couple weeks ago: $19 for an unhung door, $25 for hung, at my local HD. Solid core steel entrance doors, I believe, were around $150-$200.

The stupid doggy door I purchased cost the same as the door I cut the hole through. And, it's just a plastic shell with some sort of vinyl flaps with magnets on the flaps. But, it works really well, and those magnets do help keep the cold out.

 

[BoomerD]

Just a plain wood core, probably sawdust and glue, with metal sheeting door. Didn't want any windows or anything in it. Think it was $200 give or take from Home Depot.

Boomer what size MaxSeal dog door did you go with and how big is your dog? My current flap is 9 3/4 x 17 and they are calling that a cocker spaniel sized door. My big dog is an 80lb shepherd husky mix and my door is plenty big enough for him

Our dogs are small...little rat dogs. We went with this one:

http://www.moorepet-petdoors.com/MaxSeal-Wall-Mount-Dual-Flap-medium-p/sbwmdf9x12.htm

9x12 opening. I could not be happier with the dog door. It's big enough for our animals yet not big enough for an adult to get through. (although a child COULD) that's one of the problems with dog doors for bigger dogs...a human can also fit through them.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Just installed the MaxSeal door today. Seems to be a high quality piece. One of my dogs has no issues with it but my other one is a bit leery of it. The new one has heavier flaps and much stronger magnets and it freaks him out. He will get used to it though.