Handy Helpful Blog

The key features you’ll want in a Dog Door are pretty easy to list. In all cases you’re going to want it to be energy efficient, minimizing how much outdoor air comes in, along with dirt and pollen, etc. You’ll also want it to be safe and easy to use for your pet.

We’re not sure though, if people really realize how much money they spend opening and closing the door for their pets. A basic example is that if you spend $9000 every five years on cooling and heating your house $900 of that can be saved by having a pet door. 10% per month!

You’ll want the Dog Door to be made of strong materials. They take more of a beating than you realize and the longer it lasts the more savings it provides. Another factor to consider is security. You want the Dog Door to be able to lock and it’s even better if it has a removable security plate.

What else should you consider when looking at a Dog Door?

• Some people buy a much bigger door than they need because they think their dog can’t fit through a smaller door. But Dog Doors have different requirements, Dogs put their heads down when they enter and pick their feet up, so the “long body” of the dog is what needs to fit.
• Don’t make your doggy scoot! The bottom of the door should NOT be mounted flush with the floor unless your dog has physical limitations that require this. Medium dogs need 2″-6″ inches above the floor while the largest dogs require 12″-14″ inch heights.
• A Dog Door should usually have its top just above the shoulder height of your dog.

Here’s a list of the general sizes of dog and their door requirements.

• Up to 40lbs: Needs a door opening that is 9″ wide and 12″ high.
• Up to 100lbs: Needs a door opening that is 11.75″ wide and 16″ high.
• Up to 150lbs: Needs a door opening that is 13.5″ wide and 22.5″ high.
• Up to 220lbs: Needs a door opening that is 15.75″ wide and 23.75″ high.

PlexiDor is the brand of Dog Door we install most often. They are the best mix of features, quality and price that we have found. All of their lines from basic to electrical Dog Doors have heavy aluminum frames that don’t weather, crack, dent easily or warp. Their composite saloon doors are easy for a pet to open, easy to clean, shatter resistant, and lined with industrial grade weather sealing, keeping those HVAC costs low. They also come with a key lock and a steel security plate.

Southern California is a very dog friendly place. At Edwards Enterprises we install and replace a lot of dog doors. If you have any questions or want to get a dog door project started please reach out to us.