Let's talk about doggie doors

[porsche4life]

With our recent adoption of Teddy the attack schnauzer we think we should put in a doggie door. He was an outdoor dog in his past life, and seems to like to go out and wonder around the backyard on occasion. Thinking it would be nice to be able to let him come and go as he pleases. Our current patio door has an almost full height glass insert. It's tempered glass so I don't see any way of having it cut to allow a dog door put in. Is there any way we can use the existing door or should I get a half glass replacement put in? I'm thinking this won't be cheap as the door is a 36x96!

We are looking at this doggie door, so I'm not worried about other critters getting in, and our backyard is block fence so we don't get visitors, security wise, as I mentioned the current door is glass so.....
https://www.sureflap.com/en-us/pet-doors/microchip-pet-door


Here is the current door.



Saw this at lowes and I like the half glass and built in blinds, but it's 80" high and I couldn't find a 96" price in the store.


Finally, Teddy! He seems to be settling in to family life quite well!

[porsche4life]

I could rearrange the patio to allow the doggie door next to the door. What's the bran trust think about putting them through the wall?

[Jim Bremner]

I was going to say keep the door and go for a all version.

[JavaBrewer]

Coyotes

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I remember falling asleep watching tv/waking up on my couch late one night. Hearing a crunching sound, I looked over to the kitchen, where a raccoon had let himself in, walked up from the basement, and was chomping on the cat food (about 10 feet away from me). I told him I was going to bed and asked him to turn the tv/lights off when he left.
I learned several things:
1. Raccoons eat a lot of cat food.
2. Raccoons are super smart.
3. Raccoons can bend/escape from those "have a heart" animal traps.
4. Little booger never even turned the tv / lights off. Bad house guest!

It wasn't just one raccoon, it was a whole family. Gets old after the fourth or fifth time.

[porsche4life]

Again guys... My yard has an 8' block fence with a secure gate. Not worried about yotes getting in the gate. I've never seen a raccoon in the area either, but the door I'm looking at senses the dogs microchip and only opens for the programmed chip. This makes sure that my dog is the only one in or out.

[porsche tech]

We had a golden retriever when we lived in VA. I put a dog door in the basement door that lead to the fenced back yard. In the twelve years we had her, never had a critter problem (and there were plenty around) and it certainly made things very convenient. It seems it would be much easier to put one in a door than in a wall. Not sure how easy with that door you're looking at because of the raised panels...my 2 cents.--Dave

[84CAB]

I can't imagine life without a doggie door, it makes life so much more convenient. Other than my young son and his friends using the doggie door we have never had an issue with anything other than our Boxer coming into the house. Ours has a locking panel that we cover it with at night before going to bed and when we are away.
BTW - we have the same exact door that you posted from Lowes. no issue with the raised panels, just used caulk in the "valleys" where the gasket didn't touch properly.

[dennis in se pa]

I have a doggie door that has two flaps for better weather resistance. Have had one for 20 years. Cannot imagine being without one.

[herr_oberst]

If it was me, I'd be trying to figure out the best way to use the existing door to install the doggie door. A piece of tempered glass and a few hours with the carpentry tools is going to cost less than a new door that still needs to be modded.

[creaturecat]

the door mfg. cut a proper sized/shaped opening in our exterior door - at the factory. fwiw.

[Seahawk]

My only advise is to not put the doggie door in the wall. It could be a detractor when it comes time to sell.

Another option is to put in an additional storm door with a doogie door so all you have to do is close the inner door at night. We did that leading into our garage.

Cute pup and young lad!

[rwest]

I'm with Her_Oberst; take out the old piece of glass and store in a safe place so you can replace easily when you sell, then make an insert that fits where the glass was that has the doggie door in it and then have a new piece of glass made for whatever room is left.

[GH85Carrera]

We have had a doggie door at our house for 18 years. Never a problem with unwanted critters. As others have said, I can't imagine life without them.

Our doggie door is on the side of the house in the laundry room. We can lock the dogs in the laundry room and they have a comfey bed inside and access to outside. We can be gone for hours and no issues with the dogs.

[black73]

Maybe one of these....

EMCO 32 in. x 80 in. K900 Series White Vinyl Self-Storing Pet Storm Door with Black Hardware-K900-32WH - The Home Depot

[LeeH]

From our local Facebook page...

[RF5BPilot]

I'd love to put in a doggy door. But we have a pond that our terrier likes to swim in. The thought of coming home to 5-6 iterations of the dog having gone swimming, then back in to dry & shake the mud off, obliterated any serious consideration.

[wdfifteen]

That microchip door sounds pretty interesting. I've only had one critter intrusion in 10 years of having dog doors. Put it in the wall. It's easy to do and easy to recover from. Plus, having the dog door in the people door is a pain.



Our dogs are relatively clean, but you can see what a mess they make.




I made this 1/4 inch plywood panel to cover the door when I don't want critters coming in or dogs going out.



We have 2 six foot runners inside the door to get most of the mud & water the pups drag in.





Madison approves of her doggie door. (OK - shameless, gratuitous photo of my dog)

[tops911]

I like the doggy door in a screen or storm door. During the day we open the regular door and the pups and go in and out; at night we close the regular door and the house is secure with no chance of anything or anyone (we have large dogs and I can squeeze thru the doggy door) coming in.

[vash]

Sid.

i installed a dog door and that EXACT home depot door you have pictured. it was super easy.

i just used a jig saw. the recesses i had to squeeze in some silicon, but no problems. couple of big storms with zero leaks.

it was pretty unnerving how easy it was to cut that door. you can get into any house with a battery drill and battery sawsall. brapp!