The Pros and Cons of Installing a Dog Door for Large Dogs

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Intro – The Pros and Cons of Installing a Dog Door for Large Dogs

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A large dog door may be an option

As the owner of a large dog, you may not have a dog door installed as yet, and may be wondering if it’s a good idea to have one installed.  This article will look at the pros and cons of having a dog door installed for large dogs.

The Pros of Installing Dog Doors for Large Dogs

There are many pros or benefits to having a dog door installed. Some of the main ones are that you don’t have to keep letting your dog inside and outside.  Other benefits include not having to clean up any toilet accidents that may happen inside, as well as the advantage of your dog having complete freedom to get inside or outside whenever they want. This benefit is probably of even more importance for larger dogs as they generally need more exercise than smaller dogs.  One other thing that doesn’t happen very often, but may be a concern, is that larger dogs left in the house without a way to get outside may cause a lot more damage inside than a smaller bred of dog. 

The Cons of Installing Dog Doors for Large Dogs

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Your dog’s breed may play a part in your decision to get a pet door

There are not too many cons or downsides to having a dog door installed.  In fact, there are only two main downsides to having a pet door installed for a large dog. The first is that it may let cold weather in during winter.  This can be alleviated by ensuring that the pet door you have installed has a good seal, as well as magnets on the flaps and in the pet door. The magnets on the flap and in the pet door will ensure that the flap seals tightly against the pet door and doesn’t let cold winds in.

The second and main downside is security. And this is where the big question comes in: how large is your large dog?  There is large and extra large.  If your dog is what would be considered large, and around 55 centimetres or under, they would be able to get through a standard sized large pet door.  These pet doors generally have a flap length of 40 centimetres, and this is long enough for a dog of that size to get through as the flap length only needs to be two thirds of their height.  This would be perfect for breeds such as a Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel or Staffie. The flap size for large dogs is not generally big enough for people to get through.

However, if you dog is of an extra large size, such as a German Shepherd or Alaskan Malamute you would need an extra large sized pet door.  These pet doors have a longer flap of around 50 or 55 centimetres. As such it is usually easy for somebody to crawl through this space.  It therefore may be a security risk – if they are unlocked and you are not home. The way to assess if this is a security risk is to look at the breed of dog you have. If you have a German Shepherd or an extra large breed of dog that is good at protecting your house, this may not be such a problem. But if you have a more timid breed such as a Dalmation, this may present a security risk if you are not home. The solution to this would be to ensure that the pet door is only used while you are home, and when you are out, the lock in slide is put into place.

If You Decide to Go Ahead: Measuring Your Dog for a Dog Door

The way to measure your dog for a pet door is to first measure their height from the floor to their shoulders. Then add another 5 centimetres. From there, divide that by two thirds. This will give you their overall height required for the dog door flap. Next measure their width at the widest part of their body, and add on 5 centimetres. This will give you the width required for the dog door flap.

Where to Have your Dog Door Installed

This factor can be very important. Dog doors can be installed through doors, walls, or glass.  It may be of importance to put it where the dog can get to it fairly easily. For some people, they prefer a location that is more out of sight such as the laundry.  This is also the most popular place for dog doors to be installed. They can be installed through the timber door. For people with a security door, dog doors can be installed through both in an aligned position so your dog can get through both doors to go outside. For people just installing into timber doors, this can be done by a person with power tools experience. For people installing pet doors into both doors, this can be trickier when coming to aligning the doors. If in doubt it is good to contact a pet door installer.

For people looking at a wall installation, this may be an option and would generally require a carpenter or pet door installer to do the installation. For people considering an installation into glass – this may not be feasible if your dog is too large due to the safety aspects of a large animal going through glass. For this option it would be best to speak to a glazier or pet door installer. 

Professional Pet Door Installation Services

If you are not comfortable installing the pet door yourself or are unsure, it is recommended to look for a pet door installation service.  A great way to find them is via Google My Business, which also has lots of customer reviews and ratings.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Installing a pet door for your dog can have many benefits, and the biggest benefit people find is the happiness of not having to let their dog in and out all the time. As mentioned in the previous section, it is important to consider the aspect of security, and whether this will be adversely affected if you are having an extra large dog door installed.  On reflection, the many benefits certainly outweigh the downside of having a dog door installed for your dog.

Afterthoughts: Are You Yet to have A Pet Door Installed?

For those people that actually haven’t had a pet door installed yet, installing a pet door is something that can be done by homeowners if they have the appropriate tools and experience.  However, if you aren’t able to do it yourself or don’t have the time, a professional pet door installer can do the job.   For those people in the Melbourne or Mornington Peninsula area of Victoria, please feel free to contact us here at Affordable Pet Doors Melbourne if you’d like a quote or more information.

You May Also Be Interested In These Blog Articles

The Benefits of Aligned Pet Doors

More About Our Pet Door Installations

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