Dog Flaps!

tankgirl1

Hi

I am considering getting one of these fitted, as I have no direct door to the garden, and the pooch likes to spend lots of time in the garden.

Does anyone have one? What are your experiences?

I am a bit worried that it will just be a convenient door for any opportunistic thieves, although pooch is only small/med (about 15kg):o

Any advice very much appreciated

Thanks

kazwookie

My cat loves his dog flap!! we have a staywell med dog flap fitted and it is great. No one yet has climbed in, but OH's grandson (1) did try to go out of it, much to our amusement whilst watching him!!

orlao

I have a dog mate dog flap.....a very large one! It's big enough for my 50kg rottie to run through. I do lock it from the inside while I'm out with the dogs as it is big enough for someone to crawl through.The other thing I do is make sure that I never leave keys or my bag in the same room at night, just in case the get "Hooked"

I originally had a staywell dog flap but the stoopid dog broke that when he was younger....managed to break the little tabs that held the plastic door in place twice! In fairness to Staywell their customer service was really good, they sent out a new door FOC and after the 2nd breakage refunded the full cost of the dog flap. While the hooligan hound occasionally manages to remove the dog mate flap when he runs through at speed, it's easily put back as the hanging tabs are much sturdier on this brand IMHO.

I think you would probably need a medium size for a 15kg dog....until I had a big dog I just had a small dog mate for 2 JRT ( and 3 cats) which was plenty big enough....the rottie could squeeze through that until he was about 6 months old but it was a squeeze!

Mutter_2

I'd love one for my dog, but then what would he do to amuse himself?

He loves nothing better than to wait for me to sit down, position laptop, legs up on footstool, cuppa in hand.

Then he asks to go out. I'm sure I've caught him sniggering.:D

POSSETTE

Mutter wrote: »

I'd love one for my dog, but then what would he do to amuse himself?

He loves nothing better than to wait for me to sit down, position laptop, legs up on footstool, cuppa in hand.

Then he asks to go out. I'm sure I've caught him sniggering.:D

oh my god are you in my house...mine do that too:D

tankgirl1

Lol Mutter!

So orlao would you recommend dog mate over staywell? My pooch is quite destructive, and no doubt DS will want to get in on the act too :rolleyes:

Also it would have to go in a wall rather than a door - do you think this would be OK?

Many thanks

skipsmum

We use staywell, and whilst the dogs break the flap bit regularly we just take the broken bit and the receipt back to Pets at Home and they hand us another one. They are guaranteed for two years. The terrier and cats use the flap but the GSD just sticks her head through it to bark.

orlao

I like the dog mate but only because silly dog hasn't been able to smash it....you only need worry about a staywell if your dog likes to charge the full length of the house and dive through it....that's what killed the staywell!!!

As far as putting it in a wall thats waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too techical for me to comment....the makers should be able to tell you though:D

born_blonde

My dog flap(Dog mate) has outlasted two dogs ( last one died aged 17) and two houses.
My current dog Katy a lurcher loves it. The flap is only medium in size and the cat uses it to.
Katy puts her head out and with flap over head checks if it's raining.
I would say your garden has to be 100% dog proof and in such a way that visitors or the postman can not leave open and you have to be able to lock it, ours is so old we use a bread board on two cup hooks!

Paparika

The OH installed a Dog mate for his cat and my dog, dog took to it like water! cat had to have it held open for a few days hehe

my dog loves it and goes in and out when he needs to, but when its late at night i still have to go out into the garden with him so he can have his last pee of the night bless, the cat is happy to use it, but if we are in the kitchen he will sit there looking at it and then you as if to say well go on lift it up for me.

and unless a robber is the same size as my jrt cross then there is no chance of getting in, just make sure never leave keys in doors and lock the door when your not around.

Kerriebaby

before you install one, check you home insurance, many of them wont cover you if you have a dog flap.

Very good friend of mine found that out, after she was burgled