Dog flap?

Cuilean

After living in a shoebox new build house for the last few years, we've moved to a house which needs a total refurb, and we've just started the process of sitting down with the architect and planning the extension so that it works for every member of the family, including the furry one.

Something we've toyed with since seeing one in action at a friend's house is a dog flap. Sort of like a giant cat flap. Her dog hops in and out as he wants, and after watching and learning, our dog started using it when we visited. It would be really convenient, given our dog's love of the garden. She loves popping outside for ten minutes for a sniff, then coming back in, which is a pain when you don't have ten minutes to stand around and wait for her to signal for the door to be opened.

My friend's dog flap can be locked, so you can keep them in (And presumably out!) when you need to.

The thing is, now I'm in a situation where it could be a reality, I'm getting slightly cold feet. Are they really secure? What if a fox wanders in? If we have to sell the house, how will it affect the value?

Does anyone have any experience/thoughts about dog flaps?

krlyr

With dog thefts on the rise, the risk of disgruntled neighbours (or members of the neighbourhood) throwing spiked food over the fence (or even good-meaning neighbours throwing food like cooked chicken bones- potentially fatal - as a treat), of wildlife causing injury (dog attacking a hedgehog and getting injured, having a scrap with a local cat/fox/etc.), of weather causing a fence panel to loosen or someone leaving a backgate etc. open, I personally wouldn't want to lose the aspect of control that you hold when you choose if your dog can go in your garden or not.

There's several times I've had to shoo out a cat, repair fallen down screening (neighbour's fence is low so we've had to extend with screening), picked up rubbish that has blown in, patch up a hole in the fence, etc. before letting the dogs out, I wouldn't want to have them coming in and out as they please.

arbrighton

OH's mum had one put in as she isn't very mobile. Dog wouldn't use it, but his brother, who is NOT a small man, has got in through it when he hadn't got a key to hand.

And we won't go into too much detail about the time the tv aerial bloke left the gate open and the dog ran away and was found the next day minus a lot of skin on one leg....

amibovvered

Well, just to put the other side, I had one installed in the conservatory door when it was built 11 years ago. The dogs are locked in the conservatory when I am out, rather than having the run of the house, but can get out into the garden any time to cool down or poo/pee. I've never had the slightest problem.

Having said that, there's no way round the back except through the house or garage, or by going in a neighbour's garden and scaling the fence.

No idea whether it would affect the value of the house - I'll let you know in a couple of years as I'm hoping to move! I will definitely be looking for somewhere to put a dog flap in any new property.

Johnny_Dangerously

We've toyed with the idea before but never done it. In the end, I just don't see the point, maybe because our dogs are big so we might as well just leave a door open if we want to give them access.

A few negatives I've thought of with having one is:

• Half the year it's muddy, so don't want them being able to go in and out at will without having paws wiped
• I think most potential house buyers wouldn't want it so means replacing a door if we want to sell
• Security Risk. Ok when the dogs are at home, but if we are out it's an easy access point

In the end, I guess there is a size point where a dog flap just becomes a door.

Carer

Check your house insurance carefully. Your insurer may not pay out if you are burgled and have a dog flap.

http://www.policyexpert.co.uk/insurance-blog/pets/cat-dog-flap-affecting-home-security-insurance-risk/

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry I personally think it's a really bad idea - even if your dog was small and could go in/out say a cat flap, I certainly wouldn't want my dog being able to get out when I wasn't there.

What if s/he was stolen?

I can also imagine it could leave to house training issues if you then ever needed to restrict them again as they'd be so used to just going when they wanted to

What if they started barking outside during the night?

It would be a complete PITA having to get up, investigate & bring them in.

Not to mention the security aspects of it!

catkins

I think they are a good idea. We had one in a previous house and never had any problems.


We keep saying we will put one in where we are now but never get round to it. Having 2 dogs that want to go in and out and always at different times it would be great.


Personally I wouldn't leave it unlocked when me and OH were out (one dog goes in his crate anyway as he is a chewer/destroyer) nor would it be unlocked over night. I would just let the dogs use it during the day. It means I don't have to keep getting up and down or keep the patio door open. When it is warmer (if it ever is) I just keep the patio door open and they can go in and out as they want

DigForVictory

If "every member of the family" includes children, I'd recommend going without a dog flap.
Sometimes you want to know where the little dears are & silence is terrifying.

If your insurance is OK with a dog flap, great, but bomb proof it with them (& others so you aren't shackled to one supplier) first?

happysaz133

Personally, I wouldn't, especially if you live in a built up area, its too risky, not just people potentially coming in but also, dog thieving is on the rise, and if potential thieves see a flap they can simply wait there for a dog to come out and steal it. Very easy offerings!

Also, I know of a few people who had flaps installed and their dog forgot their housetraining. They had such easy access to the outdoors, they seemed to forget the routine of holding their toilet, until they were let out, so the odd times it was locked, the dog went in the house!

gettingtheresometime

we converted part of the garage to a doggy pad for the occasions when we go out with the dog - can't keep him inside as he would wreck the place!

We put a dog flap into the garage door so he can go into the garden (no back access to our garden) and its worked very well