Dog doors - advice and tips please

Cyclamen

Hello All

We are looking at putting a dog door in our conservatory door to allow her to come and go as often as she likes.  I have mobility difficulties so its not as simple as it once was.  

We have asked local company that built conservatory and they have said they can make a new shaped piece of glass for door if we choose the dog door.
House insurance are ok in principle as we have a lockig (exterior style) door between front room and conservatory.. we only close this at night or if we are out.

We'd like a dog door suitable for up to a staffy size dog.that can go in a glass door.

There is no where locally to go and look at them and i dont know anyone who has a dog door.

Can anyone suggest brands, styles etc.  What we should look for and avoid please? 

 

Misslayed

I have no personal experience, our dog has staff to open the door for her - she rings a bell! But a kennel free dog rescue I support has just had one fitted. Have a look at www.Dogs4rescue.com. It's worth a look anyway, they also rescue all the old, ugly, disabled, handicapped dogs no one wants. 

Facebook or X (formerly Twitter 🙄) Dogs4Rescue had a story about its donation and fitting very recently. 

I hope this is a link to the story 🤞
https://www.facebook.com/groups/183245577936970

But they are very responsive to messages. Its actually Rescue World by Dogs 4 Rescue, a new permanent home for dogs that can't be rehomed for various reasons. 

Mnoee

Misslayed said:

I hope this is a link to the story 🤞
https://www.facebook.com/groups/183245577936970

I think it's this link, but I really enjoyed scrolling through the happy dogs to find it!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/bMd5NCwvtwFeQd8Y/

I just use a door stop to keep the door ajar for cats, which is certainly very cheap but doesn't go well with the wind. 

Cyclamen

Thank you both.

'our dog has staff' phrase had me chuckling.. e get up to 'butler for the dog'.

I'm a big fan of leaving the door open but trying to find a way round the bad weather days, or the days I'm not as able to get to door.   

I will have a look at that link thank you... will need to brace myself as if my health was better we'd be looking to adopt a second dog for company and is the reason we want a Staffie sized door even though this dog is a fair but smaller... a 'just in case' one visits and if my health picks up gets dog napped sort of option ;-) 

SensibleSarah

I have a dog flap and have done for over a decade. I purposefully bought a house with a wooden back door to make it easier to fit though (although it was a catflap I fitted first, before I got my then dog, who was significantly bigger than a staffie)  

I've had a couple of different models in that time and the one that has lasted best is definitely the Petsafe Staywell Aluminium pet door (comes in a few different sizes). The frame is very durable and the flap itself is flexible, which makes it easy for both my dogs and cats to use, with a magnetic close, so it does a decent job of stopping drafts, unless winds are exceptionally strong. You can get an extreme weather version but no direct experience of that one. 

It's great having a dog flap and I will definitely get one fitted again in any future home I move to. 

Cyclamen

Thanks Sarah... that was the brand i was looking at but stopped as wasnt sure if it would go in glass. 

My doors are wheelchair threshold .. so all new ones.. if it had been wood I'd have asked family to construct something as they woodwork.. 

We have success.. went to towns pet shop after a medical appointment this morning to ask for advice and if they knew anyone.. they are a friendly shop and i wanted a lead i could hold better.  They actually stocked one model of dog door and we had a look and went with it.. as i was checking out the treats a Staffie came in so we said hello and did a quick comparison of sizes.  I love a friendly owner and happy dog thats willing to stand next to a dog door so i can fret if it will work.  

Mission accomplished..c loser pets door purchased.. window company hopefully coming out soon 

kimwp

I had a cat flap fitted to glass- they cut new glass panels to the shape that fits the cat flap and then seal the panels and evacuate them. I presume they can't tighten the fasteners as tightly as maybe in wood, but otherwise it seems to be the same. If you keep your old panel, you can swap it back in when you sell the house 

Cyclamen

Well that didn't work.. just checked messages and a friend has sent me link from dog door company saying the door we have can't go in glass doors.

Back to drawing board.. struggling to find dog ones but can find cat sizes.

GrumpyNige

We have a pet Tek one for our Cocker and she loves it. Used it all the time and is helpful when we do have to leave her for a few hours. We used a double glazing repair specialist who obtained a replacement glass for the door complete with sealed hole cut to fit the dog door previously purchased. We have kept the original so that can go back in if we want the dog door removed. Dog door also locks.

SensibleSarah

Cyclamen said:

Well that didn't work.. just checked messages and a friend has sent me link from dog door company saying the door we have can't go in glass doors.

Back to drawing board.. struggling to find dog ones but can find cat sizes.

That's frustrating! I do have a friend that had a similar situation and the window company she used replaced the lower part of the door with a solid panel - not glass - to get around the issue. Changed the look of the door, which wasn't ideal - but was the cheapest/easiest way to get it done. 

Cyclamen

Thank you both.  

Sorry for the delay.. got mugged a bit by health admin stuff. 

We have gone with the pet tek 'round window' style door.  A friend of a friend has one and she got a photo and video of their dog using it for me... so kind as to them I'm a stranger but helped secure decioin. 

We measured up from the internet and drew in whiteboard marker on the door.. then stood the dog in question next to it... you can probably tell i'm a bit anxious about getting this right as a lot of money when on low income.  The window company have been out and the ball is rolling.  

We cant go for a solid lower part of door.. although more affordable i wouldnt be able to see if dog was in the way and tend to open doors with grabber sticks, feet etc.. as hard to reach forward from wheelchair... i was too worried about squashing a dog. 

I will report back but will be a month and a bit whilst they get glass made and so on. 

Thank you