PetSafe Dog Door for Sliding Glass Doors

 

Our Petsafe Dog Door search came about when we suddenly became pet owners, when our son and daughter in law moved overseas, and decided that the move would be too much for their pride & joy, a 5 year old English Bull Dog. Though we’d been around Casey a lot, and loved her to death, we were somewhat ill prepared for having a house dog. For example, we had no idea how many times a dog wanted to go in and out of the house each day! It didn’t take long to realize we needed some type of automatic dog door, and our search led us to the PetSafe Deluxe Pet Panels for Sliding Glass Doors. Especially appealing was this model inserted into our existing patio door, and didn’t require to much constructional modification.

Read on for my review of this beautifully designed, high-quality patio pet door that inserts into the frame of your sliding glass door and automatically adjusts to the proper height…

Essential features of a Patio Pat Door – PetSafe Dog Door

• Heavy Duty Construction
• Shatter resistant Safety Glass
• Adjustable height
• Flexible  -  Fits either left or right opening patio doors
• Lockable
• Easy Installation
• Suitable for all weather

We consulted with pet owner friends who had a variety of different dog door styles, and determined that the Petsafe Dog Door would suit our needs nicely, and give us some freedom of constantly opening and closing a door to let the Bulldog out.
Let’s examine each of these features in more detail, and more importantly, what they mean, and how they will benefit you.

Heavy Duty Construction:- Just how heavy do you need?
One of the more important features of a Patio Pet Panels door is what it is constructed of. Realize that this is going to be a part of the structure of your home, so choosing a poorly constructed model, fashioned from inferior materials will be not only detracting from your home’s value, but also asking for trouble.

The Petsafe Dog Door frames are all constructed of heavy duty aluminum materials. Aluminum is a great choice due to it being light weight, yet rigid, and how it can be permanently colored.  It will be equal to, if not better, than the material of most existing patio doors it will be inserted into.

Shatter resistant Safety Glass
A very important feature of all PetSafe Pet Panels doors is that they only use a safety glass, that is both tempered and highly resistant to shattering.

Just what does tempered glass mean for you?

1. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass and does not break into sharp shards when it fails. Tempered glass is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, making it harder than normal glass.
2. The brittle nature of tempered glass causes it to shatter into small oval-shaped pebbles when broken. This eliminates the danger of sharp edges. Due to this property, along with its strength, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass.

Adjustable Height Accommodates all Patio Door Measurements
Sliding Patio Doors generally come in heights of 76 3/4′ to 81” and some of the taller doors are between 93” & 96”. You need to know your existing door measurement and order a Petsafe Dog Door model accordingly, but the nice thing about the Petsafe product is they have taken into account the variability of existing patio doors, and they’ve introduced a spring loaded height adjustment feature that makes getting the perfect fit a snap, and with no cutting required! If you have ever attempted to cut glass, you’ll appreciate this unique feature, as it’s not an easy job.

Size Matters! – Why it’s so important to know your dog’s measurements
PetSafe Pet Panels Dog Doors come in 4 different models, the difference being the size of the dog they will accommodate. All will have a similar panel height of either 76 3/4″ to 8″ or 93″to 96″

1. Large –  Great for pets up to 100 lbs. and 22″ high at shoulders. There is a 5″ step-over rise   and a generous 10″ x 15″ flap opening.

2. Large/Tall – This model is more suited for pets up to 130 lbs. and 30″ shoulder height. Also has a 10″ x 15″ flap opening but has a 9″ step-over rise for taller dogs.

3. Medium  - Designed for pets up to 40 lbs and  just 18″ high at shoulders , this door has a  2-1/2″ step-over rise, with an 8″ x 11″ flap opening.

4. Small – For the little guys up to up to 12lbs and  a mere 11″ high at shoulders this  also has a 2-1/2″ step-over rise  but just a 5″ x 7″ flap opening

A first step will be to decide on the height of the largest pet that will be using, and this is generally done by measuring your dog’s height at its shoulders. From there it is easy to select the Petsafe Pet Panels model that will be best suited to your dog’s shoulder height. If you have a pup, remember they grow, so consult with website that specializes in that dogs breed, to determine what height your dog will likely be at maturity.

Flexible
There is no need to be ordering a left hand, or a right hand model Petsafe Pet Panels doors, as all models are suitable for both, and can easily be installed on either side, and to be done with ease.

Lockable
There’s an included, color matched, reversible lock suitable for either left or right hand doors. A template is included for precise screw placement, and you have the freedom to install at the optimum height for you. Included is a security cover, which can be installed on either side.

Easy Installation
This is a”Made in America” product and as expected it comes with clear, concise directions, that even a novice will handle with ease. The Petsafe Company has an excellent Knowledge Base on their website, as well as a Toll Free Help Line at their Customer Care Center, should you ever get stuck. It operates weekdays 9-5, and 8-12 on weekends.

There are generally two styles of patio door models, a recessed frame style, and an exposed frame style. The standard model is designed for exposed frames, and if you have a recessed frame style a metal bracket kit is included. This is supplied with all templates, all screws & even has pre drilled holes.

Tools you will require

• An electric drill
• 7/64″ drill bit
• 9/64″ drill bit
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Flat head screwdriver
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Safety glasses

All templates, & screws are provided, along an excellent manual (that was not printed in China!!)

For an excellent visual presentation on just how easy to install one of these PetSafe Dog Doors check out this 6min 21 sec video.

All Weather Construction
This North American made product is designed for our climates. Easily attached weather stripping is included, ensuring a draft free installation every time. A roll of “glass sweep” is included to attach to the main panel, ensuring an even tighter seal.
The flap is constructed of a heavy vinyl, that is safe and non toxic and has superior insulating values. A Closing Panel is included, ideal for when the weather is inclement, or if you ever need to simply close off the opening.

How much should you be expecting to pay for a Petsafe Pet Panels Dog Door?

At the time of this review the Deluxe Pet Panel Satin Medium  is listed at $244.95 on the Petsafe website, but I’ve always found Amazon to have considerably better pricing.

What’s other pet owners saying ….
The best place for reviews, the good the bad & the ugly, I’ve always found is on the Amazon website.
Here’s a sampling:-

• We use the patio door a zillion times a day, so the pet door panel has to be sturdy and it is.
• Works Great!,
• My Dogs LOVE IT!! SO Do I!!
• Great Solution!

Training your dog
Your pet will likely need a little encouragement to initially use the door, and this is best done with the use of some treats as a reward for entering & exiting. You may find it takes a time or two for your dog to become accustomed to the feel of the flap on its back, however this usually takes just a few times of use.

What a PetSafe Pet Panels Door Will Mean To You
All pets need to, and love to have the freedom to come and go as they please. As your pet’s owner we know you’ll love the benefits of that freedom as well. Just think, when you install a PetSafe Pet Panels pet door, you’ll truly have the flexibility to opt out of arising from your bed early, in the middle of the night, or during dinner, just to let the dog outside.

Allowing your pet to come and go at will build his confidence and you’ll find unwanted behavior problems such as destructive chewing, furniture clawing and excessive barking can often remedy themselves when your pet is no longer dependent upon you to let him out.

Where can I buy a Petsafe Pet Panels For Sliding Glass Doors Pet Door?

We Suggest Amazon – Click Here

When your pet can come and go, you both win.

We are so pleased we found the PetSafe Dog Door, – and so is Casey the Bulldog!