If you have started your search for a quality pet door for your dog or cat, then you should know about PetSafe pet doors.

PetSafe is a company devoted to making products that help you provide your pet with a better life. They are much more than just pet doors, although that is what I will focus on. For instance, did you now that PetSafe is the largest maker of pet training products in the U.S.? This is a company that has the best interests of your pet at heart.

PetSafe Pet Doors

PetSafe makes all kinds of pet doors. Here is a list of the pet doors which you can buy from PetSafe.

- Standard Door Entry Pet Doors
- Wall Mount
- Pet Doors for Patio Doors
- Electronic Pet Doors

In addition to the pet doors, door flaps and other accessories are available from PetSafe.

PetSafe Pet Doors For Screen Doors

In the spring and summer months, sometimes we like to leave our doors open to get the fresh air circulating through the house. But we don’t want bugs circulating through with the air, so we use a screen door. Maybe you do too. Did you know that there are doggie doors designed to be installed in screen doors? Max loves to go out through the door we gave him. Pet doors for patio doors are a great invention.

That’s how we give our dog, Max, his freedom to come and go during nice weather. PetSafe makes a model for quick and easy installation in any metal or plastic screen. It just snaps into place over the existing door. It can also be used in screened windows. This particular model is good for pets up to 30 lbs.

Automatic Doggie Door

For areas where you need to make sure only your pet can use the pet door, or where perhaps you want one pet but not another to have access to the pet door there are electronic pet doors. Another advantage of these automatic pet doors is that children can’t escape through them. You don’t want your toddler going out with out your knowledge.

They work by means of an electronic key which you attach to your dog or cat’s collar. The door senses the radio signal when they come within the range you set and will unlock the door at that time. The rest of the time it remains locked.

PetSafe makes a pet door to fit whatever needs you may have. When we went looking for our pet door, after looking at all the rest, we found just what we wanted and chose our door from PetSafe pet doors.

PetSafe Pet Doors – Available at Amazon

Not too long ago, we made the decision that we were going to get a storm door with pet door for our bulldog, Max. Well, to tell the truth it was more for us really. We like not having to stop what we’re doing at awkward or inconvenient times to let Max out to do his business.

Buying A Storm Door With Pet Door The Right Way

• Buy the storm door separately from the pet door
• Important Tip!
• Take your pet door with you when you shop

When we first began our search for such a door, we were thinking of ordering one already pre-assembled. However, we soon discovered that many companies had stopped selling storm doors with pet doors already installed.

It seems that these companies had run into a problem of shipping damages, because they are large and until they are installed somewhat delicate. They are also difficult to handle. The upshot of all this is that we chose to buy a storm door, and have it installed, and we added the pet door to it after it was already in place.

Perhaps a word about why we decided to have a storm door with a pet door in it in the first place would be appropriate at this point.

Why A Storm Door With Pet Door

It’s really simple really. We are planning to leave our storm door in place most of the fall and winter. We want a storm door for the colder months to help keep out energy costs down. As an aside, we have already upgraded our insulation and put in double pane windows. We’re trying to make our house much less energy expensive. Anyway, for the warmer months we are using our faithful old screen door with pet door.

We like the idea of being able to open the back door when the weather is pleasant during those occasional warm spells that happen in the fall and winter, but we want to give Max and ourselves the freedom to come and go when the weather is nice.

By the way, here’s a tip for when and if you decide to go shopping for a storm door for which you plan to install a pet door. Take the pet door with. Not all doors will accommodate all pet doors, and you want to be sure the thickness of the door matches up with your pet door. Shopping this way will save you a major headache later, as we found out the hard way.

More Pet Door Options

• automatic doggie door, a.k.a. electronic pet door
• pet doors for screen doors
• pet doors for patio doors

We chose to use a standard pet door for our storm door. But you don’t have to. There are several alternatives that work well for this use. If you have raccoons, or toddlers, you may want to consider buying an automatic pet door, which is also known as an electronic pet door, or automatic doggie door. This type of pet door uses an electronic key (which your pet wears on his collar) to identify your pet and unlock the door when he gets within a range which you set (usually within 3 feet).

In addition to using a pet door in a storm door, there are doggie doors which are designed for use in patio doors and even pet doors for screen doors. The type designed for screen doors, come in two types. Those built to be suspended by the screen itself, and those designed to attach to the screen door frame. Of the two, I would personally choose the latter variety. They are much stronger and can accommodate larger animals, plus they often come with a cover which snaps easily into place to keep bad weather out. When you know a thunderstorm is on the way, for example, you just snap the cover on, and when it’s clear, you take it back off to give your pet access to the great outdoors once again.

Once you have the right storm door with pet door combination, it’s really not hard to switch over between the warm weather screen door with pet door, and the storm door.

Now that we have added a patio door doggie door, we are getting to the point where our home has all the possibilities covered to give our dog Max all the entrances and exits from our home that any dog could ever want.

First of all we gave Max, our bulldog, a doggie door in our front door. Since we have a fenced in yard, this is a safe option. We don’t have to worry about him jumping the fence. He’s a bulldog. Have you ever seen a bulldog jump. No? I didn’t think so. Neither have I…or anyone else that I know of. They just aren’t known for their jumping abilities. Okay, movin’on.

The next door we installed fore good ol’ Max was his very own screen door with pet door. Then, for the cooler months, Max got a storm door with pet door.

Now he’s going to have a patio door doggie door. This is one that is most definitely not a DIY job. Our patio has sliding glass doors which are of the aluminum variety. They also make them to replace the vinyl patio doors too, but they’re somewhat more involved. I’ll talk about that in a minute.

When you choose to get one of these doors, it is absolutely critical that you measure carefully. Do not just assume that your door is a some sort of standard dimension. You know the old saying, “measure twice, cut once.” Well, it applies here. Here’s what you are going to need to know and how to know it.

Measuring For a Patio Door Doggie Door

• First decide on the size of the pet door which you want in the door.
• Next, measure the width of the track that the doors slides in.
• Measure the height of the door from the bottom of the track to the top of the track in the ceiling.

Measuring carefully and writing the measurements down will help to ensure that you order and receive the correct size door.

Once your new patio door arrives and it’s installed, as with any pet door, you are going to have to train your dog or cat to recognize that it is a door for him or he to use to go out or to come back in. They can’t figure these things out for themselves, and there is usually a fear factor to overcome. However, with a little gentle training, they learn to use them quickly, and your life is suddenly a little easier.

Thanks to my patio door doggie door I get to sleep all night long now

I can’t ell you how much I enjoy not being awakened in the middle of the night for trips outside, or for that matter being interrupted by Max’s biological needs. I think he prefers it this way too. Now that our home includes a patio door doggie door, I think our projects for Max’s convenience are done.

A Back Door With Dog Door

If your home doesn’t yet have a back door with dog door, then why not? One of the great things about dogs is the way they’ll tell you when they need to go outside, but what about when you’re not there to let them out.

Or what if they feel the need to go but it’s the middle off the night? Doesn’t having a doggie door make sense, when you think about it?  It’s convenient for your dog, and it’s certainly more convenient for you. But what about security and energy costs due to loss of heat or cold through the pet door? There is an answer.

Go For a Quality Back Door With Dog Door

Fit your back door with a good quality doggie door. Quality pet doors are designed to allow your pet to go out without letting the weather in.

PetSafe is one maker of pet doors designed to keep the weather out, but they aren’t the only one. The PetSafe “extreme weather” pet door has two vinyl flaps of the type traditionally found on pet doors, but it also has a middle layer which is insulated.

It seals by using a magnet on the bottom of the inner and outer flaps which pulls another magnetic strip up from the bottom of the pet doors that where they meet weather proof seal is created.

In addition there is a shield which snaps on to complete the weatherproofing. Of course, the snap on cover must be removed prior to your pet’s use of the door. But you would probably only want to use it for extreme weather protection anyway.

Another consideration can be security. Answering this concern can also be the answer to weather concerns too. Electronic Pet doors offer both security and weather proofing in one door.

Electronic Pet Doors

There are several reasons to install an electronic pet door

• They will allow your pet to go in and out, while keeping other animals out.
• Prevent weather from blowing in through the pet door
• Better Security. People can’t enter the door
• They are child proof
• Allow one pet out while keeping others in

All of these are good reasons for choosing to use an electronic pet door.

They work by having your pet wear a “key” which is his collar that the pet door recognizes electronically whenever your pet gets close enough to the door to trigger it.

Having a back door with dog door is kind to both dogs and the humans who love them.

There are three measurements needed in order to choose the right size dog doors for your dogs. They are:

How To Measure Your Dog For A Doggie Door

• Height of the dog
• Width of the dog
• Height of the rise

You start by measuring your dog’s height at his shoulders while he is standing. I have used two methods successfully to measure my dogs. The first is by standing one of them by the wall and eyeballing his height and marking it on the wall. However, another method can be used if you don’t want to mark up your walls. I got a yardstick and a ruler, and got the dog to stand still in front of me and stood the yardstick up next to him at the shoulders. Then I simply put the ruler across his shoulders while holding it perpendicular to the yardstick and noted the height at which it crossed the yardstick.

For my dogs width, I stood next to him and bent down with my yardstick held at 90 degrees to his body and parallel to the floor, and noted his width that way.

To decide on the the height of the rise of the doggie door, you need some idea of his agility. The rise is the height of the bottom of the doggie from the floor, and it’s height is dependent upon the size of your dog, and his ability to step over something. Our dog is still young and can handle a higher rise than could an older dog who is feeling his years. Max is a bulldog, and he can’t handle the same rise that a German Shepherd can, just because he is so much shorter and has shorter legs.

One way to test for which rise height you want is to call your dog and get him to step over various sized objects. There is no scientific method to this. Just try to get an idea of what height he is comfortable with.

Determining the flap size of the doggie door

Now that you have these numbers, what do you do with them? To determine the vertical dimension of your dog door, take your dog’s height and add 1 inch. So, if he is 14″ tall, like Max, you have a flap which will be 15 inches. SO you know now that the flap should be 15 inches, and it will be installed 3 inches above the floor.

For the width, just add another inch to your dogs width. For Max, who is 13 inches wide, we needed a flap in the doggie door of 15 x 14 inches, and mounted 3 inches above the floor.

Choosing the right size dog door is important to your dog’s ease of access, and comfort, but it really isn’t hard to do once you know how.

Do you need a good reason to have a back door with cat door in it? I never really thought about it much until one night about a year and half ago.

Why A Pet Door?

Have you ever been awakened at 2:37am by your cat insisting that he REALLY, REALLY NEEDS to go out? I tell you, I was seriously considering making use of one of his nine lives. But then I remembered that I love the little guy…lucky for him. That night I decided that I would investigate, purchase and install a door that he could call his very own. And which I could call the door to a good night’s sleep. Here’s some of the stuff I learned.

A Door With Cat Door

Pet doors aren’t just for dogs. I mean it seems obvious on the face of it, but whenever I used to think about a pet door, for some reason a dog door always came to mind. Cats like to get out and roam around just as much as dogs, if not more, and a back door with cat door is just the thing for your feline friend to get the freedom which they enjoy so much.

Really, the only difference between a dog and cat door is size. And if you own a small dog, there may be no difference at all.

Since cat doors are small, there are more options when it comes to where to install them. They fit not only into doors, but some are made to be installed in walls, and even windows.

Another Option For Pet Doors

For wall installation of cat doors, and pet doors in general, it’s necessary to cut a hole in the wall. To be done properly and get a good seal, the hole should be framed prior to installing the pet door. If you don’t know how to do this, then hire a carpenter or a knowledgeable friend to do it for you.

In my case, I knew that I was going to put in the back door. There are plenty of great pet door kits available, and they come with directions on how to install them correctly. So don’t feel intimidated about giving your pet the freedom he or she craves. Just give it to them on your terms. Which really means so that they can come and go as they need or want to.

A Back Door With Cat Door – You’ll Sleep Better With One

Ever since we installed the pet door, I’ve have been sleeping much more soundly. No more middle of the night calls for freedom. I highly recommend getting a back door with cat door in it if you value your sleep as I do.

Nothing will teach you the value of a good dog doors for doors like being interrupted by your pet at the worst possible time. Has your pooch ever come to you at an inconvenient time so you could go and play doorman for him or her? I know mine sure has.

Dog Doors for Dogs – aka Doggie Doors

But that’s no longer a problem. Not since we decided to install his doggie door. Interestingly enough, the door we chose was not what I had originally thought of when we first decided to install a pet door.

Originally I pictured a regular little flap in the bottom of the back door, but my vision didn’t have any detail. Maybe my imagination needs glasses as do my eyes.

Dog Doors For Doors – No Matter The Weather

The weather in the area where we live can get pretty rough sometimes. Actually, when I stop to think about it, that’s probably true everywhere…except maybe San Diego. It sure seems like the weather there is nearly always perfect. My point is that the weather where you live can get spotty too I’d wager. So, how do you address the weather slash pet door problem? How do you let your pet out when he wants, but keep the weather out? It turns out that there is a solution.

Pet doors can be installed that will keep out bad weather. The way they work is really quite ingenious. They use magnetically sealing weather stripping. Your dog can still push the flaps out of his way to go in or out, and when the flaps fall back they have magnets along the bottom which attract magnets mounted at the top of a strip at the bottom of the door. When they get close enough the magnets in the flap pull the strip at the bottom up a fraction of an inch and the stick to each other forming a magnetic seal.

These dog doors for doors come in different sizes to fit any size pet, and can be installed in the door or place of your choosing.

Another solution that these pet doors offer is a cover which snaps into place over the pet door, for those times when you need to keep your pet in, while keeping the weather at bay.

In combination, these two solutions to the weather issue will enable you to deal with any situation.

Dog Doors for Doors – The Elegant Solution

Dog doors for doors will cost a little more than some other pet doors, but it’s an elegant solution that should satisfy both you and your pet. What will they think of next? Dog doors for doors that keep the weather out.

When the weather turns warmer in the spring and summer you may find that you want to use your screen doors for a steady supply of outside air, but what about your pet? You may want to consider installing one of the quality pet doors for screen doors which can easily be found on the market.

Not all pet doors for screen doors are the same. When I learned this, I was a bit surprised. I just thought that they all were made the same and any ol’ door would do. Boy, was I wrong.

Two Kinds of Pet Doors For Screen Doors

Instant Screen Doors

Basically there are two types of door of this type. There are “instant” screen doors, which can be put up in seconds. You may have seen this type for sale on TV. They hang the full length and width of a doorway and the screen parts in the middle. They were originally designed for people who live in places such as apartments where they are not permitted to hang an actual screen door. These attach without the need for tools and are designed to last for years. It should be noted that if you have small children, these will not stop them from going outside.

Inscreen Mounted Pet Doors for Screen Doors

This is by far the most commonly used variety. And of this type, you have two general choices to pick from. Some are made to hang directly from the screen itself, and the others are a sturdier build and use the frame of the screen door for support.

The type which is screen supported should only be used for small animals, and even then can present durability problems.

Another problem was reported by some people. Those who had heavy sturdier screens sometimes found that they could not force the screen into the mounting grooves because of the screen’s thickness.

The best bet are the pet doors designed to mount to the frame. It is a far sturdier construction, and will last much longer. Another advantage to the frame mounted type is that the type of screen used in the door is not important. Any screen type is fine.

One thing to keep in mind about the type that mounts to the screen door frame is that the thickness of the frame matters. They are designed to be used on a door which is no thicker than 1/2″. If it’s ant thicker then be sure top choose a maker who can modify the pert door for that door.

Pet doors for screen doors are great for giving your pet the great outdoors, and getting some air for yourself without letting the bugs of summer in.

Pet Doors For Screen Doors are available at Amazon

Does providing your dog with an automatic doggie door make sense? I think it does. Let me put it this way. Do you really want to have to get up from a nice nap or a sound sleep to open the door for your dog?

That used to be the way it was around our place. When Max decided it was time to go, we soon learned that it was time to play doorman or suffer the consequences.

The Automatic Doggie Door

Here’s the thing. We wanted Max, our dog, to be able to come and go as he pleases, but we also wanted to be sure that the racoons weren’t going to be able to get in as well when we aren’t home. Seriously. It has been a problem where we live. It’s a somewhat rural area, although that’s starting to change as more land is sold to build new neighborhoods. But for now, it is still an issue sometimes.

The answer we came up with is one of these new electronic doggie doors. They are amazing. You just add the electronic key to your dog’s collar, and when he gets close enough to the pet door it unlocks, and he can go through. Other animals can’t since they don’t have the key. It’s like Max has his own house key. Of course, for the times when we don’t want him to go out, the door can be turned off. It gives us the control we feel we should have, and the security that we need.

Great Value For A Pet Door

These doors are not expensive. They range from under $100 to around $200. But when you think of what you’re getting for the money, I think they provide a really great value for the buck.

Two Way Locking Automatic Doggie Door

One thing to be aware of when you consider the purchase of a pet door like this, is whether it has been designed so that it really is raccoon proof. Some electronic doggie doors are designed so that they lock in only one direction. The dog can push his way out, but coming back in he needs to have the key. Racoons sometimes have been able to figure out that they can pull this type of design open from the outside and gain entrance to your home in that way. If it locks in both directions, they can’t do this, and they’re kept out. Just something to be on the lookout for.

The automatic pet door has been the answer we needed. Maybe an automatic doggie door is what you need too.

What kinds of pet door are there, and how you know which one you need? Pet doors have been designed to provide a way for pets to get in and out of the house from pretty much any kind of door or window. But how do you know which kind is best for you? Let’s take a look at some of the options.

What Type of Pet Door?

• Pet Doors for Walls
• Pet Doors for Sliding Glass Doors
• Pet Doors for Screen Doors
• Pet Doors for Sash Windows
• Automatic Doggie Doors

These are just a few of the many kinds of pet doors that are available to provide your pet with the kind of freedom to come and go that both you and they will love. When your animal has its own pet store that it can use to come and go, it frees you from having to answer your dog or cat’s call to go outside.

The matter what kind of access to the outside that you wish to provide, rest assured that there’s a pet door that’s been designed to meet your needs.

More Than Your Traditional Pet Door

More than just the traditional door with the dog door, or door with the cat door, pet doors have been designed to be installed in walls and windows also. There are even pet doors designed for screen doors.

Of course, it’s not enough to know that you want a pet door. Choosing the right pet door for your particular situation means knowing what size door you’re going to need, and where you’re going to install it.

You need to be sure that your pet door is large enough to accommodate your pet size. Obviously, you don’t want to buy a pet door sight unseen. If you own a German Shepherd, a cat door would clearly be inadequate. And, likewise, if you have a cat door that will accommodate up German Shepherd is clearly much too large for a cat.

Other considerations in choosing a pet door may include keeping the weather out, and security. You should know that there are electronically locking the doors for added security, but which are still convenient for your pet to use.

Choose Your Pet Door Wisely

To sum up, choosing a new pet door for your home and pet will require a little bit of research on your part. However, when you have chosen the perfect pet door for your situation and had it installed, you and your pet will both be happier.