Smart Dog Doors – a Dream to Come True?
Why Do I Need an Electronic Dog Door?
If you have a pet dog, then you know the pain of having to get up every time they need to go outside to play or relieve themselves. It can become very tedious, having to open and close the door or listen to them bark at you to be let back in. And during the winter months, you may want to limit the number of times that cold air is allowed into your home. This can make it more difficult to keep your home properly insulated. However, there is an easy way to avoid these issues altogether.
Automatic dog doors, also known as electronic dog doors, are the same as those you may have seen before, or even have already. Their uniqueness lies in the way that the door opens up. Such doors’ mechanism is entirely automatic, which means that your dog will be able to come and go as they please, limited to when you choose to cover it with a barrier that comes with such products. Below are best electronic dog doors and flaps, chosen for their quality of construction, durability, and the level of simplicity for your dog to get adjusted to the door. Let’s get started!
14 Best Electronic Dog Doors – Overview and Rating
BEST ELECTRONIC DOG DOOR – AUTHOR’S CHOICE  |
PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor – Collar Activated Dog and Cat Door
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BEST VALUE – PEOPLE’S CHOICE  |
PetSafe New Wall Entry Dog and Cat Door
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BEST SECURE – PREMIUM CHOICE  |
High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door
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BEST SMART DOG DOOR  |
SureFlap Microchip Pet Door (Brown)
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BEST MAGNETIC DOG DOOR  |
OWNPETS Pet Screen Door
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Best Dog Door for Fast Assembly  |
PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Pane Sliding Glass Pet Door
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Best Door for Large Dogs  |
BarksBar Original Plastic Dog Door with Aluminum Lining
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Best Door for Large and Small Dogs  |
Pet Safe Plastic Pet Door with Soft Tinted Flap
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Best Dog Door for Warm Climates  |
Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Pet Door
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Best Dog Door for Rural Areas  |
PERFECT PET The All-Weather Energy Efficient Dog Door
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Best Dog Door for Fast Closing  |
eXtreme Performance Locking Rugged Aluminum Dog Doors for Exterior Doors
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Best Dog Door for Rental Homes  |
Ideal Pet Products Pet Door
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Best Dog Door for Swig Configuration  |
Depets Weatherproof Pet Door
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Innovative Design  |
Smart petWALK Dog Door
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Detailed Overview
Author’s Choice
- SIZES: S, L
- MAGNET LOCKS: YES
- FLAP MATERIAL: PLASTIC, METAL
- Fast Assembly and Reliable Automatic Features
The PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor is a small dog door with a lot of strength behind it. With this door, you can have it assembled in less than an hour. You’ll have to do a bit of modifying, of course, but nothing to the point of making extensive changes to the structure of the surface you’re working with. If you have a decent hand saw or table saw, you’re already well equipped to finish this part of the job.
- Safe from Outdoor Animals
Pay close attention to the flap that opens when your dog wants to get through. It has a clicking technique that opens up fast whenever they get close to the door. Don’t worry about larger animals trailing behind them when they come back; nothing will open for anything other than your small pets. And on top of this, no air from extreme weather conditions will make it into the inside of your home. When it closes shut, all elements from the outside are successfully blocked out.
Pros:
- Very quick installation due to a comprehensive instruction manual
- The clicking feature is easy enough for most dogs to quickly get the hang of
- The flap prevents hot and/or cold air from getting inside when closed
Cons:
- Although the door opens fast, closing take several seconds to complete
People’s Choice
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Magnet Locks: Yes
- Flap Material: Plastic
The PetSafe New Wall Dog Door is made from the same company has the previous product, although there are a few unique features here. The major one is the power behind the magnets. Instead of taking a long time to close, the door will shut on its own very quickly. It’s also very fast to install. Strong gusts might move the door but won’t occur if you settle on one of the smaller versions of the product.
Pros:
- There are magnets on the sides of the door to prevent cold and hot air from entering when closed
- All parts appear to be built well enough to last for a very long time
- Installation time should be less than 30 minutes for most buyers
Cons:
- The magnets fail to keep the door completely close when strong gusts appear
Premium Choice
- Sizes: M, L
- Magnet Locks: N/A (Auto Safety Retrack System)
- Flap Material: Hard Plastic
The High Tech Pet Power Pet Door can block out hot and cold air from in between the doggie door’s edges and end of your ordinary door. This will keep the room you install the door in much warmer (or cooler). And wind won’t cause the door to open either. Consider it if you live in a region that has lots of high-speed winds or major chill and/or heatwaves.
Pros:
- The door leaves no hidden gaps in between, unlike other doors (keep the entrance at room temperature)
- Strong wind gusts won’t affect the door’s ability to block wind from drafting inside
- Works on AC power
Cons:
- Batteries can only be provided by the manufacturer
Best Smart Dog Door
- Sizes: S
- Magnet Locks: No (Microchip)
- Flap Material: Hard Plastic
The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door works in tune with your dog’s microchip. Don’t worry about having to conform to a particular chip, all microchips are supported by the brand. The door will only open to your dog if you do this, although you might not want to settle for it if dealing with lots of pets other than dogs in your home that you know will use the door.
Pros:
- Works in tune with a dog’s microchip, of which all formats are compatible
- Long battery life should last for nearly one year before needing to be replaced
- The door can be adjusted to lock and unlock at a time that’s chosen by the owner
Cons:
- Some small animals might be able to figure out that the outside flap can be opened from the opposite direction
Best Magnetic Dog Door
The Ownpets Pet Screen Door advertises two doors in the product description. It has good magnet strength along the door’s edges, close back fast whenever dogs pass through the hatch. It’s made for screen doors and can save you a lot of time from having to cut through a wooden or sheetrock door to finish the installation. You’ll have to keep the main door open if you don’t want to keep getting up to let your pet out, however.
Pros:
- Sold in two sizes for either large or small dogs
- Strong magnets at the bottom will swiftly close the door after pets enter and/or leave
- Can be installed into a screen door, if desired
Cons:
- Some households will be forced to leave their screen doors open to avoid getting up, as the hatch built for only screen doors
Best Dog Door for Fast Assembly
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Magnet Locks: Yes
- Flap Material: Plastic
The PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Patio Panel is built for sliding doors. If you have one, there’s no need for you to do any sort of alterations to your doors. Just open the sliding door to the length of the product, place it in between the gap, and you’re done. For people living in rentals or homes that cannot be modified, this is strongly suggested.
Pros:
- The panel that’s made of glass doesn’t weaken in cold weather
- Dogs will quickly figure out the mechanism for the panel
- Can be taken down just as easy as it can be set up
Cons:
- Air may come inside easily depending on how the door is installed (weather stripping recommended with this product)
Best Door for Large Dogs
- Sizes: M, L
- Magnet Locks: Yes
- Flap Material: Plastic
The BarksBar Plastic Dog Door is built with aluminum along the edges, which helps add a bit of insulation. The entry/exit room for your dog would stay at room temperature easier because of it. Large dogs can fit through, although you won’t have to concern yourself with worries about them getting through when you don’t want them to. There’s a thick panel included with the door, serving as a great tool for anyone that wants a brand that won’t leave them feeling more vulnerable to break-in attempts.
Pros:
- Won’t break easily, even with dogs that are considerably large (100-pound max)
- The flap and magnets form a complete seal when closed
- A sliding panel keeps the door locked from the outside without the need for manually securing it
Cons:
- When unboxed, may contain an odor that resembles a chemical smell
Best Door for Large and Small Dogs
This PetSafe Door is sold in multiple versions. If the size of your dog is a bit awkward, see if they can fit into this door easily. Disabled dogs come to mind. The size is also lightweight and easy to set up. And best of all, no lengthy assembly to stress yourself over. It works better as a door that you would use inside but might be okay for people residing in warmer climates.
Pros:
- Has a wide variety of sizes, including one for dogs that are over 200 pounds
- The lightweight design makes it great for doors inside the home (that don’t lead to the outside)
- No long assembly required
Cons:
- The flap is made of plastic and will allow air to come from the outside (if installed on an exit door)
Best Dog Door for Warm Climates
The Endura Flap dog door, like the product shown immediately before, is also recommended for anyone living in a warmer climate. Most of the pieces are made from plastic and may not hold up for long in cold temperatures. It does attempt some form of insulation with its aluminum frame, however. High winds do not affect the flaps coming open either, good for rainy and windy environments.
Pros:
- The plastic flaps are well-suited for hot climates; keeps dust and pollen from entering
- Can prevent gusts of up to 50 miles per hour from opening the flaps
- An aluminum frame adds a bit of shielding from extreme temperatures
Cons:
- The edges of the flap could potentially catch on to a dog’s hair or skin
Best Dog Door for Rural Areas
- Door Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Magnet Locks: Yes
- Flap Material: Plastic
The Perfect Pet Dog Door is a good product for anyone that lives in an area with lots of wildlife outside. You don’t want small animals getting inside and eating your dog’s food when you’re not looking, which this door with help prevent from happening. You can have it set in about 30 minutes, the longest that you should take for most to finish the install.
Pros:
- Locks securely from the outside, preventing animals from getting in
- Has a 30-minutes average installation time
- Performed well in cold conditions; keeps out the winter chill (so long as the flap is closed)
Cons:
- The flaps may not completely close after a dog passes through the door
Best Dog Door for Fast Closing
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Magnet Locks: Yes
- Flap Material: Plastic
The Extreme Performance Dog Door is built for anyone that lives in a setting that has a harsh environment during the winter and summer months. Not dust or debris will trail your dog when they come back in, resulting in fewer cleanups at the end of the day. It successfully prevents leaks and wind from coming inside but you might get the occasional condensation that forms near the door, depending on the humidity of your location.
Pros:
- Magnets are placed on the bottom and sides of flap, ensuring that the door stays sealed after passing through
- The slider is made of metal and secures the door when not in use and doesn’t budge when closed
- No air or wind leaks
Cons:
- Doesn’t prevent condensation from getting inside
Best Dog Door for Rental Homes
The Ideal Pet Product Aluminum Ssh is another door that doesn’t necessitate a lengthy installation job. You won’t even have to cut through anything to use it. It’s built for window use and great for anyone with smaller dogs such as Chihuahuas or Shih Tzus.
Pros:
- Can conform to lots of window sizes
- The glass is dense and won’t shatter from ordinary stresses
- Easy enough to figure out without looking at instructions
Cons:
- Lets in drafts of cold and/or hot air
Best Dog Door for Swig Configuration
The Depets Weatherproof Door has multiple adjustments settings to control the direction that the door opens up in. It’s also transparent, so your dog can make out any activity before exiting the door. And since it’s pretty small, no annoying drafts or cold or hot air will come inside when the flap opens.
Pros:
- Can be adjusted to four different swing settings
- Dogs can see through the flap before walking outside
- It’s small size won’t allow large drafts of air to come inside
Cons:
- Short screws might be useless during installation
Innovative Design
- Sizes: M, L
- Magnet Locks: No (Fully Automatic)
- Flap Material: Plastic
The petWALK Dog Door is a new generation smart door for dogs and cats. It is a high quality entrance for your pets. It opens and closes automatically for your pets and is electronically controlled thanks to modern RFID technology. First it was presented at CES 2018 exhibition. And finally you can buy it now not only in Austria, where it is designed and manufactured, but all over Europe and also in the United Kingdom.
How it Works
We have pet doors and flaps, and the biggest concern about a pet door is somebody could actually get the pet in or out. The petWALK is the first real front door. It's just especially tailor-made for cats and for dogs. Usually they can open up a door, but they never close the door. This doors are fully automatic. They do what you can expect from one good front door. They are airtight and well insulated . They are equipped with alarm system and are burglarproof.
They identify a cat or a dog based on an implanted RFID transponder or an RFID transponders positioned on a collar. But they are even smarter. You can use any cloud-based video service like for example Google's nest cam. It analyzes the video stream and makes face recognition for pets. You can put a camera outside of the door. And when a petWALK is sure it's your pet then the door opens up. If not – the video stream is sent to you, you have a video intercom, you can look yourself that it is your pet and then can let it in. If it's somebody who should not be coming in, you can trigger the alarm.
Design
The petWALK dog door can be installed wherever you need it: doors, glass or concrete walls.
In comparison with an ordinary dog flap you can lock it as safe as a high quality house door. It is customized and you can also choose from a range of different colors and materials to fit your exterior and interior perfectly.
The petWALK door is not for a year or two. It can serve you as long as your house. The interior may change, but the door can still fit due to so called “Chameleon concept”. The frame in interchangeable and you can always upgrade it in accordance with new surroundings.
You can also choose to open right or left.
Features
- RFIDtechnology
petWALK pet doors use implanted and external pet ID chips as house keys.
- 100% Safe for animals
- The pet can’t get stuck
- The door will not get closed in the pet in the doorway for a moment. Sensitive motion sensors will detect it
- Electronic jamming protection. Even a slight resistance when closing or opening the door brings the door immediately to a halt and let them go a little in the opposite direction.
- Equipped with a built-in alarm system which makes the door burglarproof and safe
- Remote control
- Rain sensor
No dirty paws are allowed J The door does not allow your pet out when it rains outside.
- Ambient lighting
You can monitor your pet’s safety even at night. The door is lit when opened and dark again when closed.
- High performance insulation:
- You’re guaranteed no drafts and no loss of heat in your home.
- petWALK doors stay watertight during the strongest rains.
- Noise and dust doesn’t get through solid construction and tight seals.
- petWALKcomes in two sizes currently and fits for small and big cats and dogs
The "medium" doors’ dimensions are from 200mm width and 300mm height which is twice as large as basic cat flaps. They fit for bigger cats and also for smaller dogs and allow them freely walk through the door, and not to squeeze into a narrow opening. The "large" doors’ dimensions are developed with 300mm width and 500mm height.
Extra Bonus
Parcels delivery procedure. It’s possible to use petWALK as a convenient assistance for delivery of packages. It’s very easy. All the users have to do is just to put a little sticker with a barcode on the door, the parcel delivery guy scans the barcode, you get an alert on your mobile asking you if you want to open him up the door, he puts in the parcel, door closes, delivery is accepted.
Conclusion
petWALK doors are not just modernized pet flaps, they are high-tech products designed according to truely new standards for pet. The petWALK door is a part of your interior, adding some uniqueness to it. It provides excellent thermal qualities burglary security. And let’s not forget the convenience – an automatic door opener which recognizes your pets and only opens for them.
Pros:
- Can be controlled with a smartphone app
- The the door is fully sealed and insulated
- Changeable decors to match your interior
- Built-in alarm system
Cons:
- During a power outages your animals can only get into the house
Best Electronic Dog Doors – Buyer’s Guide
A dog door is a great help in everyday life and provides more freedom. After all, you don’t always have to open the door yourself when your dog wants to go out into the garden or yard. Thanks to a pet flap, your pet can decide for itself when he wants to go outside and come back in again. However, you should not buy the first best offer, but take a close look at our review. We have compared different doors with each other and shown you where their advantages and disadvantages lie. So that you can see what is important and choose the best model for your pup.
What Features to Consider Choosing an Electronic Dog Door?
Always ensure that the door you get is easy for you to install as quickly as possible. If not, you might end up needing to hire someone just to get the door assembled properly. People with some familiarity with carpentry or woodworking could be more skilled at this, regardless of the type of automatic door. Secondly, look at the area where you live. Are there lots of animals outside? If so, it’s strongly advised that you purchase a door that can shut quickly when your dog passes through. The best brands will do this without you needing to monitor the door when they come back inside.
How Much Time It Takes to Install
Most automatic dog doors can be assembled in about an hour. But if you would like to avoid assembly altogether, consider getting a door that doesn’t require you to cut through anything at all. But before you do, check to see if you have windows or other sliding fixtures that open to the outside. If you do, simply go with the door that you can set in between the rails.
Most dog doors today are very flexible, and can integrated upou your choice. The integration into the door is the most typical. Here we distinguish between metal, glass and wooden doors. Basically the installation of a dog flap is possible with all three variants, but it is a question of money.
- House doors made of glass are often only something for the specialist, as you can damage house door easily, which in the end costs you a lot of money. A specialist guarantees that the opening for the dog flap is cut out exactly. This not only protects the material, but also improves energy efficiency. After all, a lot of warm air can escape if the flap has not been cut out precisely.
- With doors made of wood or metal it looks a little different. Most manufacturers will provide you with a template so that you know exactly what to cut out. The instructions will also help you. Read the instructions carefully before you begin. After all, you only have this one try. If you cut the flap too small, this is often no problem. Re-cutting is much easier.
A dog door can be integrated not only into the door. There models suitable for walls, windows, patio sliding doors. All of them are presented in our review.
Why the Door Should Fit Your Dog’s Size
If your dog is large, pay close attention to the door’s dimensions. Also factor in their age. Have they passed their growing phase, or do you expect them to get any bigger? And don’t forget about puppies or smaller dogs either, more so if you have lots of dogs. For instance, if you want a dog door that’s going to be used by more than one pet, always go for the door that conforms to the size of the largest dog in your home.
When No Assembly is Preferred
If you don’t want to assemble anything at all, there’s an easy way to get around this. Just look for a door that you can sit in your window or sliding door. Several are listed above; just be sure that your dog isn’t too big to fit through them. If they are, then go for the automatic doors that’ll give you the least amount of trouble when installing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a dog door?
This is a special insulated opening, installed in a normal house door, wall or glass. It can be a flap or sliding. Depending on your house design you can choose the most suitable option. Some doors are removable, so you can use one even if you live in a rented house. Doggy door allows your pet to go in and out and play in the backyard without you opening a house door every time. Some electronic dog doors are programmed to open at a definite time, some are locked or unlocked by a microchip installed in a dog collar, some – by a remote control of the owner.
Are dog doors energy efficient?
Most relible door producers pay special attention to energy efficiency. There are several constructions to keep the warmth inside. Each of them is more energy officient than opening and closing a big house door every time a dog needs.
Can snakes, racoons and other animals come through dog doors?
Not all doors are safe in terms of protecting from other animals. Electonic (automatic) doors are the most suitable if there is a possibility of other animals intrusion. Choose a model which immediately closes after a dog is in or out.
Can puppies use dog doors?
Definitely. Both puppies and grown up dogs can use doggy doors. If you install such a door for a puppy and would like to keep it for a long time, we recommend to buy a door with dimensions like for an adult dog. A smaller dog can always use a bigger door.
Summary
Did you enjoy the article? If so, which of the automatic dog doors are your favorites? With so many designs and brands to pick, it might be a little difficult for you to pinpoint just one of them. That’s no problem at all. Out of the 14 listed, there are 2 that are recommended for a majority of dog owners. The PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor has great automatic features that’ll require no manual operation, and the New Wall Entry Dog Door blocks out cool and warm air from getting inside.
Still, that isn’t a put down to the rest of the product shown. You might find one of them better suited for your interests, more so if some of the variables described in the Buyer’s Guide are relevant to you. But above all, know that your dog will be much happier with having the freedom to move in and out without your assistance!
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He joined the gg team in 2011. Henri is a man of varied interests and writes about gadgets and military equipment. He has a good understanding of consumer electronics and a lot of experience with a variety of gamer hardware.
