Pet Doors

Why Electronic Dog Doors Are Popular

Friday, February 18th, 2011

There’s one thing that works against traditional dog doors: if an animal is chasing or following our dog, it can do so even inside our house. The advent of electronic dog doors has brought in inexplicable convenience and security to our dogs at home. Before you resort to the purchase of electronic dog doors, it is imperative that you understand the types of electronic pet doors available for that would help you in making the right and the most apt choice for your pet on the fly.

Kinds of Electronic Dog Doors

There are a couple of popular electronic pet doors namely the motion sensor activated electronic dog doors and the electromagnetic sensor based pet doors. The first one is unique in the sense that it can detect the motion of your dog and differentiate it from the motion of a higher or smaller animal (or human), while the second one detects the electromagnetic field that is emitted by your dog’s collar.

While both types work very well, the one that works with an electromagnetic field is the only one that can guarantee you that no other animal will be able to get inside your house.

Benefits

Unlike conventional dog doors, the electronic dog doors are light, easy to use and install. They are designed to resist both bad weather and constant use, and thus they last for a long time. Some models even let you customize times and modes of access.

Selecting the Best Electronic Dog Door

You should always take a look at several electronic dog doors before making a decision, since sometimes an extra feature or two might be very convenient for your case and make a world of difference. Some factors that you should take into consideration is your dog’s size (if it’s a puppy or a young dog, consider the full grown size instead), whether the installation is included in the price, the existence of a back up battery, etc.

The main advantage of electronic dog doors over regular ones is that they keep other animals out of the house. They are also a good choice in areas where there’s a lot of rain or snow, since they will keep those outside too. Always consider the size of your dog when looking at electronic pet doors.

The Electronic Dog Door: No More Urgent Barking

Friday, February 18th, 2011

The electronic dog door is powered either by batteries, electrical plugs or by both. This door uses state of the art technology in order to give your pet a greater degree of freedom. It is designed to open only to the dog that is wearing a collar that the door can recognize through its detectors. With this system, no other animal will be able to get into your house. An electronic pet door costs more than other types of pet doors, but they are worth the price.

Traditional pet doors give the dog freedom to come and go, but they do not keep undesired elements out of the house such as cold weather and leaves like an electronic pet door can. Also, while both types of pet doors let your dog inside, only the electronic pet door will close after your dog is inside, which might save it from other dogs or cruel children.

How do they work?

Although they can vary a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, these doors usually work in the same way. The door has some sensors which make the door open when they detect a magnetic (sometimes infrared) signal emitted by a collar that your dog has to wear at all times.

It doesn’t matter if your dog approaches the door from inside the house or outside of it; the door will open itself and then it will lock itself again. There are also styles that allow the owner to use a remote control device which allow the owner to control when the door is opened or closed.

It is interesting to know that a electronic pet door’s sensors can tell the difference in size between a dog and a person, and thus won’t open to burglars.

Price

Price will not only depend on the material and size of the automatic dog door, but also on the number of features it has, with prices ranging from $40 to up to $700.

Extra features include several locking modes and aesthetic designs.

The electronic dog door is powered by normal electrical current or by batteries. It locks after the dog comes in, keeping animals and rain outside. Depending on your specificelectronic pet door model, you may get different features.

The Doogie Door: Happy Puppy, Happy Owner

Friday, February 18th, 2011

For any person that has a dog, putting a doggie door into one of the doors of the home that leads to the back yard is essential to keeping everyone happy. Despite the common misconception, for those who have a sliding glass doors, there are some types of doggie doors that can be installed on them. Actually, there are two kinds of doggie doors that can installed on glass doors without breaking them or rendering them more fragile.

Types of Doggie Doors

The two types of doggy doors that can be put into sliding glass doors are the panel type and a door within the door. The first type is a door that measure the same as the sliding door, and while it reduces the space that people have to get out, it works as a normal doggie door otherwise.

The door within the door requires that a hole be cut in the glass so that the door for the pet can be installed

In addition to dog doors that can be installed on glass doors, there are also other types that work on regular doors, like the automatic slider doggie doors. These doors are better suited for large dogs because they open completely whenever the dog goes through them, giving them more space. However, the most common type of doggie door by far is the flap door, which is usually installed at the bottom of the door and has to be pushed by the dog whenever it comes in our out.

Due to the popularity of doggie doors, manufacturers are always trying to come up with new types of doggie doors, such as the sash doors and the door mounts. WIth so many types of doors available, any customer can find the most appropriate doggy door for his or her pet, no matter the size, age, and characteristics of the dog.

Installing a doggie door is very easy and practical. They can even be installed in glass doors. You can pretty much install a doggy door in any kind of door.

How Dog Flaps Make Your Life Easier

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Dog doors are very practical solutions for dog owners who are too busy and can’t afford to get up and go open the door every time the dog wants to come in or go out. This way, dog owners can continue working, sleeping, cooking, talking on the phone, or whatever activity they were doing, while at the same time they give their pets more freedom of movement.

Kinds of Dog Doors

dog doors come in several materials, including wood, plastic, metal, and glass; you can even get electronic dog doors if you want.

Plastic doors can be transparent so your dog can see what’s outside or inside and avoid bumping into people. However, that also means that people who are willing to crouch or lie down will see inside your house. If you want a resistant door, you can get a metal one, however, if your dog is too small or too young, it might not be strong enough to push it open.

Glass doors have sliding covers and are usually transparent. The latest and most modern type of dog doors is the electronic dog door. These have a remote key attached to their collar that enables automatic opening and closing of the door using magnets.

Tips on How to Get the Most Appropriate Dog Door

Take your priorities into consideration first. Some people don’t like transparent dogs because they don’t want outsiders to see into their houses, while others believe that the extra sunlight is a welcome addition. Measure the size of your dog and try to purchase dog doors of suitable size for that would make it compact and impressive. If you have a pup, remember that your pup is likely to grow fast which might necessitate a greater height for the dog door`.

Dogs can easily be trained to use the dog door. After a couple of tries, the dog’s natural instincts and needs will take care of the rest. If you have the money, always get a professional to install the door.

For some people, dog doors means no interruptions when cooking, sleeping, or watching TV. They allow your dog to go to the yard by itself. When comparing dog doors, consider your dog’s size above all.

Installing a Dog Door for Your Dog

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Dog owners know that it’s better for their pets to be independent since they won’t always have time for them. It can be difficult to wake up at five in the morning to take your dog out for a walk. You might think that if you install a dog door for your dog that he or she will have more independence and you will be able to sleep late in the morning instead of having to get up at the crack of dawn to walk your pup!.

There are some important things to take into consideration when choosing and buying a dog door for your home.

Some Basic Safety Rules

When you install a dog door, there are some safety issues you have to think about. If you have a small breed dog, then it’s really not a problem becaue its door will also be small. But if you have a large dog, you might need a dog door that is very large to let your dog in and out. The larger the door is, the bigger the chance that a person can crawl through and into your home. Some burglars will even try to unlock your door by reaching through the door and aiming for the door knob.

Make sure to point out these or other concerns to the person that will sell you the dog door. You can find that sort of information at your local pet supply store as well.

Can Your Pet Use It?

The most important thing is to make sure that your dog can go through the door. If the dog cannot get out, then what is the point of having the dog door? In addition, make sure that the dog is strong enought to open the door. This last point can be overlooked until after the door has been installed and it’s too late or too expensive to change it.

Getting a dog door is very convenient. No more getting up at night to let your dog out urgently. When buying a dog door always see that your dog can fit through it and open it before purchasing it.

Cat Doors: Happy Cats and Happy Owners

Friday, February 18th, 2011

If you have one or more pet cats, then you might want to install one or two or even more cat flaps for both your and your pets’ convenience. Cat flaps take away the need to get up and down to let your cat in, and make for a more peaceful life, and a happier cat that enjoys his freedom.

However, they are complicated enough to install that you want a professional do the job for you in order to ensure that the cat flap will be well installed and that it won’t let water in when it rains.

Attention to Thieves

It’s important to make sure that installing a cat door doesn’t make it easier for burglars to break into your house by uninstalling them or by any other method. That why a lot of people prefer to place cat doors in the lowest part of their doors, which also lets the car get in the house by walking through it, instead of having to jump or climb.

Although of course, nobody expects a burglar to shrink to the size of a cat and use the door to get in, if cat doors were a bit higher, they could try to use them to reach in and go for the handle.

Not Your Cat

Even if cat doors won’t let burglars of thieves break into your house, the neighborhood cats will have no trouble at all getting into your house, something that you might want to consider. A simple way to get around this problem is to have a cat flap with a locking system, which identifies the cat by a small tag, added to his collar.

These cat doors normally are locked with the use of a magnet, in such a way that any other cat will not be able to open the door, even if it pushes it, as the magnets will hold it in place.

cat flaps will let your cat come in and out as it pleases without your help. If installed properly, they won’t represent a safety risk. There are even some cat doors that will only open for your cat.

A Brief Overview of the Cat Door

Friday, February 18th, 2011

A cat door is often installed in a home with a cat. Some people call these cat flaps. The purpose of a cat door is to let a cat inside and outside whenever it wants. These doors have been improved greatly from the time they were invented. These days, pet doors are framed with sturdy and versatile plastic or wood. The doors themselves are built to last the comings and goings of the cat. These are important points when buying or considering different cat doors.

Size And Frame

When you buy a cat flap, consider the breed and size of your cat. Some breeds, like the American maine coon cat, are too big for some doors, while small breeds might not be able to push open some doors due to lack of strength. The frame that holds the door should be resistant to water, since it will be exposed to rain and even snow.

Some cat doors are built in glass while others are installed through walls. Of course, both the door and the frame should be appropriate to the size and the strength of the cat.

Electric or Magnetic

These doors were designed to work in coordination with the cat. Some of these doors can detect the presence of the cat through the collar it’s wearing. This gives the advantage of allowing only the cat that’s wearing the collar to go inside the house. This is very beneficial if the cat’s being chased by dogs or by other cats. The disadvantage to this is that if the “key” gets lost, the pet is left out on its own until such time that its owner wonders where it could be. In other types of doors, the trap will open by detecting the presence of the cat itself, and not a collar. Since the features of each cat door vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model, it pays to find specific information about them before making a purchasing decision.

cat door is a very practical idea. This will let the cat come and go by itself. You can even get a cat flap that will open only for your cat.

What to Consider When Buying an Automatic Pet Door

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Families that take vacations after a long time have often the dilemma of taking their pets with them (and consequently the obligations that this entitles), or leaving them in some sort of pet hotel. But, by installing an automatic pet door, the family can leave knowing that it’s not necessary for someone to be at home letting Fido in an out whenever it’s necessary.

Where to Look for an Automatic Pet Door

Most people that get an automatic pet door get it for their dogs. This is normally because dogs tend to go outside to do their business then they come back inside to interact with the family. It’s quite common to see a house with an automatic dog door installed in areas where there is not much crime.

Normally with an automatic pet door the animal has on a collar which signals to the door to open and let them in. The collar is preset and programmed by the manufacturer and are usually sold at a discount price along with the automatic door. A cat can also use the automatic pet door if the cat is considered an outside cat. This is normally a cat that is outside of the home more often than inside of the home.

In addition to normal use, if a burglar gets past the dog and breaks into inside the house, the system will allow the dog to follow him into the house.

Installing a automatic dog door is very easy; all you need to do is mount it or get it mounted on a door that faces the outside. The back door is the most obvious choice, although there are others, like the garage door or the patio door or even the front door, depending on the layout of your house. It’s always a good idea to compare prices in stores and online before getting your automatic pet door, as you will be able to get a better deal that way.

An automatic pet door is a very practical thing. It will save you from opening and closing the door for your pet hundreds of times. In addition, an automatic dog door lets your dog chase a thief both inside and outside your house.