No door can guarantee a cat can't get out with the dog; the cat waits for the dog to go through.
Even if you have an electronic door that requires a collar key, a cat may run outside when the dog opens the door.
We have a complete selection of patio pet doors and sliding pet doors. Installing a patio pet door can be a great option that eliminates the need to make a hole in a wall or household door.
We can provide custom size pet doors for doors, walls, French doors, and patio doors. You can get a custom size pet door ranging from cats to Great Danes.
Plastic, Vinyl, K9–Composite – there are many pet door materials to choose from, along with a few different ways to construct the door. Which is the best depends on where it should be installed, what type of pet will use it, and how long it's expected to last.
The PlexiDor line of manual pet doors is the best dog door or cat door for cold weather.
These doors will function down to –40 degrees F/C. The door will still work below this temperature, but it will get frosty and the weather seal will freeze to the frame.
A pet door can solve some problems – it will allow your cat or dog access to the yard whenever you have the door unlocked.
Most install dog doors to not have to worry about potty breaks during long work days, to minimize accidents on the floor, and to give pets an opportunity to run and play when they want to.
Dog doors and cat doors can look small from a human point of view, but the door opening doesn't have to be as big as the pet standing upright.
The opening width should be a little wider than the widest part of your cat or dog.
A pet door can be installed through a house door, a wall, or even a window.
Many choose to install their pet door in a house door, because it's a fairly simple installation and easy to restore – just replace the door.
How much work you need to do to secure your yard depends on your pets and their personality. Most dogs are perfectly happy going out in a fenced area and going back in without ever getting into trouble.
The PlexiDor costs more to purchase than many other pet doors. On the other hand, it is one of the cheapest doors to own over its lifetime.
Over a ten-year period, these pet doors require very little maintenance, there are no flaps to replace, and they are energy efficient, saving money on heating and cooling.
No, the saloon-style PlexiDor is a manual pet door; the dog or cat pushes it open as they go through.
No, pets don't get stuck.
Even if the pet were to start going outside, turn, and go back inside with say the tail still in the door, the panels open so easily that the pet can't get stuck.
The PlexiDor has been on the market since 1985 without even one report of a pet getting stuck.
No, the pet's tail won't get hurt.
Theoretically, a cat or dog with a long tail could go outside and hesitate long enough for the tip of the tail to still be in the door when the panels close, but they close so gently that the tail won't be damaged. If this were to happen, most cats and dogs would look back and wonder what's touching their tail.
Once puppies get big enough to scamper about, they're likely to figure out the pet door and how to open it.
You may need to separate the puppies from the door to keep them safely inside.
If your pet is the eager kind that runs towards the door at full speed, it's a good idea to put up a signal stating the door is locked.
No matter which type of door you choose, some pets will run head-first into the door when it's locked – they don't know it's locked.
The opening for the pet is smaller than the overall door size, because of the frame. Please see the following:
Pet Door Size Opening for pet
Small 6 1/2” x 7 1/4”
Medium 9” x 12”
Large 11 3/4” x 16”
Extra Large 15 3/4” x 23 5/8”
Electronic 12 5/8” x 19 5/8”
The below size chart shows installation cut hole, opening for pet, and overall size, click on it to get the full size version.
The PlexiDor has not been rated with an R value. However, the door was designed for extreme climates.
PlexiDors offer excellent protection against weather and the doors are popular in Canada, Alaska, and Switzerland because of the good insulation and excellent weather seal.
Cats are generally more comfortable going through small openings than dogs are. And, they're built differently, so a 24 pound dog needs more space than a 24 pound cat.
Yes, you can paint the PlexiDor frames and accessories.
Talk to an experienced paint sales person to get help choosing the right type of paint. They can also give advice on preparing the surface the best way for the paint you choose.
The PlexiDor is the best pet door for a wall.
This durable pet door is crafted from the finest materials to withstand time and weather. It is available with a white, bronze, or brushed aluminum frame.
The wall kit comes with an aluminum tunnel to cover the inside of the wall, and the tunnel should be installed with a slope to lead rain and snow away from the wall.
Yes, there are window inserts as well as doors mounted on the glass. To install through glass, you will need to have the pane replaced locally. We sell a window kit for cat size pet doors, and this kit works with the AB10 and AB21 pet doors.
The door must be installed at a height tall enough for the tall dog to pass through without hitting their back, yet low enough for the short dog to get over the threshold.
We recommend that the dog door is installed with a 2 inch clearance from the top of the dog's back to the opening of the door.
It depends on what pet door you get. A high quality dog door or cat door will have safety features to ensure the security of your home.
Many cheaper flap doors can be forced open or kicked in – but the dog on the other side of the door is usually enough to deter such attempts.
Installation prices will vary, depending on installation location and materials.
For instance, getting a PlexiDor installed in a house door usually ranges between $200-$350.
Yes, compared to opening a household door, an energy-efficient pet door can save money on heating and cooling.
Every time a human-size household door is opened to let a dog or cat in or out, the air inside the home blends with the air outside.
Depending on your circumstances, there are many advantages to having a pet door.
A pet door provides easy and convenient access to the outdoors, which means you no longer have to plan around potty breaks.
Yes, the PlexiDor Electronic pet door can be programmed for up to ten pets.
The keys that arrive with the door are pre-programmed. If you need to program more collar keys, follow these step-by-step instructions:
Remove the motor cover by squeezing from both sides and tipping the cover down and out.
Condensation can in extreme cases freeze the dog door shut, but it is possible to fix the problem.
The first thing to do is make sure there's sufficient insulation in the hole where the dog door or cat door is installed.
The glass used in a window or door is tempered – a process that increases its strength but also makes it impossible to cut without shattering.
In order to install a pet door through a window or a glass door, the pane must be replaced.
The PlexiDor Glass Series is a prefabricated one-piece glass door insert, designed to fit French doors and patio doors.
The keys that arrive with the door are pre-programmed, but if you need more collar keys, programming them is easy.
Start by removing the motor cover on the door. This is done by squeezing from both sides and tipping it down and out.
A pet door can help get chewing problems under control, but it depends on why the pet chews.
Puppies and adult dogs chew for different reasons. A teething puppy may have an itchy or aching mouth.
The mounting hole for your old pet door probably won't be exactly the same as for the PlexiDor, but you can usually alter the existing hole to fit.
Give our customer service a call at 800-749-9609 option 3. They are experienced and can help you find the closest fit, and give ideas on how to manage the existing hole.
Most pets take to their new cat door or dog door quickly – they want to get to the other side – but others need some training. Many get it in a few seconds, others might need a week or two.
Start with propping the door open and call for your pet.
There are dog doors guaranteed to be chew proof. These usually have a higher up-front cost, but if you know your dog is prone to chewing, it will save a lot of money in the long run.
The BiteGuard KennelPlex is constructed to handle extreme climates and withstand the rigorous activities of professionally trained dogs.
Yes, an episode of “This Old House” featured a PlexiDor wall installation
You can see the video on their website; the door installation starts right after 16 minutes into the video. They talk about why they're putting the door where they're putting it, how they decided how big the door would need to be, and show the installation.
The PlexiDor dog doors and cat door have been developed together with pet owners, to find solutions that satisfy the demands of both pets and people.
For example, most pet owners don’t want to replace flaps, so the PlexiDor doesn’t have flaps.
The PlexiDor cat door is intended for cats up to 24 lbs and dogs up to 9 lbs.
The extra large PlexiDor is constructed to withstand daily use by dogs up to 220 pounds, and the panels are different than on the smaller models.
Dogs larger than 220 pounds may still be able to use the door – it will depend on their build.
Puppies grow fast; get the size pet door you will need for the dog as an adult.
It may seem logical to start with a smaller door when the dog is small and gradually increase the size, but you will have to buy several doors – and install several doors.
Most pet doors are manual, but if you want control of which animals can open the door, an automatic door is a better choice.
On a manual dog door or cat door, the pet pushes the door open when going through.
The medium and large size PlexiDors are constructed the same way.
The medium door is suitable for dogs up to 40 pounds and the large for dogs up to 100 pounds. In a multi-pet household, a smaller dog or a cat is usually able to open these doors without problems.
Sir Isaac Newton is often accredited with inventing the pet door, but humans have had holes in walls for their pets for thousands of years.
It's hard to estimate how long ago the oldest pet door would have been built, but we do know both dogs and cats have accompanied humans for millennia.
A dog door or a cat door can have a significant impact on your indoor climate, for better and for worse, so choose a high quality door appropriate for your area.
Many cheaper flap doors can allow wind, sun, and even snow to enter the house.
The keys for the PlexiDor Electronic are water proof and will not be damaged by the dog going for a swim.
There are several differences between a single and a double flap door.
A single flap door has one flap that usually hangs on the inside of the door.
Whether water will come in through a pet door or not depends on the situation and the type of door.
Most pet door manufacturers have taken precautions to ensure regular rain won't enter a house through the pet door.
There are pet doors made from wood, but they're not common.
Most pets don't like opening a wooden flap or wooden panels – it's hard for them to see the door, and they don't get a feeling of what's on the other side.
When the door is closed, the PlexiDor panels and weather seal are tight enough to keep bugs out of the house.
We have feedback from customers in areas with big problems with black flies, and the flies do not enter through the PlexiDor.
Installing a pet door is usually fairly easy, but it may depend on the type of door and where exactly you want it to be.
Some pet doors are extremely easy to install, for instance pet doors for sash windows.
Framing depth measures the distance from a pet door's inside frame to the outside frame.
Many doors are constructed to fit a regular household door. That means, the pet door will frame the hole through the door, giving a professional appearance.
If an older dog stops using the pet door, the problem is usually related to aches and pains.
The regular PlexiDor dog doors and cat door come with a 10 year warranty. The electronic doors have a 5 year warranty. All PlexiDor pet door products include a 90 day money back guarantee.
The PlexiDor panels are always see-through, but the frame is available in white, bronze, or brushed aluminum. The PlexiDor awning is available in white or bronze.
The doors come in sizes small, medium, large, and extra large.
The most common mistakes are probably getting a door that's much bigger than the pet needs, and buying the cheapest door possible.
A flap door that's much larger than the pet needs can be difficult to open, because the flap becomes too heavy.
The most common dog door problem is flaps needing replacement, and this is more frequent on lower grade pet doors that use cheaper materials. Even if the dog doesn't chew the flap, it is likely to crack, warp, discolor, and sometimes even shrink with time.
If you live in an area with strong winds or other severe weather conditions, we recommend investing in a PlexiDor – the door will not blow open, and it will keep other types of weather outside.
No, the PlexiDor Electronic opens automatically – for pets with the right key. There are electronic pet doors where the key only locks or unlocks the door, and the pet still has to push it open to go through.
No pet door can guarantee that the cats don't go outside with the dog.
The cat may not have a key to open the PlexiDor Electronic, but cats are fast and smart, and if they want to go outside, they'll figure out that they can use the door with the dog.
You can install a pet door under a window like a regular wall installation if there is enough room. Small and medium size doors usually fit.
Depending on pet door model, you may need more room than just to fit the door – make sure you have room to attach the security plate.
If you have a flap-type door and the flap repeatedly rips along the top edge, the door is probably too small for your dog – or installed too low.
Make sure the top of the pet door opening is a couple of inches higher than the back of your tallest pet.
The Plexidor Electronic pet door is designed to plug into a standard US or Canadian household outlet – 110-120 V power. It does not operate on battery power.
For use overseas, we can help you find a transformer that will power the door.
The PlexiDor Electronic pet door has been designed to work on all metal doors, aluminum is not a problem. It should not be affected by a wireless modem, alarm system, electric fence, or anything similar.
The PlexiDor Extra Large is constructed for dogs up to 220 pounds and will accommodate very large breeds such as Irish Wolfhounds, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, and Great Danes.
Dog doors for pets this size face some unique challenges; a traditional flap door can't stand up to the power produced by a 220 pound dog hitting it at full speed.
Any animal able to wear a collar with a collar key can use the door.
The PlexiDor Electronic opens when a collar key with the right RFID is close enough.
The PlexiDor cat door accommodates cats up to 24 pounds and is sufficient even for very large cats.
An average size Labrador will need a large PlexiDor dog door.
Labradors come in a variety of sizes and there's a difference between English labs and American labs.
An average size Chihuahua will need a small PlexiDor.
The average size Chihuahua weighs between 3 and 6 pounds. The small PlexiDor is constructed for dogs up to 9 pounds and cats up to 24 pounds.
An average size Beagle will need a medium PlexiDor.
The average size Beagle weighs between 18 and 30 pounds. The PlexiDor Medium is constructed for dogs up to 40 pounds and a perfect fit.
The average German Shepherd weighs between 75 and 95 pounds. For most pet door brands that will translate to a large dog door.
Once you've decided what dog door properties are important to you – for instance weather proofing, a low level of maintenance, low cost up-front or low cost long-term – it's a good idea to weigh and measure your dog.
The Newfoundland is a very large, strong, and energetic breed, and the PlexiDor Extra Large will be the best choice – this door is constructed for having dogs this size running through it.
The PlexiDor has heavy duty springs concealed in the frame that close the panels once the pet has gone through.
The springs allow the panels to open easily without blowing open – it's important that the pet can go through without much effort – and close quickly and securely.
In extreme weather conditions, the aluminum tunnel can be cold and slippery, but the problem can be solved.
The PlexiDor wall models come with an aluminum tunnel that covers the sides, top, and bottom of the hole through the wall.
Cat doors are too small for a person to get through and will not allow intruders access to a house.
If you are concerned about security, give us a call at 800-749-9609 and speak with customer service.
A small Irish Wolfhound may be able to use an electronic PlexiDor, but large individuals will not be able to get through the opening.
The PlexiDor Electronic is difficult to force open and not a likely point of entry for potential burglars. It would be easier to break a window.
The door only responds to certain RFID codes, and in order to be reprogrammed to open for another key, a person has to already be inside the house, remove the cover, and access the circuit board.
Yes, you can install a pet door in a house door with recessed panels.
Pet doors with plastic frames can be too flexible to be used on a house door that isn't flat, and it's easier to install a cat or dog door with aluminum frame, such as the PlexiDor.
The PlexiDor Electronic will only open for pets with the right key. Even if your neighbor has an identical door, your door will only respond to the correct key codes.
There is no guarantee another pet won't sneak in with your dog or cat, but this is very unlikely.
Whether or not your pets will set off the alarm will depend on the alarm system.
Most motion sensors exclude small animals – there are probably already animals moving in the yard during both days and nights.
The PlexiDor Electronic does not currently interact through an app – it reads an RFID chip in the pet's collar key.
There are pet doors that can be operated through an app to for instance monitor how many times the door opens in a day.
The PlexiDor Electronic can be programmed for up to ten collar keys.
Most households never reach the ten key limit, but if a pet loses a key and it needs to be replaced, it can happen.
If your pet door has created a draft, it's because it doesn't close tight enough, or it isn't insulated well enough. Take a look at the flap and make sure it seals tight.
Make sure there isn't dirt or debris preventing the flap from closing – and that the flap isn't broken.
Depending on the placement of a pet door and what kind of pets use it, flap replacements can be a frequent nuisance for flap door owners. Besides the obvious solution – invest in a door that doesn't use flaps – there are some things that can make them last longer.
Dogs like to dig, and understanding why they do it may help manage the instinct. Some dogs never dig, and others love to do it.
One reason to why dogs dig is an instinct to keep their things safe and protected.
Putting in a new pet door that's smaller than the old one can be a little tricky, but it's definitely manageable. The best option will depend on the situation.
If the new door is just a little smaller, it might be possible to fill out the gap with some wood and cover with a molding that fits the overall look.
Even very small dog breeds can use dog doors. Pick a door that opens easily, like the small PlexiDor, and make sure you install it at an appropriate height.
Tiny dogs aren't all that different from bigger dogs. Some will figure their new door out in a minute and others may need a few days.
Most pets push their dog door or cat door open with their heads, but the doors open so easily they won't get headaches.
If a pet door were to cause a pet pain, they would be unlikely to use it.
Feel free to call us at 800-749-9609. You can also browse the learning center by category at the main Learning Center page, or try a new search here:
