Everything You Need to Know About Dog Doors

Everything You Need to Know About Dog Doors

A pet door in your home can provide both you and your pet with a great deal of freedom and convenience. No more will you need to interrupt your favorite television show, or get up in the middle of the night to let your dog out. Dinners will be more relaxed, knowing that you can just sit there, relax, eat, and hold conversations without having to let your dog in.

Many pet experts agree that pet doors are actually good for your dog. It gives your dog self esteem by giving him or her the freedom to move about the house as he pleases. It also assists in overcoming common behavioral issues such as housebreaking, destructive chewing, excessive barking, and clawing and scratching at furniture.

Remember though, that just because you have a dog door doesn't mean that you have an excuse not to exercise your dog. Nor does it mean that you can leave your dog alone for extended periods of time. Just because he has access to the yard doesn't mean that he doesn't crave attention, and to get out and see new things and smell new smells.

A dog door does have benefits that are very worthwhile, even if it doesn't exercise your dog for you. Here are some of the better ones.

For you…

• No more interruptions in the evening, early morning, or any other time that you've got your hands full and can't let your dog out.
  
• No more scratched up doors or chewed up carpets.
  
• No more rude awakenings in the middle of the night.
  
• No more feeling guilty if you are stuck in traffic on your way home.
  
• No more "accidents" in the house because you couldn't get to the door in time.

For your dog…

• No more waiting until the point of urgency to be let out
  
• Lots of things to do and smell whenever he feels like going outside
  
• When he's ready to come in, he does. No more waiting when it's too hot, cold, or lonely outside.
  
• Growth of confidence because he can move about freely, deciding when and where he'd like to be.

Now that you know how the dog door will benefit you and your pooch, it's time to get to the store and pick one or buy it online. There are lots of different kinds of dog doors out there. The main thing to consider is the right size. Beyond that, you can purchase everything from a basic plastic flap, to a whole range of automatic and patio doors.

Since almost every dog door on the market is a rectangle, all you really need to work out is the width of the opening, and the height of the opening. The dog door must be just a bit wider than the widest part of your dog, and be a bit higher than your dog from his toes to his shoulders (on the back just behind the front legs). Remember also that puppies grow, so account for the adult size of your dog, not the size it is as a pup.

After that, it's a simple in and out procedure!

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