Quality Dog Door

The best one I have seen operates like a simple passthru. It has heavy plastic sheeting (like they use in forklift doors) in two layers, separated by about 4". I think it would work just as well with canvas or other heavy fabric. Best thing is you can match the size nicely with the dog.

This one had a door on the inside to make it secure when needed. The owner says the dogs took one or two "hits" in learning not to charge thru without a nose poke to see if the inside door was shut.... :)

Matthew

------------ I'd take a hint from magnetic cat doors. The good ones swing both ways, have a magnet that centers the door flap down, and has felt weather stripping to keep out bugs and wind. The also have a sliding switch that enables you to lock the door, or only let it open in one direction or the other.

Of course the cat doors are plastic, and meant for a cutout in an existing door, but if you could apply the principles to a nice wooden dog door meant for through the wall installation, you might have something highly marketable.

Examples:

Yeah. The fact that you've got a dog will probably be enough to keep the local cats out. But that doesn't faze the skunks, raccoons and some other critters. Especially not once they figure out there's dog food on the other side of the door.

--RC

"Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr.

That design isn't just for cats. I have one like that sized (and sold) for dogs. My cats appreciate the space.

I'll second that recommendation. I also have tried other dog doors, and will not use anything but Plexidor ever again. My Newfoundlands (150 pounds and not gentle with the door) have been bashing their way in and out dozens of times every day for years, and this door just keeps swinging. I even recommended it to my boss. After he got done choking on the price, he ordered one for his Bull Terrier, and thanked me after his dog had used it just one day. Definitely big bucks, but they last and last, and really keep the weather out. Lewis

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 01:15:00 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@TAKEOUTmindspring.com vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Easy. Put an electric latch on there and teach the dog to use the button!

Sounds big enough for a burglar (assuming you take your dog on vacation with you!). Don't neglect some method to well-secure the door.

We live in town -- so the local population of critters is pretty much limited to those on leashes. Maybe it's just because the Airdale Terriorist is great at border patrol...

Matthew

Mon, Jan 24, 2005, 5:40am (EST-1) snipped-for-privacy@charter.net (Matthew) wildly exclaims: We live in town -- so the local population of critters is pretty much limited to those on leashes.

Apparently you missed the PBS show on urban racoons - which was filmed in a city, not a town. A few months a deer was killed on a street that runs along the main street in the town I live near - well within the town limits. Years back, one of my son's friends hit a deer on the main highway, also well within the town limits. And, of course, there's always the roadkill proof, 'possums, skunks, raccoons, all well within the town limits. And, you're forgetting rats, squirrels, some type of toad in Florida (and alligators), and no telling what else, besides kids, burglars, loose dogs, vindictive ex-wives, mothers-in-law, etc.

JOAT Charity ain't giving people what you wants to give, it's giving people what they need to get.

- Albert

Sorry, it doesn't meet all your requirements, but I have had this one for about 4 years, lab flies throught in and out and it is never failed.

Good luck, Mike C.

Nehmo Sergheyev wrote:

Dumb question, but I'm curious..

What happens with these doors when the dog goes out halfway and then decided to back up? Wouldn't a solid panel door snag and injure the dog?

The first thing that comes to mind is the Gary Larson "Far Side" cartoon that is on the November 2005 calendar that has popped up all over my office...

"Here Fifi..."

:-)

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

He can always leave the pet alligator at home.

Of course, there are transponder-equipped pet doors (transponder goes on pet's collar). That only lets in the specific animal. One guy had one of these and got tired of his cat bringing in mice, so he "rewired it" *grunt grunt* to use pattern recognition and a digital camera. If the cat has a critter in it's mouse it will not be let in.

- Noozer -

A valid issue. There are lots of accidents with *humans* using regular side-hinged doors. The possibility of an accident with a dog using a top-hinged door shouldn't be discounted. Just like people, dogs get old and frail. Every dog isn't robust and young, and the one-way crawl-through design may not be appropriate for an almost-crippled fifteen-year-old.

Most of the commercial doors have a one-way (work only for dog movement in one direction) top-hinge design. To make the doors two-way, the doors have another door within a larger door. In one example, the aluminum frame hinges in one direction, and the inside-the-frame Plexiglas flap hinges in the opposite direction.

Most of these commercially available doors also don't accommodate the entire dog body ? they are crawl-through, having the threshold a few inches above floor level.

If the door threshold were closer to floor level and if the door opening were high enough to accommodate the height of the dog, say, up the height of the dog's back, the backing-out snagging [1] could be minimized.

Nonetheless, even with improvements, the top-hinge door-within-a-door doesn't seem like the best. I'm considering a double door (two doors hinged on the sides that meet in the center) with the pivots of the hinges on the tops and bottoms.

And I prefer tempered glass to Plexiglas if a transparent section is incorporated. Plexiglas scratches too easily.

- JerryMouse -

vacation with

- Nehmo ? Most burglars around are black, and they're afraid of dogs. Just seeing a dog door may be enough to deter them, and crawling through one into unknown dog-protected territory would take a determined burglar indeed.

But that's one of the advantages of a dog house on the outside of a dog door. The dogdoor wouldn't be visible from the outside and the extra step necessary for entry, crawling into the dog house, would make the burglary more of a challenge.

On this particular planned dogdoor, it would be open all the time. However, a latch or locking mechanism would be worth having because you never know. The house's occupants may want to leave someday with all the dogs, as you said, perhaps on vacation.

? Most burglars around are black, and they're afraid of dogs.

Cite, please.

Do you know the patent number for that door? Thanks, Sam