Doggy Door

[Stacy, Bruno, Molly and Gracie]

We are considering installing a doggy storm door. Looking for pros and cons and anyone with words of wisdom or experience to share would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Stacy, Bruno, Molly and Gracie]

This is all very helpful. When I said storm door I meant on the door some call a screen door and having the doggy door there - not in the actual heavy wooden door. 

I never thought of other critters coming in! LOL, then my 2 would think this was the greatest gift EVER!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Stacy, a doggy door won't work in the solid bottom half of a screen door. When installed correctly, the centre point of the dog door has to line up with your dog's shoulder. I've attached a photo.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Dog doors come in a variety of sizes and are marked on the boxes. There are different qualities of doors as well as ones for wall installation, door installation, and even patio screen doors.
I once had a dog door installed for a short-legged basset hound, a Doberman cross and a Newfoundland cross puppy. I calculated a happy in-between and all learned to use the door. To be more specific, I chose a door big enough to accommodate a large dog and had it positioned in the door at a height to work for the smallest and largest dog.

[Christina]

We put a doggy door in before getting our puppy who is now 5 months old. We taught him within a few days to go through the door and potty training was very easy although we needed to remind him and go to the door with him for the first months or so. We actually purchased an entire new exterior door with the doggy door factory installed in it from Home Depot. Not too expensive $350 I think and it also has a safety panel you can put in at night or if you are away to avoid any unwanted visors ( human or not) our set up is perfect since we put it in our laundry room which leads to a fended side yard. We can leave Oakley in the laundry room with door closed when we are away so we know he has access to go potty and also can't roam around the house and get into anything. Strongly recommend it!