Q: An Electronic Dog Door: What It Is

A: An electronic dog door is a panel that is installed in an opening in a wall or in a door and serves as a safe and convenient entrance to a pet. The main distinctive feature of an e-door if compared to a conventional dog door is better flexibility. Firstly, they offer a possibility of locking it at certain hours and the feature of remote control. Secondly, you can make a door work in only one direction when needed. Thirdly, the process can be fully automated. Finally, an e-door remembers your dog and doesn’t let other animals in and out; thus, it protects you from intruders, such as stray animals.

Q: How to Install an Electronic Dog Door?

A: It depends on the door type and construction. Some of them are integrated into an existing sliding door design. Others require a special opening in a wall or in a door. The manual for each electronic dog door is included in the packaging supply. Probably, the most difficult part of the installation is cutting an opening of the right size and shape. You may need a jigsaw to do it correctly. Once the door is installed, use foam sealant around it to prevent air leaks.

Q: How to Choose the Size of an Electronic Pet Door?

A: Size is a crucial characteristic of an e-door: if it doesn’t fit, you won’t be able to use it. Firstly, you need to measure your pup: the height and the width (from shoulder to shoulder). Make sure the opening is large enough for your pup to get through it without trouble. Secondly, measure the door or the wall where you are going to cut an opening for an e-door. Make sure it fits there.

Q: Can Electronic Doors Be Installed in Walls

A: It depends. Walls tend to be thicker than doors, so it can be a trouble to mount them properly. Moreover, sometimes, it is not permitted to destroy particular walls (for example, carrying walls) or make cuttings in them. Consult a local contractor for details.

?✅Best Electronic Dog Doors in 2020: Comparison | Rated

Author Robert Herrera Reading 1 min Views 23 Published by 24.07.2019

An electronic dog door is a smart alternative for conventional dog doors that some pet owners install in their homes in order to let their four-legged friends in and out without the need for opening the entrance door every time. Modern e-doors vary significantly in their features, construction, and design. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. Picking out the best option can grow into a real challenge.

Table of Contents:

Top-5 Electronic Doors for Dogs: Our Choice
Do I Need an Electronic Dog Door?
Things to Consider When Buying an Electronic Dog Door
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Electronic Doors for Dogs to Consider
Best Electronic Door Panels for Dogs
Best Small Electronic Dog Doors
Best Smart Dog Doors

After conducting comprehensive research, we’ve compiled a ranking of the best deals in the category of electronic doors for dogs. We tried to review different options – for large and small breeds; plastic and metal; sliding and collapsible – so our top-list is rather extensive. We invite you to check it and choose a perfect e-door that fully complies with your needs.

Top-5 Electronic Doors for Dogs: Our Choice

Our five winners are the electronic dog doors that meet the needs of most pet owners. All of them have high ratings on Amazon and at other major retailers. Also, they boast a good price/quality ratio, which means you don’t overpay for the brand.

SureFlap-Microchip-Pet-Door-Connect-without-Hub-min

1. Our Top Pick: SureFlap Microchip Pet Door

This medium-priced electronic door provides an utmost level of security and perfect customization possibilities. It can read the data from your dog’s microchip (the implanted one) and never mistakes the wrong dog for the right one. Another great feature is its possibility of remembering up to 32 pets simultaneously. Moreover, you can manually choose the hours when the door is locked – for example, at nighttime.

PROS

identification by a microchip;
remembers up to 32 pets;
the Curfew mode for a manual locking/unlocking;
comes in brown and white colors.

BUY NOW AMAZON

Do I Need an Electronic Dog Door?

Electronic doors are primarily intended for those who let their pets walk unsupervised. This is a common situation for the pet owners living in single-family homes with a backyard patio or a fenced garden where dogs and cats are out of danger. Most e-doors have several modes: you can completely lock them if necessary (for example, at nighttime or when you stay away) or open only in one direction (in or out.) Thanks to their versatility, e-doors are sometimes used even in apartments. Some people integrate them into a window or a wall of a dog cage or kennel.

To sum it up, you need an electronic dog door if you want your dog to have freedom of movement within certain limits. Basically, this is a modern analog of a usual dog door. But it is more convenient, versatile, and safer.

Things to Consider When Buying an Electronic Dog Door

Electronic doors for dogs do not come equal. They vary greatly in their features, design, size, and, of course, price. Here are the main things to consider when you choose an e-door for your canine.

This characteristic is of primary importance, Some units are designed for small dog breeds or cats while others are large enough for Labradors and even Mastiffs.

The method of installation. Some panels are integrated into sliding doors as a temporary solution. Others need to be installed permanently in a dedicated tunnel in the wall or in the entrance door.

The number of pets. If you have several pets, consider how many smart keys or microchips the e-door can remember simultaneously.

There are two popular material types – metal and plastic. Metal doors are more durable but they are also more expensive and heavy. Plastic doors are cheap and lightweight but less robust.

The feature of remote control. The owners of large or 2-storeyed houses will appreciate this feature, which allows managing the smart door remotely.

If you are too lazy or forgetful to change the mode manually every day, buy a model with a timer and preset the time of locking and unlocking the door.

The type of key. Some units are supplied with their own smart keys that may be embedded in collars or come in the form of small tags that are attached to collars. Others are connected directly to dogs’ implanted microchips.

Access control. Make sure the unit you opt for has 2 or 4 modes. The two basic modes are “open” and “locked”. The two additional modes are “in-only” and “out-only”. Most e-doors come with a four-way access feature.

Directional sensing system. This is a smart system that recognizes whether the dog is really intending to go in/out or it is just passing by. In other words, the door doesn’t open without need.