So you’ve got a nice house with a decent yard for your dog to run around. But what difference does it make if you don’t let your dog stretch a leg whenever it needs to? Go get your pooch a dog door and let him be in or out wherever he wants to.
Of course, you might be a homebody but your Fido is most probably not. Dogs are explorers; they love to be outdoors, snoop around some goofy stuff and chase squirrels. So go get your dog one of these best dog doors of 2023.
Editors’ Pick:
- Perfect for Large Dogs
- Prevent from bugs and burglars
- Sturdy aluminum lining & plastic inside-frame
Pet Loves Best has carefully researched the best doggie doors on the market and has come up with the most amazing dog doors at this time around. Check out our top picks below:
Contents
What is a Doggie Door?
You might remember the dog doors from cartoons. A dog door is a very own door for your Fido. It allows the dog to move in and out of the house at his own convenience.
However, the greatest benefit of installing a dog door at your house is of never getting bothered to take your dog out again. If you are a regular dog parent the following scenario might be familiar to you-
You are busy doing some important stuff, perhaps cooking and everything is going fine UNTIL your dog starts jumping up and down around the house for you to take him out.
Maybe he just you to take him for nature’s call or maybe some other stuff. But the most important thing is- he won’t leave your side until you take him out.
So how often does this happen?
Did I hear – very often? Well, it is time you consider installing a doggie door for your pooch. So that it finally stops whining and crying for the outdoor time.
And if you say that you already have your furniture in place and there’s no way you’re going to change your door right away, well, you don’t need to. Majority of dog doors on the market come with a separate penal that you have to install on your existing house door, patio door, or sliding door. All you’ve got to do is make some adjustments and you’re done.
I’m pretty sure you won’t mind spending a day out of your weekend for your dog’s happiness, will you?
A doggy door can be installed in the door, well, or a sliding glass door as well. First of all, you’ve got to figure out where you want to install a door for your Fido, once done you can choose one of the products from our best dog door review.
Types of Dog Doors
Although the functionality of all the dog doors is more or less similar, they differ in terms of where they are getting installed. Below are the foremost type of dog doors:
Dog Doors for Front Door
These are the most common dog doors on the market. They come with a frame to be installed on your existing door. Doing so will leave an opening at the bottom of the door big enough to let your pet move in and out freely.
Patio Dog Door
Patio dog doors are made for your sliding glass or screen doors that adjoins your patio. These types of dog doors are larger than the conventional door ones as they have to be mounted in the sliding mechanism itself.
The only problem with such doggie doors is that they must fit in your existing sliding glass door panel.
Dog Doors for Walls
If your yard is faced in some other direction or for some other reason it is not possible for you to make modifications in your door, perhaps you should consider getting a wall mounted dog door. Such through wall dog doors are a little tough to install at first though.
Automatic Dog Doors
A door with a doggie door is an opening into your house. Therefore, it must be secured. The doors that we mentioned above use a manual type of securing such as latch or slider locks. However, there are also best electronic dog doors that use automatic systems to only let your dog get inside and nothing else.
The 10 Best Dog Doors For Fido’s Freedom (2023)
Let’s start off with the review of our top 10 doggie doors on the market. We have tried to get into the finest of the details to make sure you can make a better decision.
1. BarksBar Large Dog Door With 2-Way Locking Sliding
BarksBar large dog door is the best dog door on the market according to Pet Loves Best. It does not only come with a convenient price tag but also offers some amazing functionality that you might not find in other products, making it stand out in our list of top doggie doors.
Barksbar dog door is made for medium to large sized dogs. However, it can be easily used for small dogs too. Also, it is easy to install and might take you not more than an hour for the installation.
- Type: Dog Door
- Flap Opening: 16 3/4″ X 11 3/4
- Recommended Door Thickness: 1 1/4″ to 2″
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: Plastic with aluminum lining
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
This large dog door is made from thermoplastic with an aluminum frame, which is able to endure external impacts. Also, the flap is made from thick vinyl, which adds to the insulation and the magnetic part at the bottom prevents vinyl from moving due to natural forces.
Note: This value for money doggy door also features a 2-way locking sliding panel for enhanced dog door security!
It is important to look after your house’s security while installing a dog door. Therefore, Barksbar large doggie door comes with a sliding panel that can be used to lock the opening.
All in all, this is a great extra large dog door whether in-terms of convenience or value for money, making it our top choice for Best doggie doors.
- Great feedback from the pet community
- Ideal for dogs
- Sturdy design with an aluminum framing
- The sturdy vinyl flap has a magnetic closure
- Removable 2-way locking slide panel to prevent any unwanted guests from coming in
- A bit less sturdy compared to full metal locking dog doors
2. PetSafe Telescoping Tunnel Dog Door for Walls
This one is a dog door for walls from Petsafe, which is a renowned brand in the pet community that provides with top of the line products, far better than that of its competitors. And such a product is this wall dog door.
If you are looking for a wall mounted doggie door, this is the product you should go for. It is sturdy, easy to use, and pretty functional. If you think it can be pretty tough to install wall mount dog doors, you’re wrong as all this Petsafe product requires is for you to have the basic idea of using tools.
- Type: Wall Dog Door
- Flap Opening: 5.25 in. x 7.5 in (small), 8.25 in. x 11.25 in (medium), 10.375 in. x 15.375 in (large)
- Recommended Wall Thickness: 4.75 in. to 7.25 in
- Installation Difficulty: Medium
- Material: PVC Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
Just like other best cat doors, This wall dog door is made from PVC which can resist impacts better than normal plastic. Further, it also comes with a locking mechanism that allows you to secure your house when you’re out, at night, or when your dog is not using it. Moreover, it provides insulation as well.
Tip: Want your dog to have his own discrete door? Go get him Petsafe Doggie Door for Walls
Coming with two thick flaps, you can be assured that the wind will not keep peeping into your house unnoticed. Also, this Petsafe dog door is made in the USA. Although it comes with a premium price tag, looking at its amazing features, we find it worthy of an investment.
- Best dog door for wall
- PVC frame is as durable as your wall
- Features a dual flap that provides better insulation and saves energy
- Sliding locking panel included
- Made in the USA
- Costly
3. PetSafe Freedom Patio Door With Dog Door Built-in
If you own a great patio or backyard, better let your dog make good use of it. And to make him able to do so without bothering you comes the Petsafe Freedom Patio Dog Door.
The only prerequisite with this doggy door is that you need to have a sliding door already installed at your house. If so, you can purchase this sliding glass dog door once you figure out the ideal size accordingly.
- Type: Patio dog door
- Installation Difficulty: Medium
- Material: Tempered glass with an aluminum frame
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
The materials used in this sliding glass door dog door are – tempered glass and aluminum. While tampered glass prevents itself from breaking due to small impacts, the aluminum frame provides strength to the whole structure.
Tip: Got a beautiful patio or dog door? Make good use of it by installing this patio dog door.
There have been complaints regarding the metal dog door not being highly insulated. In that case, you might have to seal the door with the provided locking slider during nights. However, this would be a case for only those who live in an extremely cold climate.
All in all, if you have a patio and a dog, go get this doggie door for sliding glass door without wasting a single moment. It does have a premium price tag but we are pretty sure that the happiness on your dog’s face will worth more than the mere cost.
- Best dog door for sliding glass door
- Comes in 5 different sizes for you to choose from
- Multiple colors to match your furniture
- The magnetic closure at the bottom keeps insulation intact
- Great for dogs up to 100 pounds
- Addition of a locking mechanism
- Sturdy built
- Not 100% insulated
- Costly
4. PetSafe Plastic Pet Door with Soft Tinted Flap
Petsafe dog door comes with a plastic frame in the availability of 4 sizes so that you can accommodate all size of dogs. It is made of durable material and can be colored as per your home decor.
There is a single flap on the product that can snap on the bottom magnet. However, it does not always stick in place. It also comes with a plastic cover for you to secure the doggie door. However, it just lies ideally on the top of the dog door and therefore most of the dogs figure out how to take care of it pretty easily.
- Type: Dog Door
- Installation Difficulty: Medium
- Material: Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: No (a snap on)
With no solid mechanism to secure the medium dog door and a single flap, sadly, this doggy door is not for anyone living in harsh weather conditions. Moreover, it is not even insulated.
Tip: If you seek a convenient dog door available in all sizes, we would say this is it!
Nevertheless, an upside of the product is that it comes at a convenient price. All in all, we would not suggest this product to anyone looking to make a serious investment and a sturdy product.
However, if you are running on a tight budget and live in a calm climate, you can definitely go with this one.
- Available in 4 sizes – extra large, large, medium, and small – to make sure that there is a dog door for dogs of all sizes
- Comes with a paintable white frame so that you can customize according to your door color
- There is a magnetic locking mechanism
- Decent customer support
- Comes at a convenient price
- Magnetic snap on is not always accurate
- Lid it totally useless as it can be removed by a dog pretty easily
- Not for harsh weathers
5. PetSafe Extreme Weather Dog Door With 3 Flaps
Petsafe extreme is the best dog door for cold weather. It is an insulated dog door that comes with 3 flaps to be safe from the extreme weather condition outdoors. Also, lets the temperature inside stay ideal.
This weatherproof dog door comes with a plastic frame that is sturdy enough to be installed in a wall. On the other hand, you can also install it in a door, making it a versatile doggie door.
- Type: Wall/Door Dog Door
- Installation Difficulty: Medium
- Material: Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: No (a snap on)
The most significant feature of this in-wall dog door is 3 flaps. Among these flaps, the middle one is an insulated cold weather dog door. It does not let the hard wind blow it away or other weather conditions to affect the inside of the house.
Tip: Willing to spend a little extra? Get this weatherproof doggie door and save 3.5 times more energy compared to single flap doggy doors.
The product comes in 3 sizes and can be used for the majority of the breeds. It comes at a competitive price if you are going for the large one. However, looking at the amazing features provided by this doggy door, it does not seem much.
Lastly, if you live in a harsh weather condition, there is no dog door better than PetSafe Extreme!
- Best insulated dog door
- Great for harsh weathers and cold climates
- Comes in 3 distinct sizes
- Moderately difficult to install
- Can fit into both doors and walls
- The middle flap provides insulation
- Conserves 3.5 times more energy compared to single flap doggie doors
- Locking mechanism includes a snap on cover which can be easily removed
- A bit costly
6. PetSafe Freedom Aluminum Pet Door for Dogs
The best feature of PetSafe Freedom dog door is that it is made with an aluminum frame, which makes it sturdy. This allows this doggie door to be used for large dogs.
With availability in 4 sizes be assured to find one according to your dog’s size. It comes with a single vinyl tinted flap to let the dog go in or out. Also, it has a magnetic strap at the bottom to let it stay in place.
- Type: Dog door
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: Aluminum
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
This product is much more secure than other doggy doors from Petsafe as it features a sliding lock mechanism. Just slide the plastic dog door slider provided with the door and you can secure your house from stray animals and all the other kind of threats.
Tip: Looking for a doggie door that is not only durable but also secure? Go with PetSafe Freedom!
The installation of this door is simple. It comes with helpful service from the renowned brand of Petsafe. Also, the price tag is also justifiable. Overall, this is a decent dog door.
- Sturdy due to the aluminum frame
- Ideal dog door for large pets
- Slider locking is better than the snap on ones in other PetSafe doggie doors
- Lastly, reliable PetSafe customer service
- Comes with a single flap
- Not meant for extreme weathers
7. Ideal Pet Products Designer Dog Door
Ideal Pet Product is the next big dog door manufacturer after Petsafe. It is built much more sturdily and also features a more convenient price tag. Available in 4 different sizes, this doggie door has everything you would as for.
The installation of these dog doors for big dogs is pretty easy. It can be summed up in 20 minutes. Also, the vinyl flap stays ideally at the bottom magnetic strap and secures it in place. Unlike Petsafe, this flap is patented to not to warp in near future.
- Type: Dog Door
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: Yes(slider)
To make sure that your house stays safe from stray animals and burglary, there is a slider that comes with Ideal Pet Products xl dog door. All you have to do is slide it in place and you’re done.
Tip: Want the reliability of Petsafe at a much more convenient price? Go with Ideal Pet Products Designer Dog Door!
Ideal Pet Products is a reliable brand as it also features a one year warranty on the product unlike other dog doors on the market. It has tremendously positive feedback from the pet community and comes at a convenient price. What else could you possibly ask for?
- Unique vinyl edges won’t warp even after a rigorous usage
- Comes in 4 sizes for all dog breeds
- Much cheaper than Petsafe large breed dog doors
- Comes with a lockout slide to secure the house
- Easy to install
- Comes with a one year warranty
- Sturdy built
- Flap sometimes may not cover the frame fully
- Not weatherproof
8. Ideal Pet Products Deluxe Aluminum Pet Door
This dog door from Ideal Pet Products features 4 variants for all size of pooches. It is sturdier compared to the former one due to aluminum build against the plastic one. However, it also holds a few drawbacks as well.
The doggie door is easy to install and get started with. It is made of aluminum therefore, it can endure impacts from large animals. It features a magnetic panel same as the other doggy doors, however, it is not powerful enough to hold against the strong wind.
- Type: Dog Door
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: Aluminum
- Locking Mechanism: Yes (slider)
Not being able to hold against the wind, this dog door is neither ideal for cold climates nor insulated. It features a plastic slider which seems to be made from poor grade plastic. We hope that the brand takes care of the following issues. As otherwise, this is an excellent doggy door.
Note: Although it is made from strong aluminum, a few design drawbacks make this product unsuitable for extreme climates.
The brand provides a limited life-time warranty on the product. Also, it comes at a bargained price. So if you live in a calm climate and safe area, you may consider getting this doggie door.
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Sturdy built accommodates large dogs
- Easy to install
- Comes with a sliding lock
- Made of aluminum for durability
- The magnetic strip does not hold the vinyl flap against the wind
- Not ideal for cold climate
9. PetSafe Screen Door With Dog Door
So what if you could not get yourself a screen door with a dog door built in at first, now you can. Just buy this PetSafe Screen Door and you’re good to go. It is easy to install, safe, and works like a charm!
This screen door with doggie door comes with a frame specially designed to snap right onto your existing screen door. All you have to do is make space for the Petsafe dog door and the rest is a piece of cake.
- Type: Dog Door for Screen Door
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
The exterior doggie door features a dual side latch that will help you ensure that no one can trespass inside your house. Moreover, the frame is solid and can withstand hard impact either from the dog or anything else.
Tip: Do you have a screen door at your house? If you do, just purchasing this easy to mount screen door for dogs can let you transform it into a doggy door.
The overall dog door is puncture and tear-resistant. Furthermore, the brand gives great customer service if you face any kind of difficulty.
You can choose from two sizes of the doggie door – small and large. The price is super convenient and simply a dream for anyone willing to install a screen dog door. Our team at Pet Loves Best can vouch that this is THE BEST screen door for dogs on the market.
- Easy to install
- Sturdy plastic frame
- Mesh panel is tear & puncture resistant as well as impact proof
- Comes with a dual safety latch
- Supports two sizes for small and large dog breeds
- Needs some modification to prevent impactful tackles make the dog door fall off
10. Namsan Magnetic Dog Door
Namsan Magnetic Dog Door is a screen door for dogs. It comes with an ABS plastic-made frame that snaps onto your existing screen door. It is sturdy, comprising of great materials, and amazingly functional.
The following screen door for dogs has a little more to offer than its competitors. While the one that we discussed in the previous product makes use of mesh panel, this one comes with a frame that covers the mesh panel to make it more solid and prevent the panel from popping out along with time.
- Type: Magnetic Screen Door for Dogs
- Installation Difficulty: Easy
- Material: ABS Plastic
- Locking Mechanism: Yes
The doggie door comes with built-in magnetic panels. Thanks to such panels this dog door automatically closes as your dog passes through. This also makes sure that no bugs get inside unlike other dog doors that do not close perfectly. Also, having a mesh panel inside the frame, this product fully covers both the insides and outsides not leaving any gaps in between.
Tip: Make sure to reinforce the small dog door using glue or any other medium!
There is a unique latch to let you lock the door when not in use. Being simple to use, all you need to do is push it down to lock and the reverse to unlock. This allows the dog door to be burglar safe.
This dog door is designed for dogs of small to medium size. It comes at a very cheap price. With great consumer rating and a convenient price tag, we waive green flag for Namsan Magnetic Dog Door.
- Comes with magnetic panels to automatically close after the dog
- Leaves no gap for bugs to intrude
- Cheap dog door
- ABS plastic panel is sturdy
- Comes with a latch to secure the dog door in place
- Not for large dogs
Buyer’s Guide
If you still haven’t figured out which dog door to go with, well, we have still got you covered. Check out our thorough buyer’s guide to buy a dog door that suits your(or your dog’s) needs.
How to Choose the Best Doggie Door?
Choosing the right doggy door can be a bit critical and tough for an end user. But don’t worry. We know what you need to do and what to look at. Therefore, below are some of the obvious and some of the finer aspects of a dog door that people often mistake not to look at.
The Right Place
Yes, this is the most important aspect of them all. Foremost, you need to determine where you are going to install a dog door. And to find the right answer, perhaps you should see what will make it more convenient for your dog.
Take a look at the ins and outs of your house. See the wood used in the front and the backdoors. If you own a yard and have a slider door, see if by any chance you can add a patio door to it.
Further, locate your yard and ways to the yard. Obviously, you do not want to install the door right onto the street. Therefore, whatever direction your yard or patio is in, is the most ideal location for you to install a dog door.
Type of Door
As you might have already determined the possible locations for you to install a dog door, now is the time to see what type of door will fit into that arrangement.
My personal advice for this step is to go with something that is most convenient.
If already have a door with a window slider, you can buy a sliding door dog door insert. It does not require you to make any changes to the geometry of your doors. All you need to do is mount the dog door and adjust it to the sides as per the instructions not need to drill or cut at all.
If there is a glass door, measure its height from the insides of the top sliding track to that of the bottom one. If there is no other option, or if you leave in a cold climate where insulation is highly necessary, go with our extreme weather doggy doors.
Frame Size
This is perhaps the most important factor to consider while buying a dog door, especially online. Major e-commerce sites such as Amazon include the dimensions of the doggie doors listed on their site so that you can determine its compatibility with your doors, walls, or sliders.
Installation Difficulty
Some dog doors can be pretty tough to install, especially if you need to make large scale modifications to the door. Try to go with an easier option that would not only save your time but energy as well, if that is the case.
If you’ve got a patio door, measure its height and see if you can buy a sliding door panel online that would fit that specification; if not, see if it is better to cut a hole into your wall. In short, go with the most convenient option.
Material
A dog door is going to put an opening to the insides of your house. Although these doors often come with a locking mechanism, make sure that the material of the dog door is strong enough to withstand small impacts.
Also, you must consider weather conditions as well. You don’t want to ruin the insulation of your house if you leave in extreme climates.
Most of the doggies doors on the market come are made of either plastic or aluminum. See what suits you the best.
Locking Mechanism
As we mentioned earlier, installing a dog door will create an opening into your house. You don’t want any other thing apart from your dog to move in and out of that door, right?
If the answer is yes, then ensure that the doggie door that you invest in comes with a locking mechanism. A locking mechanism is simple, it would use something like a latch or a slider lock to prevent coming in and out from the dog door, an essential need for you to sleep soundly at night.
Also, products such as magnetic dog doors and electronic dog doors make use of technology to make sure that nothing apart from your beloved Fido goes in and out.
Weather Conditions in Your Region
If you live in extreme condition where it is too cold, you might not want to ruin the insulation of your house. Remember that the opening you make by installing a doggy door to your existing door can ruin the insulation of the house.
To make sure such a thing does not happen at all, you can install extreme weather dog doors. These doggie doors come with multiple heavy-duty flaps. Such a thing will make sure that even the fastest of the winds are not able to come inside uninvited.
Also, there are products on the market that come with other types of locking mechanisms that can cover the opening completely to ensure insulation.
THE ENDNOTE
So these were the 10 best dog doors on the market. Starting off with an introduction to doors for dogs, their need, types, we moved on to top products and finally, completed with our well-appreciated buyer’s guide.
We hope that such an article has helped you out with all your queries and concerns regarding dog doors and how to purchase one.
If you have any query or suggestion, leave a comment below. Our team at Pet Loves Best will get in touch shortly.
Cheers!