🔎 How we picked our favorites
We started with the users — We scoured review sites to understand the full product landscape. Then we dug through customer reviews and product details to bring you the best options on the market today.
We confirmed with our vets — We don’t just stop at customer reviews. Our in-house vets weigh in on any health, wellness, and safety products with their expert insights and advice, giving their stamp of approval on everything that gets featured on the site.
Our 6 favorite doggie doors, reviewed
What to consider when buying a dog door
Before you buy, you need to make sure the door is a good match for both you and your dog. Here are the top six things you should consider.
- Size. You don’t want a door that’s just barely big enough for your large dogs to squeeze through. Many doors come with size guides, but a good rule of thumb is that the door should be two inches above your dog’s shoulders in height and at least two inches wider than their shoulders or hips. If you have both an extra-large dog and a small dog, you’ll probably need two separate doors.
- Placement. Before buying a dog door, you should know where you’re going to place it — an exterior wall? A door? Most dogs are designed to fit walls of a specific thickness, so you need to do the research ahead of time to make sure it fits properly and serves your needs.
- Energy efficiency. When it comes down to it, adding an opening in your home is bound to reduce your energy efficiency to some extent. With many of the best dog doors listed above, you can minimize the loss of hot or cold air. But if you live in an extreme climate, you should prioritize energy-efficient features, like insulation or automatic shutting.
- Training. Some pets may take a bit of coaxing to use their new door. Expect to do some positive reinforcement training with treats and praise to help them feel safe using the doggy door.
- Security. Dog doors open up opportunities for intruders, both animal and human. If you’re concerned about something coming in from the outside, consider a door that has the ability to lock.
- Children. Small children will probably be able to fit through the dog door, so consider this safety hazard before you purchase one. One workaround is buying a door that locks.
The risks and benefits of installing a dog door
While the increased freedom for both you and your dog is nice, there are some potential drawbacks you should be aware of before installing a dog door.
🚨 You should make sure your backyard is safe and fenced in before installing a dog door.
Pros/benefits
- More exercise. With more time spent running around and exploring their environment, your pup will live a more active lifestyle. This has weight benefits, but also mental and behavioral perks. Just like humans, dogs have a better mental state living an active lifestyle.
- Fewer potty accidents. Giving your dog the ability to let themself out for a bathroom break is huge. Not only do you eliminate whining at the door, but you’re also much less likely to come home to an accident.
- More freedom for you. With a self-servicing doggie door, you’ll have far fewer interruptions from your furry friend while you’re working, sleeping, or doing other things around the house.
Cons/risks
- Your dog’s safety. While giving your dog the freedom to let themself out is a benefit, keep in mind that there’s a lot more trouble — toxic plants, other animals, potential escape — to be found outside, especially unsupervised. At a bare minimum, your yard should be fenced in and free from dangerous objects. But if your dog likes to hop the fence or munch on everything, a dog door may not be a good idea.
- Children. Small children can easily fit through dog doors. If that’s a concern, consider an auto-locking door or waiting a few years to install a dog door.
- Intruders. Adding an opening to your home does create one more entry point for wild animals and other intruders. A door that automatically locks can mitigate some of this risk.
- Installation. Most dog doors require some upfront legwork before it’s smooth sailing. Some doors, like sliding glass door inserts, are non-permanent, but most require cutting a hole into your door or wall.
- Energy efficiency. Just like when you open a regular door, some heat or cold is going to escape from your home. If your dog likes to come and go often, you might lose more than usual. And if you live somewhere with extreme weather, you might see the effects on your energy bill.
👉 Pro tip: If you’re nervous about your dog breaking out of your fenced-in backyard, consider having a vet implant a microchip — it usually costs about $50 and can give you peace of mind.
