Are Doggie Doors a Good Idea?

Do you have a dog and a backyard? Taking them out on a walk or having to let them out in the yard every time they need to use the bathroom often gets old quite quickly. That is where doggy doors step in as a convenient option! However, are they all they are cracked up to be and are they the right choice for you and your dog?

What Is the Purpose of a Dog Door?

The purpose of a doggy door is to give your dog the ability to go outside whenever needed. It prevents them from having to wait long hours for you to come back home. They don't only make it so that your dog doesn't have to wait to use the bathroom when they need it. It also gives the chance to spend more time outside, exploring, sniffing, and playing. It can be a good option for dogs that need more exercise than you can generally give them during the day. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of doggy doors before installing your own, though.

How Do Doggie Doors Work?

There are a variety of different styles of doggie doors. There are pet doors that you need to install into your door. These might incorporate a simple flap to allow your dog in and out without letting in too many insects or cold weather.

If you know you want a dog door, you can get a built-in pet door when you replace your back door. These doors will often have a pet door built-in and a pet-resistant screen that you can put in place when you don't want them to go in and out freely. For example, you might not want them to leave the house without your protection during inclement weather.

You can also have pet doors installed directly into the wall. You can place these in less obtrusive areas, such as a utility or laundry room. You might need to install a tunnel through deeper walls and should make sure to insulate it well and have a quality cover, so you don't decrease your home's energy efficiency dramatically.

You can also get electronic pet doors. These are an excellent idea if you are worried about other pets or animals getting through the door and into your home. These will only allow pets to enter with the sensor tag on their collar. It can also be programmed only to let the pet leave during certain times of the day. Some of these doors can even be programmed to function via your pet's microchip.

Benefits of Dog Doors

We have already laid out some of the benefits of dog doors. They allow your dog more freedom to get to the bathroom and allow them to play outside. However, having the doggie door there can also be confusing, particularly early in training. That leads us to many of the drawbacks of dog doors.

Drawbacks of Dog Doors

Dog doors can impair your dog's potty training, particularly with puppies. Dog doors do not limit the number of accidents they will have. Instead, it means that you need to focus even more on potty training them outside. Otherwise, they will often go outside to play and come into the house to use the bathroom. Dog trainers often recommend keeping the dog door closed until your dog is entirely potty trained.

Dog doors also give you less control over what your dog ends up bringing back into the house. That could mean dirty paws, wet fur, or creepy crawlies that attach themselves to their fur as they move around your yard. It will suddenly be easy for your dog to come in and make its way through the home before you notice.

Without the electronic dog doors that limit the creatures that can come through, you can't control what comes into the house. Even with the electronic door, you can't control what ends up leaving. Think the remote is safe on the coffee table? What about your pillows?

So, Are Doggie Doors a Good Idea?

In conclusion, whether or not doggy doors are a good idea depends on your commitment to their training and your schedule. They can be a lifesaver for those that work long days every once in a while. However, you need to trust your dog, which takes time.