I’m a BIG believer in a good doggie door. I have been a puppy momma for over a decade now, and let me just tell you… these things are life and sanity savers! Throughout my time in previous apartments and houses, I have endured the mad dash home to let the pups out as well as late night whimpers alerting me of the necessity at hand only to realize I know I won’t make it in time to relieve my sweet baby after getting dress, running down the long hallway, down the stairs and out onto the only tiny patch of grass in the entire apartment community. There was usually a mid-trek pause along the route where the “business” was completed before arriving at our intended destination. Those were tough potty training days!
SLIDING DOOR DOGGIE DOOR
My first doggie door experience arrived when I lived at The Santal, an apartment complex in SW Austin that is so lovely… highly recommended. I insisted on renting a unit that was ground level and that came with a YARD. It was amazing! My pups were in heaven after a long stint in a midrise apartment building downtown. They would lounge on the grass and watch longhorns graze in the preserve that backed up to our yard. For this apartment, we went with the sliding glass door insert. It locked securely in place and I reinforced it with a piece of wood in the door track. Secure and regular potty access for the babies! It was bliss!
Pros to this door: Easy to install and remove. The door flap is flexible and easy for even the smaller pups tpo push through. The glass panel keeps the light coming through. Super affordable and easy to resell.
Cons: The security probably isn’t 100%. I never had an issue with security at this apartment complex, but it was a super safe part of the city. When I would leave town, I would always remove the door as it was a single pane of glass and could easily be broken and removed. So, this is definitely not the option to set and forget about. Another con is that since it is a single pane of glass and not air tight, it’s not the most eco friendly option.
My next home was a house with no sliding door, so this first option had to go. I was able to sell the door to the woman who took over my lease at the apartment for a little less than what I paid for it. Win! For the next house, I opted for a door that was installed inside the back door to the yard. Not the most attractive option in my opinion, but it was functional and MUCH better than taking the dogs out all day. And, if you paint it to match the door… you can’t even notice it! The photo below is the house after I moved out and was staged to sell… But my door looks amazing!
Pros: Secure and energy efficient. Easy for the pups to use.
Cons: Requires a pro to install. Can look a bit obtrusive.
IN WALL DOGGIE DOOR
Now, for my current house and favorite dog door. When I moved into the house, the first thing I did was get the door installed. I knew this was a priority, so I had the door ordered before I even moved in. I went with the in-wall option for this house as the back door was full glass and I didn’t want to change that. Plus, I love how the door is hidden behind a chair… so, no one ever knows it’s there!
Pros: Super secure with locking door. Available in smart/automatic options with timers to lock. Easy to hide in the wall. Most energy efficient option.
Cons: Requires a pro to install.
