Pets like the freedom to come and go as they need to. Walking your dog or letting out the cat is not always possible. Many of us work outside of the home for 8 hours or more. There are companies that for a fee will come to your house to walk the dog or let the cat out. But if that is not in your budget, pet doors make a wonderful solution. Pet doors also put an end to late night trips to the door and allow you to get a good night’s sleep.

There are many types of pet doors on the market.  The power pet doors are fully automatic with motor driven panels. A sensing device, which can be ultrasonic, is mounted on the collar and the pet activates the door. The signal works when the pet is on a direct approach to the door, not just wandering near it. Doors with magnetic or infrared collars do not work this way and may cause false openings of the panel. Many are made with a bullet-proof polymer which is more reliable than those made of metal. The high end power doors come with a wall panel that allows you to open the door manually. They have sensor controls that allow you to turn on or off the inside and outside sensors. That way you can set the door to “in and out access”, “in only”, “out only” and “closed and locked”. The panel also allows you to adjust the exact distance at which the door will open from the inside or outside.  Once the pet has moved completely through the opening, the panel closes.  They are safe for children as the panel is lightweight and will automatically retract if it encounters an obstruction during closing. Costs depend upon the size of the dog and can range from $300.00 to $1,000.00 or more.

Flap doors require the pet to push the door-flap open that is mounted on the door panel. They can be used in a sliding glass door, wall or window. Some work with magnets on the flap which cause it to reconnect with the flap frame after the pet goes out.  They are usually weatherproof, chew proof and easy to install. Your pet can be easily trained to use the door with you standing on one side and offering a treat. Some doors have flaps that can be replaced when they no longer close properly. They also come with a sliding panel that can be inserted to prevent the pet from going out or coming in; as well as keeping out unwanted critters. The costs of these devices ranges from $10.00 to $200.00, depending upon the size of the dog opening.

So get that extra night of uninterrupted sleep and know that your pet has the ability to come and go as he likes. It is worth the investment!