Dog Doors

Adding a dog door to your home is a smart decision. Not measuring properly ahead of time? Not so smart. Let's not make our dogs squeeze themselves through the door, shall we? Likewise, a too-large door is unnecessary and not energy efficient.

Here are a few easy tips for measuring your dog and having a smooth transition to freedom.

Tip #1: Minimum flap width. Open any door in your home just wide enough for your pet to pass through. Measure that width, add 2 inches for comfort, and look for a door with that measurement.

Tip #2: Top height of door/flap. Measure from the floor to top of his front shoulder (referred to as "the withers"). Add 2 inches. The top of the door should be at or slightly above this height, as animals usually duck a bit to go through a door.

Tip #3: Clearance or rise height. Take a measurement from the floor to your dog's chest. Figure about a third of that measurement, or a third of the withers. This is the maximum bottom height of flap from floor, also called the rise. Generally the lower the bottom of the flap, the better.

Following these simple tips will ensure a comfortable pet door for your little pooch, and a much more Zen existence for you.

1. Electronic doors use a collar "key" that allows Rufus to come and go, while burglars, cats, babies and rodents still have to use the doorbell.

2. Dogs bark mostly because they're nervous. A dog door lets Cooper come and go to check things out, leaving him happier, and quieter.

3. When is the last time you got up in the middle of the night to let out the dog? With a dog door, it really will be the last time.

4. Remember that an overhead garage dog door has to be smaller than the garage door's panels. Never give your dog the garage door remote or the car keys.

5. Before you measure your dog door, measure your dog. Get a door two inches wider than Spot, and two inches higher than the height of his body from chest to shoulder, behind his forelegs.

6. Here's a blatant plug: if you choose an electronic dog door, remember to install it near an outlet.

7. A magnetic dog door opens when a collar magnet triggers it. No battery means no dead battery, and that means no bad surprises.

8. Pet doors don't have to be installed in a human door. A wall installation works fine too; sometimes better.

9. Sliding glass dog doors don't slide. They are a swinging dog door that installs into your sliding glass door frame, so you get the best of both worlds.

10. Remember when you were invited to meet for drinks after work, but you had to go all the way home to let the dog out first? You and Rufus are going to love this new dog door.