Screen Dog Doors

A screen door isn't really up to the pressure and muscle strength of larger dogs going in and out through a dog door fitted inside it. However, for dogs weighing no more than 30 pounds, a screen dog door can work nicely. The metal mesh screen doors are sturdier, but the dog doors also work with fiber mesh screen material.

With flap opening dimensions of seven inches by nine inches (or sometimes, eight inches by ten inches), these dog doors can also work in window screens. A small dog or cat can step happily through them, down on to the patio furniture or into the flowerpots. On another practical side, small cooking utensils and condiments can be handed out to the person who has barbecue duties on the patio.

As with all good pet doors, the panel to the screen dog door has locks. The flap itself closes completely behind the dog, usually with ceramic magnets. You just have to make sure your pet is the right size and weight to get through easily.

How Do I Measure My Dog?

It's important that a dog door be wide enough and high enough for the dog to push through it without being afraid. He'll probably duck his head to enter the opening, and will need to get used to the feel of the flap on his head and back. Along with that, he should feel that he's in a place that's not too tight.

Measure your dog at the shoulders, and add an inch or so. Then, measure him across the chest. Also measure the clearance, the distance between the lowest part of his abdomen and the ground. Whatever that distance, add an inch or two more. The total will indicate where the bottom of the frame should be installed. (For sliding glass doors, this is called the rise.)

Another trick is to cut out a cardboard frame the size of the door you want to buy and see how it fits around the dog's shoulders and head. It helps to make this a game, if your dog is the anxious type. (Also, think about your female, and whether she'll be carrying pups inside her.) To get another estimate, you can open a regular door partway, and see if your dog can get through it in comfort, without scraping his sides.