Dog parents with their own houses often choose to allow their pets, both dogs and cats, to go out or come in as they please. This is extremely convenient and freeing for everybody, but you may need to have screen doors with dog doors in order to make this efficient.
Most types of dog doors can be installed in any house and any doors. Some of the more unusual options include:
- Screen door with dog door
- Dog door for a sliding door (regular)
- Dog door for sliding glass door
- Electronic dog door
- Dog doors for walls
- Patio pet doors, etc.
With some products, there are certain precautions pet parents need to take when using the convenience of pet doors for dogs and cats. For example, instances of raccoons, snakes and other animals coming into the house thru doggy doors isn't unusual. Nobody wants a furry outsider in their home, but these things happen.
However, an even better solution to safely protect the house from intruders and still enjoy the convenience of pet doors is to use electronic pet doors (or automatic doors) that only allow your pets inside the house.
The above can be accomplished with microchips, collars, sensors, and other tech. While automatic dog doors may be more suitable for certain situations, if you'd rather use a regular pet door, below are some of the best screen doors with dog doors we've liked.
The Best Screen Door with Dog Door Brands
1Ideal Pet Doors Screen Guard Pet Door
by Ideal Pet Doors
The first pet door on the list is made by a company that specializes in this area, Ideal Pet Doors. With a few handy tools, this large dog door will make things easier for pets and owners alike.
Ideal Pet Doors are constructed of a flexible and sturdy flap that closes with a magnetic mechanism, and it's considered to be one of the best magnetic screen doors that's also affordable. The flap measures 7 inches and 11.25 inches. This dog door for sliding door is designed for pets – both cats and dogs – weighing no more than 35 pounds.
That said, the dog door installation was not the easiest thing to do, but we found their instructional video really helpful. Mounting to a screen guard or protector was way better than the mount-to-screen option because it provided stronger support. If you are adept at using tools, measuring, and cutting, you'll have the advantage over those who are not, and will assemble this pet screen door and screen guard with less trouble.
- Flexible vinyl flap with...
- Recommended Weight Range of...
- Easy installation; Screen...
- Need Assistance? E-mail Ideal...
Once properly installed, our dog caught on with the correct use of this screen door with the dog door, and we were generally happy with the convenience it afforded us. The materials of Ideal Pet Doors are always high quality including the plastic insert for blocking entry, and the flap-and-magnetic-seal assembly is well constructed. The only drawback is that one needs to be skillful with tools to find ways of installing this to match the pet’s and the pet owner’s needs.
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2Pet Screen Door with Magnetic Flap Screen
by OWNPETS
The second recommended screen dog door is an affordable option made by OWNPETS. For medium to large dogs, this should be a good choice for the majority of pet parents.
The doggy door opens to 12 by 14 by 0.5 inches. It has a screened flap that opens wide using a 2-pin attachment to the frame and secures with a magnetic closure. The frame of the doggie door attaches to the screen using stainless screws. Installing it requires no special tools: just a screwdriver and a box cutter would do great.
However, while it's generally easy to install, it required an extra person to hold or push the assembly while it’s being screwed on the other side, just to make sure that everything is snug and taut. This is important when working with screens that could sag when not properly cut and fastened. The magnetic seal worked as expected, yet we wish there was a way to lock this patio door with a dog door.
- Convenient Pet Screen Door:...
- Self-Closing & Lockable: Our...
- Sturdy & Durable: Made of high...
- Easy to Install & Use: Our dog...
- Versatile: The pet screen door...
We found this to be far superior to doors with plastic flaps and screen frames that snapped together. The framed screen flap and large-bezel screw-on frames are particularly well made and useful.
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3Gate Way Dog Door for Screens
by Namsan
The third option is also affordable, from a company called Namsan. At an inner width of 16 inches and height of 12 inner, large-sized dogs will have no problem going through this pet door, and there is also a version for smaller breeds.
Namsan dog door for screens can be attached to screened windows, doors, or other vertical surfaces using screws or glue. This pet door felt like it was made of a high-quality screen and it is also framed by a durable ABS material. It is hinged on the top to allow pets to push it with ease. A latch that can be pushed up or down locks this patio pet door. However, the purchase is covered by only a 30-day return guarantee.
- NAMSAN Screen Door with Dog...
- Made from quality ABS plastic,...
- Pet door is perfect and...
- Installation manual attached,...
- Outside frame size 14 x 16...
The large dog door was the right size for our big dog and the price can’t be beaten. It held up well so far. We found it easy to install a dog door, although some other testers had difficulty snapping it firmly together. After modifying and adding screws or bolts, most of those who didn’t get it perfect the first time had it figured out and were generally happy with the door’s performance. The first to give in the product was the plastic hinges, but these were solved with minor metal replacements.
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4Pet Passage Screen Door for Dogs
by Ideal Pet Products
The fourth option on the list comes from the same company that has the number one product here, Ideal Pet Products. This dog screen door is made of styrene, a durable but lightweight synthetic material, which is supposed to last a long time.
Designed for cats and small dogs weighing up to 12 pounds, this fourth best dog door measures 7.25 inches by 14.5 inches and swings open through a pivot on the side. It automatically closes and is provided with a locking mechanism when homeowners will be away for extended periods. This was a no-fuss, low-maintenance, easy-to-install pet door for us that attaches to screen doors using screws. It came with a limited lifetime warranty.
We didn’t have high expectations of it at first. It was on the cheap side, and its plastic construction didn’t look like it would last very long. However, we had no major problems so far. Installation was an easy matter of cutting holes and snapping points. Even with directions that weren’t very helpful, it took only a few minutes to have the Ideal Pet Products dog door attached to the screen door and have it functioning as intended.
- Durable, low-maintenance,...
- Made from lightweight,...
- For cats up to 12 pounds
- Installs easily and securely
- Top of door opening is 7 1/2"...
Some buyers we asked mentioned that they needed to modify the screen door, such as reinforcing it with acrylic plate for added strength and attaching additional magnets for a failed automatic-closure system. They suggest that a door that pivoted from the top instead of the side would close more securely because of the added pull of gravity. The locking mechanism has also caused concerns for most buyers because of its flimsy quality.
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5Petsafe Pet Screen Door
by PetSafe
The last option on the list of the popular dog door for screens is made by a well-known company, PetSafe. Dogs love their freedom as much as they love the security of home. This in-and-out access pet door for either small or large dogs installs easily on screened doors and windows.
When installing, the hard plastic frames that support the door snapped easily together over our existing (test) screen door with a peg-and-hole fastening system. Cutting around the 12-inch by 16-inch door flap creates the opening for the top-hinged pet door. A door lock is provided for situations that call for it.
We found this lightweight contraption simple to install, especially if the screened window or door could be temporarily removed and laid on the ground for the procedure. Because the frames fastened together using tabs or pegs that fitted tightly into matching holes, no glues or screws were required, and we found everything clicked together solidly.
- ENCOURAGE EXERCISE AND...
- EASY TO INSTALL: Snaps...
- BUILT TO LAST: The high-impact...
- SAFE AND SECURE: Large door...
- DIMENSIONS: For pets under 30...
That said, we think it may not have the strength to hold up to the daily hustle and jostle of large dogs if they use it very often. Hard-wearing metal screws would have been a better choice for holding the frames together. Since this design depends on the screen to support the whole pet door frame, we recommend that a good-quality dog screen be used to lengthen the lifespan of the whole assembly.
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