Hi everyone

I've got a 4 month old Lhasa Apso and wondered what peoples views/advice was regarding dog doors?  I was planning to put one in the kitchen door, so that now Lilly's getting used to knowing where to go to the toilet, she can go out on her own.  I work part-time (9am - 3.30pm) so she could also go out in the garden and play during the day.  Any thoughts?

Thanks

They can be very useful, but check the small print of your house insurance. Some companies will insist that the room that the flap gives access to must be separated from the rest of the house by a proper external door with a lock, or the insurance is invalid in the case of a robbery.

With three large breed dogs, I cant install a dog door because it invalidates my house insurance :)

My friends installed a dog door for their lab - who is a handfull at times. A while ago he managed to get out into the garden during the night, it was raining heavily and he started digging a huge hole in the garden. He then managed to get back in and get upstairs (they own an old house and sometimes the internal doors don't close tight, so he's learned to push against them to open them), jumping on my friend and her partner asleep in bed (it was 3.00am). They thought they were being attacked, and she screamed, and the dog thought play time so started jumping and running around even more. When they switched on the light, the bed, the covers, the furniture, and them were covered in muck, and they had a mucky dog sitting on the bed wagging his tail delighted with his night's work.

I couldnt live without my doggy door :) They are especially useful with young pups who cant hold their bladder for long! For some reason one of my dogs,not sure who, has to go in the middle of the night,before i got the dog door i woke up to a surprise in front of the back door most mornings
The dogs can go in and out at their leisure,wether i'm home or not,there is no need for them to scratch at the door every time they want to go outside,alot less hassle for all of us :)

If insurance is an issue,you can buy lockable dog doors for when you have to leave the house. I have never locked my dogs outside when i need to go out,with the dog door they can choose where they want to be,always inside!

IMO dog doors are indespensable.

Rose

yep - we have had dog doors for years they are indespensible and allow the dogs free access to the dog yard whenever they like. the one I have at the moment has  a sliding lockable outer 'door'  and is made by Petmate.

We have one in the conservatory out to their secure area. This is ok with our insurance as we have another set of external doors with the correct type of locks through to the dinig room.

We couldn't live without as Min has colitis and so give her access to the outside if she is ever caught short :)

Patrica

Love the story about your friends Lab :D

Lucy
xx

after reading these posts i am thinking of getting one, my back door is a patio door, would this be a problem? do they do them big enough for a giant breed?