Has anyone got any experience of metal dog flaps ? Our bracco is in the process of destroying the kennel door at the moment and someone recommended a metal dog flap. I have been told that they are very expensive. So if there are problems with them, I would rather know before I spend my pennies :-)

Thanx

Leigh

You need to be careful because if the metal ones catch a tail or paw they can injure it. Other than that, if the dog runs in and out, without hesitating, the metal ones are brilliant.

Hi Leigh,

Have not come across metal dog flaps but the plastic ones do tend to get eaten!

In the summer I just have the hole that I can secure with a sliding (up/down) door and in the winter I fix a piece of old carpet to it as it is easy to replace, once demolished, and this keeps the drafts out.

If you have any luck finding large metal dog doors please let me know though

Christine

We first saw then at Crufts. You didn't get a lot of change out of £200 ! Hence, why I wanted some feedback before I invested in one. I will dig out the address and have a surf around and see what else is available :-) I think it might be cheaper just to pull all his teeth out ...this dawg is costing me a fortune with the amount of damage that he is doing :rolleyes:

Leigh

Leigh, that is a blooming fortune for a metal door! Most of the ones in the States I think run close to the $100 so I'd look at some of the US companies and have it shipped over. Even with VAT, Duty and shipping costs, it'd be far cheaper.

We used the lock down guillotine doors at the kennel and bolted cut down semi-truck (lorries) mudflaps to keep the wind out. That way if the dogs ate the flaps they were easy to replace, didn't get wet and moldy like the carpet ones (tried that and the foxhounds just seemed to love unravelling them -- giving me nightmares of filling their stomachs with miles of carpet fiber and string!). The GSPs didn't seem to be quite so destructive.

Know any lorry companies that might set aside their old mudflaps for you?

The mud flaps are a wonderful idea - I imagine Rio would eat those as well though - will look into this, thanks Sierra

Christine

Hi Leigh

I have just bought a Aluminium flap directly form Staywell. It is a Labrador sized one. We have just had a Conservatory built and they fitted it in for us into the wall.

I have so far found it to be really good and even the saying "you can't teach an old dogs new tricks" is wrong as Mars and Min my two old Labs have taken to it like a ducks out of water !!

It cost if I remember approx £70.

The only concern I would have about dog flaps is where you put them if you are getting one the same size as ours. I checked with my Insurance brokers and if the flap is directly into your house then your insurance will be invalidated unless you can prove that you had it secured whilst you were a sleep or out if you have a break in. I rang Staywell and asked why they did not state this on the literature they send out with the flaps or on their Web site.I have not had an official answer back for them yet! It is worrying the amount of people that may not realise this.

We are fine now as the door form the Conservatory to the dining room is the old Patio door out and so has a secure lock on it.

Hope this of interest?

Lucy

Hi Lucy.

I was aware of the security risks, though I am sure that many people aren't. :-) I actually needed it for one of my kennels. I have drop down hatchs on all the kennel doors.But I need to make one kennel easily accessible to the run area 24 hours a day. I thought that a dog flap would be less draughty. I tried a plastic flap, which lasted approx. 45 minutes from fitting to dismantling, so that was £40 down the drain. I will check out Staywell.

Thanx for the suggestion.

Leigh

ROFL....THAT long? The dog must have been watching you during the 39 minutes it took to install it!

LOL .....I told Martin not to let Bear 'help' him fit it ;-)

I think Bear's interpretation of how it should be 'installed' was not the same as the manufacturer's. :rolleyes:

Leigh