Pet doors are designed to give your dog or cat flexibility and freedom, and for many dog owners, pet doors can also mean fewer trips outside for bathroom breaks. Before installing a pet door, there are a number of factors to consider.

The first issue to consider when contemplating an entrance tailor made for your dog is whether or not your property is entirely fenced in or not. If you are a cat owner, this may not prove to be as large an issue since many towns and communities do not have rules governing a cat’s freedom to roam. However, most cities and towns do have and often enforce leash laws. If you do not have an entirely fenced in yard then you must make certain accommodations in order to allow your dog the freedom to come and go on his own. Many suggest that you fence the entire back and side of your home, so that the pet door can be installed in the rear of the house, and your dog cannot roam beyond the confines of the backyard.

Another important concern before installing a pet door is size and security. If you own a small dog, then a small pet entrance is appropriate for a number of reasons. First, your dog does not need a lot of wiggle room, just enough to safely enter and exit the house. Second, your small dog may not ward off possible home intruders while you are out. In this case, the pet door should not be large enough for a human to pass through. The opposite is true in the case of large dogs. Often large dogs are the best home security system on the market! Be sure that the pet door is not too small so your dog will not become trapped or caught in the door. Also, your large dog will probably dissuade would be intruders from entering your home through the dog’s entrance.

Remember that having a pet door is convenient, but it also carries responsibilities. If you have small children that cannot be around your dog, or if a friend or neighbor’s child is allergic, be sure that your dog cannot access the pet entrance when these folks come to play in the backyard. Be sure that your pool is fenced in or out of reach of your dog; not all dogs can swim! Also, if your dog is a digger, be sure that he cannot dig his way below the fence to freedom while you are out of the house. Finally, be sure to still clean up after your dog, or your yard will be littered with tiny messes that take away from you enjoying your own back yard.