The Downsides of Electronic Pet Doors
Electronic pet doors are a great option for pet parents concerned about unwanted critters making use of the pet door. However, electronic dog and cat doors have their drawbacks, making a manual pet door a much more reliable option. There are important considerations when deciding between an electronic and manual pet door, including:
- Insulation Value
- Ease of Use
- Size Limitations
Insulation Value
When it comes to choosing the right pet door for your home, insulation is a key consideration. If you live in a harsh climate an electronic pet door is not a good option as the electronics will likely be exposed to rain and snow, causing them to break. This can be risky if the door breaks and remains locked while your pet is outside, unable to get it.
Finding a pet door with excellent insulation value doesn’t need to mean breaking the bank. The Dragon Pet Door is a great option for keeping the home warm and cozy when it’s cold outside. The manual Dragon Flap has a two-piece design: a main inner flap and an outer U-shaped piece. This allows the flap to fully cover the pet door opening for a complete seal. Every Dragon Door has the option of a double flap for added insulation in harsh weather.
Comfortable Use
Electronic pet doors have a rigid, plastic flap. For some pets, such as a cat who is fearful of flexible vinyl flaps, this is ideal. For others, however, a rigid flap can be uncomfortable to use. Rigid flaps are also noisier than flexible pet door flaps, so they are not recommended for very timid pets.
All Dragon Pet Doors, from the classic Door Mount and Wall Mount to the Window Pet Door, use the same flexible, two-piece flap. The Dragon flap is nice and light—ideal for timid or arthritic pets who struggle with heavy, noisy, or rigid pet door flaps. Electronic doors also often require the pet to wear a special collar key to unlock the flap, which might not be tolerated by some pets.
Size Limitations
One drawback of electronic pet doors is the size limitation. Most electronic doors (such as the PetSafe Microchip Cat Door) are intended for cats or very small dogs. Although there are some that can work for larger dogs (like the High Tech Wifi Control Power Pet Door), the electronics often don’t work as well for a big dog who can’t get quite as close to the flap to unlock it with the provided collar key.
While a cat might crouch close to the door, easily unlocking the flap, dogs don’t tend to move in that way, meaning their neck is further from the flap’s locking system. So while an electronic door might be the perfect choice for your cat, it’s often not conducive to a dog’s size and movement. The Dragon pet door comes in a variety of sizes to fit your cat, dog, or both (the flap is nice and light for pets sharing the door).
Conclusion
While electronic doors can be a good option for those with cats or very small dogs, the considerations above are important to keep in mind when deciding which pet door is best for you. Make sure to measure your pet when choosing the best pet door for them.
Don’t want an electronic pet door but concerned about security? All Dragon Pet Doors come with a secure locking cover to block access to the flap when needed, keeping your home safe and secure while safely providing you pet outdoor access.
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Pets: My dog Benji is mixed Yorkie, Poodle, Chihuahua, and MaltiPom (YorkiPooChiMaltiPom?), yet he mysteriously bears no resemblance to any of these breeds.
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