Dog flaps - does anyone have one?

[MizElz]

The house we're moving to has a nice enclosed garden, so our plan is that we will install a dog flap in the back door, so the dogs can have the run of the utility and the garden while we're out each day. This will also work well as our days are going to be considerably longer - Mum and brother will be an hour later in from work/school each day, so the dogs will be on their own longer than they are currently. The only thing we're worried about, again, is old China - I'm not sure she will easily be able to manage getting in and out of the door. Does anyone have experience of older dogs and doggy doors - do they cope ok?

 

[Stinkbomb]

I wouldnt really advice a dog flap TBH, you'd be surprised at what kind of people can fit through them in my experience

 

[Jennypenny]

My mum has a dog flap for her doggie. He works great for him. In the summer he prefers to sleep outside by his own choice.

 

[MizElz]

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I wouldnt really advice a dog flap TBH, you'd be surprised at what kind of people can fit through them in my experience

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Oh I know there is a security issue, but the utility is double locked - there is another secure door into the kitchen, so it should be ok

 

[Tia]

I've always used dog flaps. My dogs have their own room and the door has a huge dog flap for them to get through. My old dog never had any problems with using it, even when she was old and arthriticky. I prefer the rubber flaps to the plastic ones as my big dogs come crashing through and have broken 2 of the plastic panes in their exuberance, Lol!!

 

[terrierliz]

I've had a dog flap for about 10 years now - in different houses - mainly because I used to be out at work all day and if I couldn't make it home at lunchtime I knew the girls could get out.

I have terriers and they are fine using it, my mum has King Charles and an old (almost blind and deaf) Welsh Springer and whenever they visit they get the hang of it almost straight away so I think your China will be fine, as long as it's not too high off the floor she should more or less be able to step through it!

 

[ShadowFlame]

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I wouldnt really advice a dog flap TBH, you'd be surprised at what kind of people can fit through them in my experience

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Agreed. It has been proven that a thief only needs a dog flap the size of their head to be able to gain entry to your home. Also, I wouldn't trust leaving my dog in the garden at risk of her being stolen.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Ah i get you now!!! thought the flap was into the kitchen from the utility and you were leaving the utility door open to back garden DOH!!!

 

[echodomino]

We've had rubber ones, plastic ones, metal ones, any other type you can get and all of them have been eaten! There's now a hole in the wall that dad lined and slots a cover into over night LOL

 

[_Acolyte_]

I had a dog flap (plastic type) years ago when I had my two whippets. I still remember very painfully the night when my tiny frail old whippet went outside after we had gone to bed, and was obviously having a bit of trouble getting back in (had never seen her having problems before obviously)

My younger whippet, who was never ever nasty towards her, decided that older whippet was a threat of some kind as she was sticking her head through the flap but the rest of her wasnt coming through, so she attacked her.

Older whippet had blood everywhere where she had been bitten, although all wounds were quite superficial; we phoned the vet who said it wasnt necessary to bring her down that night, so she spent the night in a warm and cosy bed in our bedroom to try and ensure she didnt go into shock.

She recovered 100% and was fine, but I was always ultra careful with the dog flap after that, and older whippet migrated so she slept in the living room on her own rather than in the kitchen with the others. She loved it!

Perhaps just a one-off thing with older dogs and dog flaps, but I thought it was worth you knowing

 

[bluehorse]

I have one as I work and they are great. It took my weimy about 5 minutes to work it out with the help of a few treats. As for the security risk, yes I agree that it is a risk. I found out that I can fit through mine and I'm nearly 5'9" and not tiny - hate to think what I looked like but at least I was able to retreive my keys from the kitchen table where I'd left them!! I take the view that if any potential burglar had checked out my house enough to realise I had a dog flap then they would probbaly be thinking about breaking in anyway. And if they heard my dog bark - they wouldn't!

 

[samstar]

My jrt fits through my cat flap.