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DOGGY DOOR – For Safety and Convenience DOGGY DOOR – For Safety and Convenience Besides having the luxury to allow your animals out to a closed area to Potty being extremely convenient for them and you, the issue of them being to evacuate the residence/enclosure in the case of Emergency is something to consider. Many animals who are restricted to an enclosure/inside, have lost their lives, because of no evacuation route. Besides the Doggy Door, there are Signs which one can place on the outside of their home, where emergency personnel can see that there are live animals in the house, and rescue them. There are all kinds of Doggy Doors, some with hard and soft flaps, most can be locked. For the average DIY’er, installation of one of these is not all that hard, and can be installed through a Door, a Patio Door, or wall, whichever is more appropriate for the owner. There are even some assemblies where one can have a temporary (removable) unit, for those who do not own the residence. Beyond the Labor involved, one should consider the quality of the product. I’ve installed several and have come across a product line, which is really good quality. I don’t work for this company, and am just giving the Link for your convenience. Ideal Pet Products Have a good Day ! :) S.W. |
I would love to have my kiddos in the yard whenever they wanted to - but here in AZ there are birds of prey who could pick up a yorkie, and we also have coyotes. We don't let ours outside unless we can observe them at all times. They sure would love all that access though, they love that yard to no end :). |
Yes, Tibbe would be out there all the time except when he needs to cuddle! Can't do a Doggy Door for this one of mine. |
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The doggie doors sure seem to be a great convenience though. Just can't take advantage of them here. I would also worry about theft from reading news reports & some experiences here on Yorkietalk. Sad that is the case, but too many getting snatched. |
In addition to all the risks listed above, there is the possibility of unwanted critters entering your home through the doggy door. We would probably find an opossum in our family room if we had a door. :eek: I remember reading here on YT a case where a neighbor's dog was loose and entered the home through a doggy door and mauled the Yorkie. :( |
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We have a pool too, and our kiddos always have done so well with it (ie, safe). Then, one day I was out back with them - and our exterminator came for the regular spray you have to do in AZ. So, I was inside signing the billing, and had left the doggies out back for just a minute. After I signed, I looked out through our back patio door and saw ripples in the pool. Marcel had somehow fallen into the pool! He and Wylie always do their 'jogging laps' around the pool deck - and I think they just ran into each other and Marcel fell in. I fled outside to get him, and he was fine (I was much worse than he was)...but that's all it takes for something to happen....less than a minute, and an environment that makes them vulnerable. Sure learned that lesson. It did motivate me to buy that 'critter ramp' or whatever that's called, for the pool - just in case anything ever falls in there (mouse, lizard, pet....although it won't be my pet anymore!). |
I have one of the ramps too but am embarrassed to say it is in the box in my garage instead of in the pool. My pool cleaner is very sensitive and seems to hang up on anything at all extra in the pool. I even have to pull my ladder up when we are not in the pool so the Polaris does not get stuck on it. When my youngest son was little I had an extra fence around just the pool so he could not fall in as he ran everywhere. I didn't let him out by himself either but there was no slowing him down, so we figured the extra fence was needed. :) Wish I still had it up now with my grandson coming over & the pups everyday. It just made one more safety net between them and the water. |
WOW !, I feel so lucky, living in an area which many of those "dangers" do not exist. I have a very (tightly) closed back yard, with a 6 ft fence, and do the insecticides which take care of that problem. Though I have seen a "predator" type Bird (Hawk I think), there are none which I think could pick up one of mine (no Teacups). As in all instances, one need decide if having a Door applies to their individual circumstances. Remember, that most all Doggie Doors have an "Insert" which locks them, and intruders out. Some may think that having this "elective" access still would be worth installing one. Even with my quite secure location. I don't leave mine open all the time, and close it when we go to bed. So, I suppose that even in my situation, their "outside" activities are monitored. |
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My Husband has wanted to get one and I just keep discouraging it. Im worried about mice or a raccoon getting in our house I just really dont want one |
I live in California and of course in the Dallas area......no doggy doors for this crew....They do not go out without someone being with them. Houston area does have birds of prey as well as poisoness snakes and of course Coyotes......Coyotes are everywhere. I have a friend who had her yorkie taken from her yard by a Coyote and she lives in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive......One can't be too careful with these wee ones. |
I don't think doggie doors for the small guys is such a good idea. Mine never go out without me or my husband. Too many large birds of prey that could easily pick them up. I wouldn't even have one for a large dog because I'd be afraid that some wild creature would come in. |
I have mixed feelings about this, and if I had a larger dog, I'd have a doggy door. I'm still am deathly afraid of leaving Joey alone, my childhood dog died in a fire at my parents home. The smoke got to him, and he was found under the couch. This picture haunts me, and I become very upset when I have to leave Joey for over an hour. We do see hawks all the time, and I don't feel like Joey is safe in the backyard by himself. |
I would love to have a doggy door some day but the kind I want is too costly for me right now. The only way my yorkies would get a doggy door is if first the doggy door lead out to a completely enclosed area so that not even birds of prey would be a worry (I'm working on this now). Secondly the doggy door I like has an electronic key that you attach to the dog's collar. This locks and unlocks the door and makes it so that no unwanted critters can get in. It is quite pricey for a doggy door especially since each key is extra but it does everything you want it to. |
We have a doggie door in my laundry room that leads out on to the patio. It use to be great because in the beginning we just had schnauzers. Now with the 2 yorkies I just don't want them out by themselves. Kayla runs in and out, in and out and brings in sticks bigger than she is. Dudley is so little and at 2 now he still has not learned how to go through it and I am glad. Would not want him out when we were gone. I have it closed off now because of little Tina having demenia. She goes out and can't find her way back in. So for the time being is locked. I have also thought about fire and it scares me to think they would have no way out if we were gone. Its hard to know what to do. I just don't like any of my crew outside anymore without one of us being with them. |
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We have a doggie door for them to use (when we're home)...goes to a "doggie outhouse" (with potty pads) and then the outhouse has a door that goes to a covered deck (enclosed with chicken wire so they can't get through the slats as it's a long drop down). They all love running in and out in the good weather, except Harlow who's afraid of it (we're working on that with treats...I'm thinking this summer she'll want to follow the other dogs more) ANyway, I agree a doggie door/ER escape hatch is a good thing - "but" we don't let them have access to the deck if we're gone due to the fear someone might come up on the deck and steal them, thus when we're gone they can only get as far as the "outhouse" - so it might help save them in a fire ER if we were gone...somehow I think they'd panic and hide under a bed/what have you. Been thinking about getting the stickers, which I think is a very good idea. |
I'm really surprised ! So many negative comments, on an item which I have found to be so very convenient. Don't misunderstand me please.... I think that all of your concerns are valid, and if not having one is making you feel better, that's fine. I'm just amazed at how many won't use one, wow. |
I have all the same thoughts about why I shouldn't have a doggie door. But with KendraE's thread this morning about her yorkie yard.. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...-complete.html I am thinking a bit differently. Only thing I am concerned about is the feral little kitties that are always in my yard. My yorkie yard would need to be completely enclosed, but allowing the sun in, as they do enjoy sun-bathing. I like the idea though...so will be pondering this for awhile. |
DOGGIE DOOR - A step at a Time DOGGY DOOR – A Step at a Time Though we would like to think that “all” of our animals are fearless, in fact, that may not be true in all cases. Some are a little leery when encountering a Doggy Door for the first time, and need some indoctrination, to get them used to passing through the opening. Most Doors have a Flap or Hard Door, which “scoots/drags” across the Dog’s back, and some Dogs need time to get used to that. Here is a step by step procedure, where you may choose to go through each step, or, pick an intermediate one temporarily, to allow your animal time to adjust to the Door. Many times, the permanent Flaps are made of heavier material, and intentionally cause resistance, to keep them closed when not being used. The following are temporary alternatives, using lighter materials, to encourage usage, building up your animals confidence, to where the permanent Flap can be installed. 1: NO FLAP AT ALL Once having installed the Frame, most Doors have a removable Flap, which can be taken out of the Door temporarily. Some animals require a short adjustment period, and even if you choose to leave the Door completely unrestricted for a day or two, you can always place the “Slide”* in the Door, to close it off for overnights. 2: A VERY LIGHT MATERIAL (partial closure) After having removed the permanent Flap, I’ve taped a single Freezer Bag (cut to size) in the opening, where it only came down half way of the opening. This allows an animal, to “Feel” the lighter material dragging over its back, and realize that it’s not hurting them in any way. Just placing it half way over the opening, allows the animal a clear view to the outside (encouragement) to get it to move through. 3: A LIGHT MATERIAL (full closure) The next step would be to cut a piece of light material (thin plastic or cloth) where it fills the opening full length. I’ve used a piece of clear flexible plastic Carpet Protector in this instance (ones without spikes), allowing the animal to see through to the outside, but having to encounter dealing with a full closure. You can use any one, or process through all of the above steps, to allow “that shy one” to become comfortable with dealing with the Door. And any of the above individual steps can be left in use for hours or days, whatever’s necessary. Once this indoctrination period has been achieved, then, install the heavier permanent Flap, and enjoy. * = Slide. A separate or connected piece which closes/locks the Door from access in either direction. |
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