OT: automatic pet doors?

[bluesman2a]

Anybody have any experience with automated pet doors?

We're looking at getting a puppy in the near future, but we already have 2 indoor cats (one of which is like the Steve McQueen of escape-cats).

Both my wife and I work, and I detest the people who leave their dogs crated all day long, so I'd like to have something where the dog can get outside (to a fenced area) during the day while we are gone, but still keep the cats in.

I've been looking at several systems, but does anybody have first-hand experience with any of these or other suggestions?

Here are some of the ones I've been looking at:
http://www.moorepet.com/Electronic-and-Automatic-Pet-Doors-s/24.htm

 

[boiler7904]

No experience with dog doors.

From first hand experience the last 6 months, you do not want to let a puppy have free run of the house when you're not home. Up until our's was about 4 months old, you could take him out, he'd do something, come inside and do the other as soon as you were out of sight.

If you're not big on cages, think about using a plastic baby gate across a bathroom door. That way the dog has some space but if a tile or vinyl floor gets used as a toilet, it's pretty easy to clean up.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Have you tried one of the lift gates with the remote mounted keypad. These seem to work good in our gated community..

J/K... I had never seen these before. Thanks for the link, I'll be making my purchase soon!!!

 

[timgr]

It was my understanding that dogs like their crates... denning instinct and all that. Training your dog to sleep in his crate would be a good thing. You don't necessarily have to keep them locked in it all the time.

Another possibility is to build a run, and leave them outside - either that or build a fence around your yard that will keep the dog in. Plenty of dogs stay outside all day (and night) - that's why doghouses were invented.

 

[bluesman2a]

From first hand experience the last 6 months, you do not want to let a puppy have free run of the house when you're not home. Up until our's was about 4 months old, you could take him out, he'd do something, come inside and do the other as soon as you were out of sight.

I think a lot of that has to do with the breed, training, and the individual dog. I grew up with a schnauzer in our family. She was house-trained to stay on the vinyl floor within 2 days (for accidents), then as she got older/better she was allowed run-of-the-house. My big concern here is for those long periods of time where we are away/at work, I just want the dog to be able to do its stuff if it needs to.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Why not just make a kennel and roof it? Then kitties can go out too. I'm going to do that eventually for my idiots. The cats love basking outside, but I don't dare leave them out on their own. I'm going to build an enclosed kennel so they can hang out in there if they want. They can't get out, no (large) animals can get in, they can't get attacked by some dog.

 

[bluesman2a]

Why not just make a kennel and roof it? Then kitties can go out too. I'm going to do that eventually for my idiots. The cats love basking outside, but I don't dare leave them out on their own. I'm going to build an enclosed kennel so they can hang out in there if they want. They can't get out, no (large) animals can get in, they can't get attacked by some dog.

Now THAT is an interesting idea there, Nissan... You have me thinking now where I would put it and how I would connect/roof it.

 

[BigChevy80]

I would never own a dog without crate training it. Our 5 year old Lab was crate trained ever since we got him as a little puppy. I had him trained to go inside when I would say "cage". After he was older I took the door off of the cage and he would still go in there to sleep. I now have put the crate away to save space in the garage, but if I were to get it out and set it up, that's the FIRST place he would go!

He now sleeps on the cold garage floor (I have a dog bed set up in the corner, but he rarely uses it). We have a dog door in the outside garage door that leads out to the fenced in yard. He can go outside if he wants and if it rains he can come in the heated garage. Although he usually sits out in the rain, looking pathetic... labs DO love water!

-Tony

It was my understanding that dogs like their crates... denning instinct and all that. Training your dog to sleep in his crate would be a good thing. You don't necessarily have to keep them locked in it all the time.

Another possibility is to build a run, and leave them outside - either that or build a fence around your yard that will keep the dog in. Plenty of dogs stay outside all day (and night) - that's why doghouses were invented.

 

[Deltarat]

We do not keep our Springer crated during the day, but I have several friends that do. When we first got our dog, I too thought a crate might be cruel, but he loves his crate. We will miss him sometimes and he will be in his crate asleep. You tell him at night " it is bedtime" do not stand between him and his crate, because he will knock you down running to his crate.If you don't go in there soon, he will come back and get you to come close his door.

 

[locoman]

For all you cat owners, you should get one of these. The cat likes to go along as well!

 

[52RustRocket]

The auto door is not a good idea for keeping cats in. They will very quickly learn to follow closely behind (or under) the dog as it goes through the door.

 

[Momma1234]

I agree with RustRocket. If the cats want to get out, they will quickly learn to follow the dog. Also, if your puppy naps next to the door (inside or out) that will unlock the auto door allowing the cats free access. Not a big fan of the battery operated auto pet doors. I had a friend who complained the battery would die often leaving the dog locked in/out.

As a rule, puppies can hold it about one hour for every month old (4 months=4 hours). I crate trained our first dog, but didn't want to. I didn't like the idea of leaving him crated while at work either, but felt at ease knowing he was safe from harm. You'd be amazed what a puppy can get into when left alone! We only needed him crated till about 6 months, then he was left in a secure easy to clean room. By 9/10 months he was allowed run of the house.

I like nissan's idea of a enclosed dog run. The cats would love that! Just make sure to pad lock it so no one can open it when your not there. I've heard plenty of stories of neighborhood kids opening fences and runs to "pet" the animals, allowing them to escape.

You could also make it easy on yourself an adopt a young adult dog. Most you don't have to worry about housebreaking. We adopted our 2nd dog when she was 10 months old from rescue and didn't have to worry about housebreaking. I will do that from now on, it was so much easier then a puppy. Most purebreed breeds have rescue sites.