They weren’t cheap, but because of the fire that took so many dogs, I promised myself my renovated house would have two doggie doors on both sides of the house so that they would have maximum chances to escape in case of an emergency. Plus, it’s convenient for the dogs to have the freedom to go outside whenever they want, even when the heating is on or rarely when the air conditioning is on, and all doors are closed.
I considered building permanent dog doors into the walls, but the worry about wires and the sacrifice of wall space for that, plus having to build possible steps to the backyard just for the dog door areas, were both nonstarters. The method I chose was the safest way to know they can get out if the unimaginable repeat of a fire were to happen. It’s also nice because I do not lose any part of the slider for humans to walk through. I can slide each door all the way over, unlike those slider inserts, which require humans to squeeze through narrower doorways.
When the doors are open, the magnetic screens keep the bugs out that time of year when there are bugs, but the dogs can go through easily either way. It’s actually easier for humans to go through the magnetic screens, because there’s no need to slide a screen door. The system is almost perfect, but I do hope that the dogs will acclimate to pushing the screen AND the doggie door flaps at the same time in both directions. That’s what I see as a challenge. The dog door installers said that they never saw a configuration like mine, but they did not think it would be a concern. When I asked A.I. how best to design them, they suggested having the door cut out of the middle, but that was not an option for the company I hired. It’s just as well, because the dog door is approximately half the width of the door anyway, so the slot for the magnetic screen is pretty much where the dog door begins.
Coming back inside will always be a little more challenging, unless I fashion some kind of extra flap solution. I’ll monitor the situation and I’m pretty sure we can all adapt without letting bugs in.
My blind dog Bonnie has been an expert at using the doggie door for the past few years at the rental, but this combination may be a bit of a learning curve for her. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
