Top 5 best automatic dog door

Many pet parents have an “open door policy” in their homes, while others choose to “screen” which four-legged pals come in and out of the house. Having a reliable set of best automatic dog door installed in your house can help with security, safety, convenience and this type of “screening of pets.”

Electronic pet doors are becoming more popular as their technology improves. There’s still plenty of room for adjusting certain brands to be much better at what they do, as you will find out while going through our list of best automatic dog door.

However, some more expensive brands have already done it, but they come at a much higher price.

Many veterinarians agree that having a pet door can help in many ways. Installing electronic pet doors at home could be easy if you choose the right manufacturer who will walk you through the process. We also have plenty of advice on Top Dog Tips site on how to install doggie doors of all kind.

Best Automatic Dog Door for Pets

1Solo Pet Door Automatic Electronic Dog and Cat Door

First one on our list of best automatic dog door is made by a lesser known yet still popular company, Solo Pet Doors. If you’re looking for a electric pet door that’s made in the USA, then this one is a great find. Solo Pet Door is fully automatic and made of durable materials. Pets will enjoy their freedom in getting in and out of the door, while you control the program through the settings. Magnetized pet tags activate the door to open it, while gravity closes it down slowly.

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When this electric dog door is closed, it locks securely. There are ten sizes available and two installation options to choose from – either wall or door install. Purchase is covered by a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer, which is what has given this electronic pet door a boost in our ranking system and put it as the absolute best automatic dog door on the list.

Based on multiple electric dog door reviews above, many dog owners have used this doggy door for 7 years- others have bought another one for a new house. These are testaments to the reliability of the Solo Pet Door. The features that made loyal users and repeat buyers of this product are the simplicity and dependability of the door. The material could withstand the elements, even in hot climates. There is no security issue since it locks as soon as it shuts completely. Installing this electric dog door is easy and parts last a long time before replacement becomes necessary. Fixing the tags only requires magnets.

An important note on Solo Pet Door Automatic Electronic Dog and Cat Door that has been left out in the description and dog door installation instructions for this electronic pet door is that electromagnetic signals in a room could affect its performance. Some pet parents found that out the hard way – the electric dog door is sensitive to other appliances or equipment emitting electromagnetic signals, and this makes it perform erratically.

Most helpful dog owner’s review (full review): “This is our second one as we purchased the first one for our old house. As far as dog doors go, you really can’t beat it. It’s simple, well made, with not a lot of complications, and super easy to fix if necessary. The tags are simply a magnet…”

2High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door

The second item on our list of best automatic dog door comes from an established electronic dog door manufacturer, High Tech Pet. This automatic dog door is made of military-grade resin engineered to resist gunshots or force and to withstand heat, cold or wind. The stylishly designed panel door opens by sliding vertically with the use of a high-tech motorized opening-and-locking mechanism.

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The system of this electronic dog door allows access to be set in four modes, and it is activated by a coded signal from the transmitter collar worn by the pet. The door measures 12 ¼ inches by 16 inches, and operates on 110V AC power. An AC adapter is provided, and there are options for battery backup or full battery operation.

If you take a look at the above automatic dog door reviews, according to most dog owners who purchased this product, the electric dog door has been very efficient in keeping other animals out of the house. It proved to be a nifty solution for letting pets out when they need to go without need of dragging sleepy pet owners out of the bed, which is the reason it’s the best automatic dog door on the list. Dogs and cats had no issues getting used to the pet door, either.

The collar adapter of High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door, however, was often too big, and pet parents wished that a micro version could be produced in the future. Most customers were not impressed with the construction and quality of materials and parts. Within the first year, the door required replacement of parts, such as the motor, sensor and the circuit board. These additional replacement and repair costs add up to the purchase price of this large dog door and customers now think that it may not be a very cost-effective solution after all.

Video: Top 5 Best Dog Doors (Premium Quality)

Most helpful dog owner’s review (full review): “I have owned this door for over a year. On one hand, it’s the best possible purchase for a home like ours with three small dogs. It has saved me from having to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to let the dogs out. More importantly, it has saved our…”

3 SureFlap Microchip Pet Door

Third item for those looking for the best automatic dog door that’s affordable is made by SureFlap, and yes – it’s an automatic dog flap door! This 7-inch x 6.69-inch flap-size electronic pet door will perfectly fit dogs and cats with shoulder width of 6.5 inches and waistline of 20.25 inches maximum. Pets access entry by their existing microchip ID or a collar tag with RFID.

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The well-known SureFlap Pet Door can store 32 pet IDs, so this is ideal for households with multiple pets where owners need both dog and cat doors. This third best automatic dog door mechanism runs on 4 C-cell batteries, which can last up to approximately 1 year before replacement will be needed. Purchase of this door includes 1 RFID tag.

Reading the automatic dog door reviews from the above link, it’s clear that pet parents were delighted to finally find an electric pet door that could be smart about choosing which dog or cat gets into their homes – with 32-ID memory storage, multiple pets shouldn’t be a problem. Special ID tags were not a problem anymore, since the sensor recognizes the existing microchips of the pets and their formats. Dog owners who have used other electronic dog doors before think that this is more convenient than collar ID tags or chips that could get lost or damaged, which easily puts this as the third best automatic dog door that also works for cats. This is an electronic pet door that keeps intruders out and makes things simple.

The door has a limitation, though. Pet owners who needed to restrict the goings-out of their pets found out that SureFlap Microchip Pet Door can’t do that. It was designed to keep unauthorized pets from coming in, but all pets and critters can get out as they wish. The different modes provided for curfew modes and locking preferences, but none that could control the manner of pets getting out of the electronic dog door. This feature doesn’t bother most pet parents, though, as it has been the perfect fit for their requirements.

Most helpful dog owner’s review + photo (full review): “This door can be a bit confusing as to what exactly it does when you read the description or the reviews. So hopefully this review will help someone. Please note that I am NOT using this door the way it is intended to be used. So I do not recommend using it the…”

4 PetSafe SmartDoor

The fourth one of the best automatic dog door we’ve taken a look at is made by the most well-known company on this list, PetSafe. Quite large at flap opening of approximately 13.06 inches by15.75 inches, this electronic pet door is designed for large dogs and cats weighing up to 100 pounds. The flap is made of high-quality and insulated material – hard plastic, not flexible.

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The RF-technology mechanism in fourth best automatic dog door runs on 4 D-cell batteries, and it works in three modes. It is activated by a battery-powered Smartkey worn by the dog or cat – a maximum of 5 pet IDs can be programmed. An automatic access-and-lock feature secures homes while making life more convenient for pets.

The improvement in the new version was immediately noticed by dog owners who bought both versions, and they were quick to commend the revisions – frosted flap over the clear one, and flush dial for adjusting range over a knob. This can be read from multiple electronic dog door reviews above. Pet parents observed that this electric door for pets works much better at opening and locking the flap compared to its predecessor which had issues of jamming. Pets found it easy adjusting to the door, and it is quiet and nice-looking. During repairs or the waiting period for replacement parts to arrive, the normally automatic door for dogs and cats could still be used as a non-electronic door – but without the security offered by automatic locks.

Installing automatic dog door was generally easy, especially for avid DIYers, but fixing and rewiring took a few stars away from this product. Customers who took the bother of disassembling PetSafe SmartDoor and studying its mechanism found out that a few tweaks could actually make the thing work flawlessly. A product that could be more forgiving to customers who are not as mechanically-minded must be the goal of any revision or redesigning of this door.

Video: Petsafe Electronic Smart Door Dog Door

Most helpful dog owner’s review (full review): “First, let me explain why some people love this and others have had problems. There is an older model and a new, improved model. They look almost identical but there are two easy to spot differences: the old one has a clear flap and a knob for…”

5 Ideal Pet Products Cat Flap Plastic Medium Electric Pet Door

Finally, the last one of the best automatic dog door items is coming from another Amazon-famous company, Ideal Pet Products. Made of sturdy frame and weatherproof lexan flap, this electronic pet door is perfect for puppies, cats and other small pets weighing up to 25 pounds. The opening of 7 inches by 9 inches is too small to be a cause for security concerns, such as intruders getting in the house through pet doors.

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The electronic mechanism of this fifth best automatic dog door offers added control for selective entry of pets. There are four modes or settings for operating the electronic pet door, and a 9-V battery is included in the purchase.

According to some pet owners from the above electric dog door reviews, this e-door for pets proved to be the solution to keeping stray cats off their homes. It is well-designed and solidly made, too. The prompt action by the manufacturer to address concerns and replacement issues was appreciated by customers. The 9-V battery that came with the package of Ideal Pet Products Cat Flap Plastic Medium Electric Pet Door seemed very economical. In an array of electronic pet doors, this product also comes out as one of the cheaper types.

It could be a major weakness in the design, or some cats and raccoons are simply smarter than others of their kind, but there were reported break-ins through this automatic pet door. Raccoons and cats could lift the flap and claw their way through the door and into the house. The magnet that bears the ID of the cat also picks up small metal pieces, even nails, which may hurt tiny pets. Customers find this annoying and suggest improvements in this area for future revisions.

Most helpful dog owner’s review (full review): “I decided on this product after reading the reviews of all the other similar cat doors on this site. It seemed they all shared certain negetive features. At the time this was the only door without reviews. I took a chance and it paid. This is a very well…”

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