Dog Doors for Walls

Additional Information

Pet Doors for Walls FAQs

Single or Double Flap?

A second important consideration in a wall mount pet door is whether to have a single flap or a double flap (flap on both sides of the wall). The air space between the two flaps of a double flap wall mount will insulate much better than a single flap pet door, and the double flaps will stand up to wind much better also. Finally, it will look more finished to have the flap on both sides of the wall.

We haven't encountered any additional difficulty for the pets in using a double flap provided that a reasonable flap size is chosen by the customer.

Most of our wall mount pet door sales are for double-flap doors. However, when installing in a moderate climate or in an unheated garage or shed, we'd suggest that a single flap may be adequate. On the other hand, the Endura Flap based pet doors seal so well that we think a single flap is adequate for all but the most demanding climates and extreme weather.

In choosing the flap and door size, keep in mind that your pets will be negotiating a short tunnel. For that reason, we like to see a little more clearance vertically than would be the case for a pet door installed in a door. As always, try to mount the pet door, so the top of the flap is at least as tall as the top of the shoulder of the tallest pet (the 'withers'). For more information about measuring your pets to get the perfect pet door, see our Measuring Guide.

Need a replacement flap? Check out our full selection of replacement flaps here.

Will it be weatherproof?

Some through wall pet door brands guard against the weather better than others. A well-made wall mount door will keep the weather outside while letting your pets inside, as well as be durable enough to withstand the elements! With any pet door through wall installation, it is very important to make sure that all seams around the frame and inside the tunnel are sealed to prevent any water damage. Top choices for weatherproof doors for walls would be brands like Endura Flap for Walls or Hale for Walls. 

How will the pet door handle home security?

What if I want a good pet door but I’m on a budget? Is there a mid-range pet door?

There are wall pet doors for dogs also available that will do a decent job while sticking to a tighter budget. They may need parts replaced after a rough season, but many customers have these pet doors last for years! Take a look at the best dog door for wall installation on a budget Ideal Ruff Weather or PetSafe Wall Entry pet doors.

Will I have to replace flaps and parts every year?

It depends on the wall-mounted doors you choose! Higher quality pet doors may not require replacement parts for your pet's entire life, while less expensive pet doors might need new flaps after every rough season. If you don't want to replace flaps, investing in one of the more expensive pet doors can pay off in the long run.

Can I install the pet door myself, or do I need to hire a professional?

Wall pet doors for dogs do pose some challenges with installation if you don't know what you are doing. If you are cutting a hole through your wall, we usually do recommend a professional since there are factors like electrical wires and pipes to be careful around. Cutting a hole in the wrong spot can be dangerous, so if you don't know what you're doing, you probably want to hire some help. 

What are the advantages of installing a pet door in a wall?

You may have no other convenient locations for your pet door, in which case it is handy to know that a wall is an option.

A pet door in a wall can always easily accommodate a double flap version of the pet door you want if that is available. The double flap version will always insulate, seal, and stand up to wind better than a single flap version.

If you want to remove the pet door at some future date (say you sell the house, and the buyer doesn't want the pet door) and you've installed the pet door in a door, then you'll be buying a whole new door which can be expensive. On the other hand, depending upon the type of construction, a pet door in a wall may be removed, and the wall patched pretty inexpensively.

What are the disadvantages of installing a pet door in a wall?

Installation through a wall can be dangerous! If you cut into an electrical conduit or pipe, you can be injured or even killed. We recommend a licensed contractor for this type of installation.

If the siding is practically anything other than stucco, it can be difficult or impossible to remove the pet door and patch the wall so that it looks "like new." Brick siding, rock siding, wood or shingle, and vinyl siding all present problems when removing a pet door from a wall.

The same consideration is true for the inside wall. Drywall is easy to patch, but wood paneling may not be. If the wall is thicker than about 8" (not very common but it happens), the selection of "self-framing" pet doors diminishes greatly. If the wall is thicker than 16", there are no "self-framing" options except for a few doors sized for very small dogs. 

Since wall studs are usually 16" on center, a pet door requiring a "rough cut" wider than 14 ½" will probably not fit between your existing studs. There are ways to solve this problem, but, again, only a licensed contractor should attempt them.

How do you install a pet door in an exterior wall?

1) Measure: Measuring correctly is crucial in a pet door that your pet will comfortably use their entire life.

2) Decide on Location: Typically installations are done away from public view.

3) Use a Template: Draw out the rough cut, cut along the lines, remove sheetrock and insulation.

4) Adjust the Tunnel: Measure the thickness of the wall and adjust the tunnel.

5) Place Door: Secure the inner frame to the outer frame and ensure the frames are level before you tighten the screws.

For detailed instructions, please visit our guide on How to Install a Dog Door in a Wall.

In a single flap wall mount, which side is the flap on?

Insulation-wise, it is best to have double flaps for wall mounts, but if you live in a more moderate climate or the door will be under a covered area, then the single would be a good option. Most will have a single flap on the inside and a trim frame to finish out the opening on the outside. As in the case of the Endura Flap or Plexidor. Hale is a bit different, as the single flap goes on the outside.

Do you have wall doors that are electronic? What are they?

Yes, we have several electronic dog doors for walls. High Tech's Power Doggie Door, PetSafe Smart Doggy Door doggy doors for walls, and all Dog Mate pet door models are manufactured electronic doors for walls.

Which side does the locking cover go on?

Typically, you want to put the locking cover on the inside of the house so outsiders cannot unlock it. Also, when there is bad weather you will not be forced to go outside to close off the dog door in the wall.

Is it easy to install a wall mount?

There are many steps that must be taken to ensure that a wall mount is safe and secure so that internal wall damage doesn't occur and so that a safe tunnel can be built. For this reason, along with the framing that must take place, it is not easy to install a wall mount. We highly recommend you hire a licensed and insured professional. Cutting a power line or hitting a pipe with power tools could cause injury or even death.

What is a telescoping tunnel?

Telescoping tunnels fit in walls with varying thickness and don't require any cutting. They are made of separate plastic parts where one fits into the other allowing for the framing of a certain wall thickness range. PetSafe, High Tech, and Ruff Weather doggie doors for walls all have this tunnel type.

PetSafe	Ruff Weather	High Tech

How do I know how thick my wall is?

There is no standard residential wall thickness. The easiest way is to measure the jamb of a window or door leading through that wall from the inside to the outside. You can also cut a small hole through drywall and use a tape measure to gauge the thickness. If you cannot cut a hole, you may need to find the thickness at a plumbing or electrical penetration.

My wall is thicker, brick, concrete, or siding, will it still work?

If the wall is thicker than 8", the selection of self-framing pet doors for walls goes down. At this point, you can get an in-wall dog door mount and frame the door yourself to create a tunnel (using plywood, aluminum, etc.); if this is what you decide to do you must make sure you seal everything tightly. However, there are still several options with wider tunnels such as Hale, with tunnels that can be added together to make it as long as you want. If you are ever unsure of what to do for installation for wall mounts, please contact a licensed professional for help.

I have a large dog and want an electronic door, what's available?

Our 3 electronic door models for pets over 13" tall are the PetSafe Electronic Smart Door, the High Tech Power Pet Automatic Pet Door, and the Plexidor Electronic Pet Door. See all three of these doors for comparison here!

I have two different size pets. What door should I buy?

Hale brand pet door for walls is the most recommended as it is a higher quality option. If you are on a budget we would recommend that you take a look at the PetSafe Freedom Pet Door for Walls.

Can I install wall mount dog doors in the wall with siding? If so, how would I do that?

Yes, you can install wall mount dog doors into a wall with siding. There are several ways to install the mount, and this depends upon your particular installation situation. Some customers choose to lay the door on top of the siding and other recess it into the siding for aesthetic reasons. The main thing would be to make sure that everything is properly sealed up.

Do you have wall dog doors with aluminum tunnels?

Yes, Hale, and Endura Flap all offer tunnels made of aluminum. You'll want to double-check that the self-framing range will accommodate your wall thickness as they vary depending on the manufacturer you select.

What if there is a ridge or shelf that is directly above where the in-wall doggie door will be?

The ridge or shelf could get in the way of a top-loading locking cover. Hale offers a side-loading locking cover.

Hale

What does it mean to "frame out" a wall?

A wall installation pet door must always include a tunnel through the dog door wall. The primary purpose of this tunnel is to ensure that water cannot penetrate into the interior of the wall—a leak into a wall if not quickly discovered and repaired would have very serious and expensive consequences. As a secondary issue, the tunnel provides the pet with stable footing.

There are two ways to accomplish this tunnel. The first and easiest is to purchase a "self-framing" wall mount pet door. This type of pet door will be provided with its own tunnel which is typically adjusted by cutting to fit the depth of the wall in the case of the sturdier wall mounts with aluminum tunnels. Or telescoping for some of the more economy-style plastic models.

The second way is to frame the wall yourself (or have your contractor do it) typically using lumber to build a wood tunnel through the wall. In either case the tunnel is carefully caulked to ensure water-tightness and any wood used is sealed.

While framing yourself is probably going to involve more work and expense, it does have the advantage of allowing you to use virtually any pet door for your wall installation. That advantage is largely offset by the fact that there is a very good selection of the "self-framing" wall through pet doors to choose from.

What is the difference between a door mount and a wall mount?

Wall mounts must always have a tunnel through them for support and structural purpose, while a door mount does not. The hardware will also vary depending on the manufacturer and model, and also some will come as a complete unit with tunnel and hardware included like the Endura Flap for Walls. Others, like the Ideal Ruff Weather, you have to purchase the door mount and the additional wall kit.

Ideal Ruff Weather: Wall	Endura Flap Dog Doors for Walls

Do I need a contractor to do this?

Unless you are very handy yourself, we would recommend hiring a licensed contractor. You can see recommended installers here! We are also creating a DIY page coming soon. For now, email us at customerservice@petdoors.com for any DIY installation questions you might have.

What size should I buy?

We recommend that you measure your pet to find the right size. This is a helpful video on how to measure your pet for a door.

Do you install wall-mounted pet doors?

We do not currently install pet doors yourself unless you are in San Luis Obispo, California. To find an installer near you, go to our recommended installers page.

Will it fit between studs?

To determine whether the pet door will fit between your studs, you'll want to verify that the rough cut-out of the pet door is less than the width between your studs. Find the studs by either using a stud finder or by knocking on the wall to find them. Remember that studs are typically evenly spaced apart, but may not be so if there is an electric outlet or other apparatus running through the wall in certain areas.

Do I need to put support under a doggie door in the wall?

Each situation is unique and dependent on many factors. The best doggie doors come with aluminum tunnels that are strong and sturdy. Other manufacturers use a plastic tunnel. It will not harm the pet door if there is a support between the bottom of it and the bottom of the wall.

My house is on a raised foundation and has a significant drop-off, what can I do to install a doggy door in the wall?

You will need to either build a ramp or steps where your dog will exit the home.

What large in-wall dog door slide-in cover do you recommend for extreme desert heat?

We recommend the Endura Flap Dog Door for Walls with a Double Flap for the most energy-efficiency and wind resistance. Depending on your dog's size you may need to order a Large or Extra Large.

What electronic wall doors are available?

You have many choices. Here's a link to our Electronic pet doors for walls. You can filter by "Pet Size" in the "Narrow Your Search" section on the left-hand side of the page.

Do you have a question that wasn't answered? Contact us for personalized advice.