Topics covered in this blog:
- What is a Flexible Dog Door Flap?
- Ease of Access
- Safety and Comfort
- Home Security
- Weatherproofing and Energy Efficiency
- Rigid or Flexible Dog Door Flaps
- Buy Energy-Efficient Dog Door in Sliding Glass Doors
There are a few important features to look for in your search for the best dog door for your pet’s needs and lifestyle. You probably know you need a pet door that makes sense in your climate zone, and you may have already taken measurements of your dog’s height and width, so you can order a properly fitting dog door flap. Now it’s time to decide whether rigid or flexible doggie door flaps offer the best match for your dog’s needs. Flexibility vs. rigidity of your dog’s entry door is an important consideration for your pet’s optimum safety and comfort.
What is a Flexible Dog Door Flap?
This is the modern version of the traditional dog door flap. Pet door flaps are made from various materials, such as vinyl, plastic, or rubber. Flexible pet door flaps are designed for easy access as a dog or cat pushes it open. The flexible material bends and contours to gently move along with the curve of your pet’s back as your dog or cat goes through the pet door. This is a great benefit for comfort and a sense of security for a pet animal pushing through the door.
Some flexible pet door models have magnetic seals around multiple sides of the pet door, for energy efficiency. When the magnetic force is too strong, the door can be too hard for pets to push open. The best energy-efficient dog door achieves both energy efficiency and ease of access for your pet. Especially if you have a smaller cat or dog, be sure that your pet is not struggling to push through the door because the magnetic force is too strong.
Ease of Access
Choose a pet door that has enough magnets to maintain optimum energy efficiency, but not an excessive number that makes the door too difficult for your pet to use comfortably and safely. For optimum overall dog door efficiency, choose a design that balances the need for energy efficiency with the need for the door to be actually useful as a convenient entry and exit access for your dog.
Safety and Comfort
Flexible dog and cat door flaps are generally recognized as safer than a rigid one. Using a rigid dog door flap risks pinching your dog’s or cat’s skin as they are trying to go through the door. Rigid dog doors are also less comfortable for a pet to walk under, especially if the door is too heavy. The stiff door does not have the needed flexibility to relax along the contours of the dog’s back. By contrast, a flexible pet door is made of a highly durable and pliable material that relaxes and moves smoothly and comfortably along the shape of a dog’s back.
Home Security
Both rigid and flexible pet door manufacturers offer upgraded designs with home security features. Rigid pet doors can be designed with special locking mechanisms directly on the door. Flexible dog doors are often designed with an optional sliding security door that slides sideways into position to cover the flexible flap and door opening, to which security locks can be added as desired.
Electronic door locks are available with a few models of rigid pet doors. This feature is not available for the sliding security cover for flexible flap doors. Prioritizing having an electronic lock, the choice is between the convenience of an electronic locking feature and the flexibility of a more comfortable door for the dog to use.
Weatherproofing and Energy Efficiency
Electronic pet doors made with rigid door flaps are not all weatherproof. Is the pet door you choose going to be used as an inside-to-outside pet door? Or, will it connect your home’s interior to the inside of your garage, or your covered porch or patio? If the door will open to an unprotected outdoor area, you may consider installing a pet door awning over your electronic pet door, to protect the door from the weather. Of course, dog door models built with weather protection are typically more energy efficient.
So, Which Is Better for My Dog – Rigid or Flexible Dog Door Flaps?
Either a flexible or rigid flap for your pet door will give the pets and people in your home new freedom, improving the quality of life for all. As you can see, rigid and flexible pet doors offer advantages and disadvantages, depending upon your pet’s needs and your own needs and preferences.
Weigh these priorities when selecting your pet door:
| Safety | Energy efficiency | Price & installation cost |
| Comfort | Durability | Warranty |
| Ease of use | Home security | Any other concerns you may have |
| Convenience | Aesthetics |
Use these factors to help you determine which type of pet door solution is best for your dog, and your property, and you, and others in your home.
Pet Door Products, Salt Lake City Utah
We provide energy-efficient designs, even including a dog door in sliding glass doors. You can choose our DIY installation option, and we will ship the glass panel to you. See easy sizing instructions here. Or, choose to have our professional installer perform complete installation for you for a small additional cost.
Call Pet Door Products, Salt Lake City Ut at (801) 973-8000 for information about pet doors with the state-of-the-art Endura® flap pet door, for durability, efficiency, and the flexibility your dog wants.
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