What Size Pet Door Do I Need?

What Size Pet Door Do I Need?

General Sizing Tips

It's always better for a dog door to be a little too big rather than a little too small.
In general with sizing for pet doors, we typically recommend erring on the side of being too large rather than too small.


This is because a pet door that is too small can be harmful to your dog's long-term health. The contortions involved with squeezing through a too-small pet door can be bad on a dog's back and joints. And as they get older, the squeezing may not be something they're able to do.


 

None of these are a problem with a door that ends up being too big. The only downside to erring on the safe side (bigger) is the up-front price difference in the door.


Sizing Test - The Cardboard Cutout

The absolute best way to determine the appropriate pet door size is with an in-home simulation that we call the "cardboard cutout test".


 

Details can be found on our website (link below), but the process is essentially taking a big piece of cardboard and cutting a hole in it the size of the pet opening that you want to test (6'' x 10'' for the small, 9'' x 13'' for the medium, 11'' x 17'' for the large). Then, hold the cardboard up to an open doorway and have your biggest pet go through the opening.

 

This will let you see with your own eyes how that size will work for your pet and his or her unique needs. You want to make sure that there's no squeezing or other body contortions that would make the door uncomfortable for your pet long term.

 

Cardboard cut out test link: https://energyefficientdogdoors.com/sizing/#cctest


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