A dog door is a fantastic investment for dog (and outdoor cat) owners as it gives your pet the freedom it desires to go in and out as it pleases.
The downside is that they are not all made with high-quality materials or rated for inclement weather. Thankfully, dog door manufacturers saw the need for doors that keep warm air in and cold air out and started designing options with magnetic closures and double flap designs. But since there are so many options on the market now, it can feel overwhelming to decide which will be the best.
We’ve compiled a list of the ten best dog doors for cold weather to share with you today. Read on to find the perfect doggy door for your needs.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall 
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Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door |
Double flap design Boosts energy efficiency Magnetic closure for a tight seal |
Check Price |
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Best Value 
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PetSafe Extreme Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door |
Three flap design Energy efficient Snapping closing panel |
Check Price |
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Premium Choice 
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PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors Dog Door Wall Installation |
Made for large and extra-large breeds Three color options Rust proof |
Check Price |
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Best for Puppies |
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SureFlap Microchip Small Dog & Cat Door |
Only allows your pet in and out Customizable modes Great for doors, windows, and walls |
Check Price |
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Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Dog & Cat Door |
Dual pane design Can withstand 50 mph winds Secure locking cover |
Check Price |
The 10 Best Dog Doors for Cold Weather
1. Ideal Pet Products Ruff-Weather Pet Door – Best Overall
| Flap Dimensions: | 5”L x 15”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Wood, PVC, metal, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl/PVC |
The Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door wins our best overall dog door for cold weather award. Its double-flap design prevents airflow from entering your home while providing an insulated air pocket inside the door for energy efficiency. In addition, the flap has a magnetic closure for a tight seal for extra draught protection.
The door frame is compatible with standard interior or exterior doors or walls. The installation process is straightforward and fast. You do need to purchase a wall kit if you plan on installing this in a wall instead of a door. The wall kit can be difficult to find, so keep that in mind before you buy.
2. PetSafe Extreme Weather Pet Door – Best Value
| Flap Dimensions: | 1”L x 16.8”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Wood, PVC, metal, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass |
| Materials: | Plastic |
Dog doors can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, making them inaccessible to many pet owners on strict budgets. The PetSafe Extreme Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door wins our best value dog door for cold weather award as it is the highest quality budget option.
This door has a three-flap design that’s supposedly 3.5 times more energy efficient than single-flap designs. The center flap makes this door perfect for cold climates, as its job is to keep warm air in and cold air out. The flap color will either be yellow or gray.
The closing panel snaps on to prevent your dog from leaving when you don’t want it to. The company also sells separate outer closing panels for areas that experience extreme weather fluctuations.
The door comes in three sizes and is suitable for dogs up to 100 pounds. However, it is not designed to be used on walls.
3. PlexiDor Performance Dog Door – Premium Choice
| Flap Dimensions: | 16”L x 23.75”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | many different types of walls |
| Materials: | Acrylic, aluminum, plastic, metal |
Though the PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors Dog Door Wall Installation is the priciest option in our list, it’s more than worth the cost if you can afford it. This door comes in three color options: silver, white, or bronze, so you can find an option that suits your home décor. It’s designed with large breed dogs in mind and is best suited for pups between 100 and 220 pounds.
This wall-mounted option can be installed in many different wall types. The aluminum tunnel connecting the two frames is rust-proof to extend your door’s lifespan and prevent rust damage. To add to its durability, the panels are made with high-impact acrylic material.
If safety is a top concern, this door comes with a lock and key so you can control who goes in and out.
Being that this is a wall unit, installation is extremely complicated. We recommend hiring someone to tackle the job unless you’re very confident with power tools.
4. SureFlap Microchip Small Dog Door – Best for Puppies
| Flap Dimensions: | 75”L x 7”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Wood, PVC, drywall, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass |
| Materials: | Plastic |
The SureFlap Microchip Small Dog & Cat Door is designed with small dogs and cats in mind. This electronic door operates by sensing your pet’s unique microchip or collar ID tag and will only open for them. This feature allows only your pet to enter and exit through the door, keeping out other animals or critters.
The door is easy to program and remembers up to 32 different pets. It has an RFID collar tag if your pet isn’t already microchipped. It can be installed on doors, windows, or walls.
The door has different modes, such as curfew mode, that allow you to set specific times you’d like the entrance to lock and unlock.
The biggest downfalls of this product are that instructions for installation aren’t very easy to follow and that it’s designed for puppies and very small dogs and cats. You may also need to buy the accompanying tunnel extender if you plan to install your door in a wall.
5. Endura Flap Double Flap Dog & Cat Door
| Flap Dimensions: | 12”L x 22”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Wood, PVC, drywall, metal, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass |
| Materials: | Aluminum, plastic, metal |
The Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Dog & Cat Door is a dual-paned and insulated door designed specifically for climates that experience extreme temperatures. It is compatible with all wall types and has no unsightly hardware.
The heavy-duty door includes a magnetic seal for withstanding winds of up to 50 miles per hour. You can reduce or increase its strength if your pet is lightweight or if the wind gets too heavy. In addition, the door has a cover that locks securely for extra protection from unwanted critter visitors.
The flap will not shrink over time or turn yellow from the sun.
The Endura Flap door comes in four sizes and two colors. It is expensive, but its high-quality design makes it worth the cost. Installation can be complicated, and since this is a wall-mounted door, you’ll want to consider hiring a professional to do the job.
6. Baboni Pet Door for Wall
| Flap Dimensions: | 5-1/4”L x 8 1/8”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Siding, stucco, brick walls, wood, PVC |
| Materials: | Metal, steel aluminum alloy, PVC |
The Baboni Pet Door for Wall is a very affordable wall-mounted dog door option for pet owners on a budget. The door is easy to install on all kinds of interior and exterior walls. It comes with a cut-out template and easy-to-follow instructions.
The frame is made of metal and aluminum for durability and security. The door has a double flap for weatherproofing and energy efficiency for protection from extreme weather and wind drafts.
While the magnets are durable and strong, they can be finicky to deal with if they get dirty. You’ll need to keep them clean to ensure they stick properly.
7. Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Modular Pet Patio Doors
| Flap Dimensions: | 7”L x 11.25”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Wood, PVC, metal, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl/PVC |
The Ideal Pet Products Aluminum Modular Pet Patio Doors is the perfect option for any pet owner looking to transform their sliding patio doors into a doggy door. This product has an adjustable height from 77-5/8″ – 80 3/8″, so it should fit most patio doors. In addition, its sturdy aluminum construction and clear tempered glass provide durability and protection from the cold.
The door comes with a rigid, lock-out sliding panel that allows pet owners to keep their pets inside or outside. It comes in three sizes and two color options.
This is a great option if your patio doors are on the wide side. However, if you have narrow doors, you may find that once it is installed, there isn’t much room for you to get through.
8. High Tech Pet Products Fully Automatic Pet Door
| Flap Dimensions: | 25”L x 16”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Drywall |
| Materials: | Plastic |
The High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door has a unique motor-driven design that automatically opens upward instead of outward. It uses a high-tech collar to sense when your dog is nearby. Its dual-range controls let pet owners set inside and outside activation distances that are independent of each other. In addition, since the door opens upward, it eliminates your pet’s need to push a flap up to exit.
This product is made from a durable and sturdy resin material. In addition, it has an automatic deadbolt locking feature that prevents intruders from accessing your home via your doggy door.
The door is airtight, windproof, and weatherproof, so it’s perfect for the colder months of the year.
Unfortunately, the battery doesn’t last as long as it should, but it does come with an AC/DC plug-in adapter if you prefer. If you use the battery, you’ll need to order replacement ones from the company’s website.
9. Autoslide Dog Door with K9 Tag
| Flap Dimensions: | N/A |
| Surface Compatibility: | Any Smooth-operating sliding door |
| Materials: | Aluminum, metal |
The Autoslide Dog Door with K9 Tag is an electronic doggie door insert that plugs into a standard 110 outlet. It is designed for use on a single sliding door panel, but it isn’t a “door” in the traditional sense. Instead, this product is a sliding system that opens your existing slider without cutting any holes in your doors.
The Autoslide can be programmed to open enough to accommodate your pet and nothing bigger. It utilizes a secure RFID tag unique to your dog’s K9 collar tag. Because it uses an RFID transmitter, you don’t need to worry about unwanted critters entering your home, as the door will not open for them. The transmitter can be put on a wall in your home up to 10 feet away from the door.
This product is on the pricier end of the spectrum, but it’s worth the cost if you don’t want to cut holes in your doors or walls. The installation process can be a challenge, however. The customer service team at Autoslide is very helpful if you encounter any installation issues.
10. Ideal Pet Products All-Weather Energy Efficient Dog Door
| Flap Dimensions: | 26”L x 13”H |
| Surface Compatibility: | Door or Wall |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl |
The Ideal Pet Products Perfect Pet The All-Weather Energy Efficient Dog Door comes in four sizes, offering flap options from as small as five inches to as big as 15 inches. This energy-efficient doggy door has a double vinyl flap design to create an air pocket for maximum insulation.
This door is designed to be installed in an interior or exterior door, but you can also use it on a wall if you prefer. The wall is sold separately. The installation process is easy, and the manufacturer includes a helpful video on the product page to give prospective buyers a better idea of what to expect during installation.
This door performs well in winter but may not have the insulation necessary to withstand extreme cold, like -22°F.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Door for Cold Weather
Now that you know the top ten dog doors for cold weather on the market this year, you are tasked with making a buying decision. Not every door is created equal, so let’s take a closer look at some of the things you should consider before spending a single cent on your new dog door.
Size
This should go without saying, but the size of your dog door should be the first thing you consider. Your pup won’t use it if it’s too small for it to fit through comfortably. Ensure you choose a door that can accommodate your dog’s size and weight. If your pet is still a puppy, pick a product that will fit it when it’s fully grown.
Type
There are two main types of dog doors in our buying guide.
The first is the traditional style door with a flap or magnetic portion. These come in kits to be installed on the lower portion of your door or even through your wall. You must cut a hole into your existing door (or wall) to accommodate your doggy door. This will void any warranty on your door, so keep that in mind before you bring out the power tools.
The second is an electronic door. This style works by reading a sensor on your dog’s collar. The door will open when your pup is within range, allowing your pet to come and go as it pleases. These are great for keeping animals other than your dog out of your home. However, if it needs to be plugged in, it won’t work if the power goes out. You may want to find a battery-powered style if that will be a problem for you.
Weatherproofing
The weatherproofing features of your door dog are important because you’re looking for a door that can keep the cold weather out. Poor quality doors, be it doggy doors or just a regular front door, can let in a lot of drafts and cold. The perfect pet door will resist strong winds and prevent drafts through high-quality flaps or strong magnetic closures.
Where Should I Put My New Dog Door?
Before buying a doggy door, consider where you will install it. Some are designed for use on sliding or regular interior/exterior doors, while others are meant for walls. The best location suits your home’s layout and doesn’t require a lot of demolition.
Consider your handiness with power tools while deciding where to install your new door.
If you know your way around a drill and jigsaw, installing the door in an existing wood door can be a doable DIY project for the weekend. It’s more complex when installing it in a steel or metal door. In that case, you probably will want to hire a professional to tackle the job.
If you want it to be installed on a wall, we highly recommend hiring someone to install it. They’ll know where to cut through your wall without damaging the wiring or piping within.
Are Dog Doors Safe?
Dog doors are safe for your pet, provided you’ve chosen the right size for your dog’s height and weight. They do pose some safety hazards, however.
Large doors can be a security concern as they provide intruders with an easy access point into your home. They can also present safety issues if you have small children, who can easily climb through the door and get into trouble.
If you have young kids or are worried about intruders, we recommend an electronic dog door that will only open when your dog triggers the sensors.
Conclusion
For the best overall dog door for cold weather, Ideal Pet Products’ Ruff-Weather Pet Door combines a double flap design with a magnetic closure for a tight seal. The best value product is PetSafe’s Extreme Weather Energy Efficient Pet Door for its low price and triple flap design. While the PlexiDor Performance Pet Doors Dog Door Wall Installation is pricey, it is our top premium choice. For puppy owners, the SureFlap Microchip Small Dog & Cat Door is recommended!
Buying a dog door designed for cold weather benefits you and your pet. You’ll have a warmer, more energy-efficient house during the cold months of the year, and your dog will have the freedom to choose when it goes outside. We hope our reviews have helped you decide on the best door for your needs.
The post 10 Best Dog Doors for Cold Weather in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks appeared first on Pet Keen.