Electronic Dog Door Review: Our Top 7 Picks

The SureFlap Smart Dog Door is one of the best electronic dog doors on the market – no wonder it’s our Editor’s Choice.

Whether you just adopted a dog or have a bunch of them wagging their tails in front of you, SureFlap is your best bet!

Here’s the thing…

This beauty works well. Every time your dog enters, you’ll hear the signature click of the locks popping down to open the door. This might sound weird to your dog, but they will recognize this sound and get used to it. 

If you have a particularly skittish cat… 

It may take some time for them to get used to the click, but it’s quite minor. 

When it comes to programming…

Simply press the button, guide your dog by placing some treats near the door, and this will display that he’s registered. Setting up might be tricky because there are modes and functions, or it only allows certain chips to access certain ways.

For example…

For the curfew timer, set the door to lock and unlock at any time of the day or night. If you want your dog to be allowed in at night but not go out until morning – this will save you sweat. The pet door remains locked for intruder animals until your pet approaches and opens just for them, and lots more for you to discover.

The only issue (and this is also a tip)… 

Two magnets, one on each side of the bottom of the door, help gravity “snap” the door into the resting “down” position. I discovered that if you manually open the door to the horizontal position, you can use one of the pick tools (or similar) on a standard Swiss Army knife to pull out one of those two magnets – it works! 

If you have a small dog or cat who dislikes having to press their face against the door, I strongly advise you to do this.

Aside from that…

After two years of continuous operation, the Duracell batteries still show full on the LED. I can honestly say that this is one of the best working and designed electromechanical devices I’ve ever seen.

It should absolutely come with tunnel extenders; not having them is shameful and a huge inconvenience for pet owners once they have to order them separately – you will need them for ALL of the installations other than glass or thin doors.

They do not manufacture a dual scan (exit and entry) pet door. The dual scan cat door, which is smaller, is required if you want to control exit and entry. Hopefully, they will change this soon.

If you need a large cat door, get this one; if you have a small cat, get the catflap instead. Whatever you choose, you’ll need tunnel extenders.

The Perfect Pet All-Weather Energy Efficient Dog Door is one of the best dog doors for all weather – that’s why it won Best Value.

If you live on a mountain where it can get really cold at night, this door will come in handy for your pet. The security panel is perfect for your toddler to prevent them from getting in/out/stuck. It’s thin plastic with a simple snap catch.

It comes in different sizes. You can opt for the “super extra-large” for 50b to 90lb dogs. The “extra large” door works great for 60lbs boxers.

However…

It doesn’t seal great, but the two flaps do a lot to curtail airflow.

On a positive note… 

The all-weather door’s air pocket between 2 soft flaps features a great energy-efficient insulator. All sizes are designed to give an air pocket of up to 3-inches between the insulation. And with the available wall tunnel kit, an air pocket of up to 9-inches. This is serious energy efficiency – definitely worth it!

Let me tell you something about the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor…

Unlike our Editor’s Choice, your pet doesn’t have to be micro-chipped using this electronic smart dog door. However, it uses a key fob placed on the pet’s collar, and when the door detects it – your dog can enter or exit. Plus, it also features programmable auto-locking options.

It’s also true that…

There aren’t many options for automatic pet doors that don’t require your pet to be microchipped. Here, you can choose between small and large electronic dog doors by PetSafe. It’s not just easy to install but works as intended in good quality at an affordable price for your buck.

But…

This has a few cons similar to our Editor’s Choice by Sure Petcare. First, the door is tough to push open for a cat or dog. If your furry animal doesn’t like having to push so hard on the door – then it’ll be a problem. But your cat or dog can be trained and be a pro in no time.

Speaking of doors…

The magnetized door (needed to ensure the flap returns to its proper position for locking) “slams” closed forcefully, which has caught my cat’s tail many times. Also, there’s quite the loud click when unlocking. Fortunately, there’s no loud click when it relocks.

This might startle your pet at first, but sooner or later, they will get used to this sound. It’s your job to reassure your pet that it won’t harm them.

Secondly…

The key fob is pretty large for a cat or dog to dangle around its collar. Why so? 

Well, it’s pretty bulky, especially when your cat or dog is quite small. It’s not probably an issue when you have large dogs but a bit too much for smaller dogs.

Lastly…

You need to purchase 4 D Cell batteries separately – quite high battery usage, though. But it would last for two years, given that it’s unlocked during the day.

Then again…

There aren’t many options unless you want to get your pet microchipped, but those doors may have similar issues, too, aside from the bulky key fob.

Despite the cons…

This electronic dog door from PetSafe is phenomenal. The sensor is accurate. It keeps indoor cats in, wildlife/burglars out, and dogs free – definitely, a great bang for your buck.

While there other pet door solutions are out there, to me, High Tech Pet Power Pet Electronic Pet Door is about as perfect as it can get, and I am EXTREMELY pleased with how well they work.

I like that the door doesn’t seem to remain open if the dog remains next to it for a while.

But, here’s the thing…

…the “whoosh” noise of the door opening & closing could spook your pet(s), but you don’t have to worry. They will soon overcome this and will be a pro of going in and out.

To train your dog or cat…

…set it first at the longest distance your pet can get used to, and slowly lower it to about 4. The door will not close if something is blocking it, and it has a place for batteries if the power goes out.

Of course, treats and verbal cues would do the trick as well. I suggest you exhibit patience when training your dog to go in and out of the door.

In terms of installation…

It can be a little tricky. As the manual says, you might have to loosen the screws after installing them when the door does not close. It’s because of the pressure of the frame against the door. I suggest you purchase the wall extender for easier installation, but framing is fine if you’re a good carpenter.

It could take 45 minutes to install the door, including taking the door off the hinges, cutting the hole, “fine-tuning” the hole to make the frame fit, putting the door back on the hinges, and installing the pet door. If you’re an expert handyman, the installation will take less than 45 minutes.

The control unit around the dog’s collar is relatively low-quality and easily breaks when dogs roughhouse. If you encounter the key falling apart, solve it by wrapping a rubber band around the key. Electrical or duct tape works too, but make sure you don’t cover the “speaker.”

Aside from that…

Since the collar batteries are proprietary, you can’t get them quickly in stores.  My advice is to get some when you buy the door. You will have to buy batteries for the key from the manufacturer. So, keep a few spare collars (and spare batteries) around. It’s pricey, though, but not a deal-breaker.

In terms of the waterproof aspect…

An issue might happen where the door would not open when/after it poured rain outside. You can dry out the sensor, and it’ll be fine. And occasionally, if you place the door in the garage, it can freeze shut if temps outside get extremely low.

Overall, it comes with a high price and a low-quality key. But it doesn’t mean it’s not worth buying if you can afford it – definitely worth your buck.

The PetSafe Electronic Smart Door is none other than the small version of our Top Pick. So, this electronic smart dog door is relatively low in price.

While all features are similar to our Top Pick. It’s safe to say that this will be convenient for smaller dogs.

However…

Some dogs would have difficulty adjusting to the door’s sound when it unlocks. So, if you don’t want to stress your furry loved ones, you might want to check out other brands.

With the PetSafe Extreme Weather Door, you’ll definitely love the added freedom for your dog, reducing our responsibility of letting your pet out multiple times a day.

Such a relief.

Unlike the previous electronic dog door…

It does a good job of stopping the wind/snow/rain from making an absolute mess. But, the magnet that holds the door isn’t strong enough in a mild/moderate wind. So, if you live in very windy places, this might be a problem. 

On breezy days, if the dogs come inside…

…the wind won’t always allow the door to shut entirely behind them or stay closed. The foam it comes with, while useful, could be thicker. Thus, if you live in subzero temperature areas, consider investing in some hefty weather seal for this.

In terms of installation…

It can be a little difficult to install, but it’s good for weather protection. So, take your time and follow the directions exactly. Look for a YouTube video or research how to install it. You can also have someone you trust cut a hole in your door and come install it for you. But, be careful not to tighten screws during installation.

Most importantly…

If your dog hates pushing doors to open, let them get used to the hole before installing the flap. After installing the flap, it may take a few more training treats to get your dog used to it. However, the flaps can be a bit loud when your pet goes through it. Then again, they will get used to it and won’t bother your pet anymore.

On the other hand…

If you use the plastic cover to try and block your dog from escaping or place it on the outside to block harsh weather, be sure to block the inside with a chair or some other large object. Overall, this is a great product for your great dog or cat.

Amazingly, Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door is easy to install. Your dog can go out and back in whenever she wants.

In terms of function…

You can plug this into an Alexa plug and turn it on and off whenever you want and control when your dog goes outside. It only works for their collars, keeping out critters, and they have the freedom to go in and out as they please with added security.

However…

It would be great if it were a tad more durable and affordable. The collar could break in a year or two, but the overall convenience of the door makes it worth dealing with them when getting the warranty and purchasing a backup collar.

The tape to seal the two sliding glass doors did not stick because it was thin. You need an extra seal for the used foam core between the two sliding glass doors. Once you do that, your dog can enjoy it.

Overall…

Despite the cons, it’s definitely worth your buck for many positive reasons. This smart dog door can be a great potential door for your lovely pet.