Kennel Dog Door FAQs

In what ways are kennel dog doors different from other dog doors?

Well, in a sense they're not. All dog and cat doors are intended to allow pet access whether it's into a house or into a kennel. There are, however, some ways in which they're usually a bit different.

• A kennel dog door is generally not "self-framing" for a door or wall. Nor is it likely to include a trim frame to finish off the opposiate side of a door or wall. Most pet doors designed for the home will be "self-framing" if intended for a door or wall and, even if not "self-framing", will include a trim frame for looks.
• Because kennel doors are often used in conjuction with a "guillotine" (unfortunate but commonly used name) type dog door, they frequently have no method for locking.
• Ok. FYI a "guillotine" dog door is a panel that slides in a track over a hole in the inside wall of a kennel. It will include some wire or rope, some pulleys and a handle all of which enables the user to open and close the panel over the hole without having to enter the dog run. Thus the dogs can be locked out for cleaning the run or in during the night. Even though a guillotine door is used, a dog door mounted on the opposite side to the guillotine door is still a good idea as it will better conserve heat in the winter and cooling in the summer particularly when the guillotine door is open.
• Durability is prized in a kennel door and, since materials like plexiglas, aluminum and polypropyline make far more durable flaps than vinyl, the material most often found in a residential pet door flap, the flaps and frames are often made of those materials and are, therefore rigid. An exception to this rule is the Endura Flap kennel door which is flexible for safety.
• A consequence of the rigid construction and particular design of some kennel doors is that they are very noisy when closing. This may not matter in a kennel full of barking dorgs but is frequently not acceptable for home use.