Dog Doors for Kennel Use

Dog Doors Intended for Kennel Use

Kennel operators are generally looking for the most durable and dependable pet door to withstand high-impact usage. Our heavy-duty dog kennel door options offer superior durability. Doggie doors included in this section tend to focus more on durability than they do on aesthetics, unlike glass pet doors on sliding glass doors. However, we do sell a lot of these dog doors to homeowners as well who find that these doors fit their particular needs. These are great doors for high-energy, extra-large dogs. Or you could use one of these heavy-duty doors as an outdoor dog house door. You can also use them in a more traditional way, installing them in a back door or wall of your home for your x-large dog. Regardless of where you choose to install your kennel door, you can be certain that you're getting a sturdy, dependable product that will give pets the freedom to come and go as needed. 

For information to help in choosing the size, please refer to 'Measure Your Pet'.

Kennel Doors 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, whether it be patio pet doors, electronic pet doors, or kennel dog doors, are intended to allow pet access whether it’s into a house or into a kennel. Kennel dog doors tend to focus their features on durability and functionality while remaining more affordable for kennels that need to buy several dog doors, from super small to super large,  at once.

Additionally, kennel dog doors are generally not “self-framing” with a door frame or wall entry. Nor are they likely to include a trim frame to finish off the opposite side of a door or wall. Most pet doors, such as electronic doors, designed for the home will be “self-framing” if intended for a door or wall, or will include a trim frame for looks if not "self-framed."

Because kennel doors are often used in conjunction with a “guillotine” (unfortunate but commonly used name) type of door, they frequently have no method for locking such as a kennel cover door panel to close the flap off.

Durability is prioritized in a kennel door and materials like Plexiglas, aluminum, and polypropylene make far more durable chew-resistant doors in comparison to vinyl or plastic flaps with plastic frames and plastic doors. An exception to this rule is the Endura Flap kennel door which has flexible material for pet 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 dogs but is frequently not acceptable for home use.

What is the advantage of a kennel door?

Kennel dog doors focus on durability and functionality and come at an affordable price so that buying them in bulk won't make a dent in your wallet. Because they are so durable, they will usually last a long time and you'll be able to save money by not having to purchase replacement flaps too often. Most of these doors do not come with additional tools or kits to install the dog door, but this is beneficial for saving money and also allows you to customize the door insert or wall installation to your liking by adjusting measurements for your small dog or a large size dog. 

What are the disadvantages?

One disadvantage of a kennel door is that it has rigid flaps rather than something like a vinyl flap, which could potentially injure your pets by pinching.  Also, kennel dog doors are known to be noisy when closing no matter the flap size. This isn't a big deal in a kennel with dogs barking constantly, but can be unpleasant in a home setting. Lastly, kennel pet doors usually become very custom installs and therefore they lack a lot of additional hardware and installation information that door mounts typically come with. Make sure you are aware of what it takes to install this type of door before you purchase one.

Do all kennel dog doors allow access in both directions?

Although not as energy efficient, kennel dog doors with a flap offer freedom and access in both directions for your pet. On the other hand, the aluminum frame guillotine doors like the Gun Dog or Mason open or close manually based on your situational preference. You can leave a guillotine aluminum pet door open or close it up, but it cannot be pushed open by your pet like an electronic dog door can. 

What is a guillotine door?

A “guillotine” dog door has a panel that slides up and down in the track of the dog door. This door needs to be manually opened and closed for the pet to get in and out, they cannot push the door open on their own. In a Kennel setting, they may be installed over a hole in the inside wall as a wall mount. It might 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, as in the Mason Co doors. Thus, the dogs can be locked out for cleaning the run or 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 somewhat be weatherproof and better conserve heat and cooling in more extreme weather, particularly when the guillotine door is open.

When I purchase a Guillotine dog door from PetDoors do all the hardware supplies come with the door or does the hardware need to be purchased separately?

For the Gun Dog you would have to purchase your own hardware. However, with the Mason Co. They will include the hardware, such as the pulleys and cables. There is also an option with the Mason doors to have a cable guard, which would prevent any unwanted chewing of the hardware.

Why don't the kennel doggy doors come with tunnels and some don't even come with any hardware?

The kennel doggy doors are very "do it yourself" in that they usually become custom installs and don't come with some of the common pet supplies for pet door installation. The hardware and materials that might be used will vary so what normally would be included with a wall unit or tunnel section might not fit different sizes in your specific application for a small or large door. This way, you do not have to pay for things you won’t need! 

Which kennel dog door offers light and heavy hinges?

The Mason Company Pickwick Pet Door offers light and heavy hinges.

I need a really sturdy door for my kennel, what would you recommend?

The Gun Dog Door is a good kennel door option with a warranty against chewing. Also, many times customers will get one of the guillotine styles to close it off since they don’t come with covers. This way you have a flap to help seal the door opening up on one side. If this is what you would like to do take a look at Mason Co or Gun Dog for bestsellers, details, and sizing.