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Pet doors are very useful because they allow our furry friends to come inside the house and go outdoors whenever they need to. However, the problem with the pet doors we have now is that they also let other animals in. It could be a fox, a squirrel, a raccoon, a snake, or some others from the wild.
This is why there are now smart dog doors that help solve this problem. These smart dog doors have sensors that will know if it is Blackie trying to come in and not a pesky raccoon or a dangerous animal from the woods.
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Benefits
There are different kinds of smart dog doors available right now. There are those that recognize your pets by scanning the key fob that you attach to their collar. This key fob works with a radio signal, and these dog doors will only unlock for your dogs. There are also dog doors that work with microchips.
Another benefit of using a smart dog door is they can help keep your home temperature comfortable. With the right insulation, these dog doors will not let the heat out during the winter, nor will they let the heat in on a hot summer day.
Some dog doors work on schedule. This means that you can schedule it to automatically lock or unlock during certain hours.
And the latest smart dog doors do not only stop at letting Fido in or out of the house, but they also offer you the convenience of being able to use a mobile app to control the doors. These connected dog doors are also able to keep track of the times when the door was used, letting you see a history of which dogs are always going out, and which ones prefer to stay indoors. The insights from this data will tell you whether your dogs’ behavior has changed over the last couple of days, or if they are getting enough exercise and sun. You also can set it so that the dog door will alert you when your dog goes out of the house.
What are the best smart dog doors you can get right now?
PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor
The PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor uses radio frequency to allow your dog to go out or get into the house. Your dog will wear the SmartKey collar, and that will emit a unique signal that will unlock the dog door. Once your dog is outside the range of the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor, the flap will lock itself automatically.
You can easily program up to five SmartKeys to work with the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor. The SmartKey is also waterproof, so it can get slightly wet.
If you live in a climate-controlled home, you will love how the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor has UV sun protection, making it energy efficient.
The PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor comes in two sizes: large (for dogs up to 100 pounds in weight and has an opening that measures 11 inches by 16 inches) and small (for dogs up to 15 pounds in weight and has an opening measuring 5.5 inches by 7.88 inches). It costs $94.99.
What you might not like about the PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor
There are several complaints regarding the build and the design of the product, making it unusable after only around two years of use. There are complaints about the plastic material and the rod getting worn out or easily getting knocked out of the enclosure.
Final say
The PetSafe Electronic SmartDoor suffers from poor construction and materials. It may have a good idea in giving your dogs SmartKeys that would unlock the dog door for them and keep it close for everything else, the flimsy materials used would make you think about buying it unless you plan on replacing your dog door every year or two. Still, it does the job of letting your dogs in while keeping wild animals out. At less than $100, it is not only affordable, but also very easy to use and install.
PX-1 Fully Automatic Power Pet Door for Dogs and Cats
If you have a dog that is quite hesitant to go through pet doors, then the PX-1 Fully Automatic Power Pet Door for Dogs and Cats is perfect for you. The PX-1 Fully Automatic Power Pet Door for Dogs and Cats will scan your pets’ collar and then swing open to welcome them in.
The PX-1 Fully Automatic Power Pet Door for Dogs and Cats is made with bulletproof resin and has a deadbolt to keep intruders out. It is also kick-proof.
What’s more, the pet door is wind-proof and weather-proof. It won’t crack or break even during extreme weather conditions. It can fit small to medium sized dogs.
The PX-1 Fully Automatic Power Pet Door for Dogs and Cats is motor driven and works on its own. It is also very secure and safe. For instance, this door will remain open while the signals are still within range, ensuring that your dog does not get stuck with a closing door. It also has a sensing system that will raise the opening if it senses an obstruction as it closes.
SureFlap Microchip Pet Door
If your pet has an embedded microchip that is used for identification, then you can use SureFlap Microchip Pet Door. The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door scans your pet’s microchip to know whether to allow or refuse entry. This ensures that other animals are kept out of your house. If your dog does not have a microchip, you can buy the SureFlap RFID collar tags instead. Also, the pet door has a timer so that you can keep your dogs inside the house at night, or let them out only at certain times during the day.
Most of the features are unlocked if you connect your SureFlap Microchip Pet Door with the Sure PetCare Hub. The hub allows you to connect your pet door to your Wi-Fi so that you can access it using the Sure PetCare mobile app. You can use the companion app to remotely lock or unlock the pet door, even when you are not home. You can also get activity alerts when your dog uses the pet door, letting you know when they go out or when they come inside. You can check the logs and see any changes in pattern and behavior. You can even share access to the mobile app to family members or friends, allowing them to lock and unlock the pet door. The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door costs $200, and the opening measures 7.00 inches by 6.69 inches. Lastly, the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door may be installed into walls, glass, and doors.
Final say
If you have small- to medium-sized dogs, the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door would be a welcome addition to your home, allowing them to freely go in and out of your house. This is also a good choice for those whose dogs always lose their collar tags as the device can just scan the embedded microchip. You will surely appreciate the amount of information you get, too, like knowing when your pet is home or not at any given time.
The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door is also raccoon-proof. A raccoon can not pull the door outwards when the locks are engaged. Plus, you would love just how well-designed this pet door is. However, you might be turned off by the expensive price tag. The smart pet door itself costs $200, the additional set of two RFID tags costs $20, and the hub costs $65.
PetWALK
PetWALK is not just a flap that you add to your door, it is a small door for your dogs. You can install it on just about everything: concrete, wood, and glass.
PetWALK uses motion sensors and scans your dogs’ RFID collar to know when to open the door. Your dogs will no longer have to press their face against the door, they can just go through it. PetWALK is insulated, making sure that the heat does not go out. It is also burglar-proof with a built-in alarm system. You can even connect it to your home alarm system. You can also use a remote control in order to operate this dog door.
PetWALK is quite expensive. A medium PetWALK costs $ 1,754.50 while the large version costs $1,975.50. That is quite steep for a dog door. So, if you can wait, there are upcoming features that are going to be available soon.
What features are these? For one, PetWALK would soon be fully connected. You would be able to download a companion app where you could control your PetWALK remotely, and see details like when your dogs went out and when they came back in. It will also connect with other connected devices such as Amazon Alexa and Nest Cam.
Another thing that PetWALK has going for it is the fact that it does not only work well, it also looks good. The pet door has a LED display at the top, breaking the minimalist white color. But there are also skins available if you find white terribly boring. In the future, you can also fully customize your PetWALK, allowing you to choose the desired skins, the interior color, and other design elements. You can even create your own design.
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