A sliding door dog door is either a panel insert that stands in the door track, or a pet door fitted into the glass itself. Inserts suit renters and short stays. A door in the glass suits owners who want the sliding door to work as it always has.
What is a sliding door insert?
An insert is a tall, narrow panel with a pet flap near the bottom. It stands in the track of your sliding door, and the door closes against it instead of against the frame. Nothing is cut and nothing is permanent: you can lift it out when you move.
Where an insert makes sense
- You rent. There is no change to the property, so there is nothing to put back when you leave. Our guide to pet doors for apartments and renters covers the options.
- You want it only for a while, such as while a puppy is house training or for a season.
- You would rather not alter the glass at all.
What to weigh up
- The sliding door no longer closes against its frame, so it cannot open to its full width while the insert is in, and the gap it leaves is closed by the insert.
- How secure the opening is depends on how the insert fixes into the track and how the sliding door locks against it. Check this for the product you are considering.
- The insert takes up part of the doorway you walk through.
- Fit depends on your track and door height, so measure carefully before you buy.
What is a pet door in the glass?
An opening is cut into the glass panel of the sliding door, or into the fixed panel beside it, and a pet door is fitted into it. The sliding door runs, opens and locks exactly as it did before, and there is nothing standing in the doorway.
If the glass is laminated and your dog is small or medium, the opening can usually be cut into the panel you already have, on site. Toughened glass cannot be cut, so the pet door goes into a new panel made with the opening already in it. Our guide can my glass door be cut for a dog door? explains how to tell which you have.
Where a door in the glass makes sense
- You own your home and want a permanent solution.
- You use the sliding door every day and want it to open fully.
- You want it to look like part of the door, not an addition to it.
What to weigh up
- It is permanent. If you rent, you need your landlord’s written permission first.
- It needs a professional installation, and a toughened panel has to be made before it can be fitted.
- On the sliding panel, the pet door needs a small gap between the glass panels to clear as the door runs. Fitting it into the fixed panel avoids that altogether.
Which should you choose?
- Renting, or a short term need: an insert is usually the practical answer.
- Your own home, for the long term: a pet door in the glass keeps the sliding door working as designed and leaves the doorway clear.
- A large or extra large dog: whichever you choose, size the opening to your dog. Our dog door sizes guide explains how to measure.
How we fit a dog door into a sliding door
We fit pet doors into the glass of sliding and patio doors, either the sliding panel or the fixed one. Our slimline frames pass between the panels as the door runs, and we check the gap before we start. Pet door training is free with every installation. See dog doors for sliding glass doors for how it works.
For a free quote, call 0421 575 229 or get a quote online.
