| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door |
| Best for Large Dogs | PlexiDor Performance Electronic Door |
| Best High-End | Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door: Medium |
Having a sliding pet door has several benefits for both you and your furry friend. First, these electronic pet doors are the easiest way for your pet to come and go while keeping your house secure. They are also much better at keeping out drafts than standard pet doors because they close behind your pet and don’t rely on brittle rubber and magnets to seal, which can break with regular use.
Most automatic dog doors are controlled with an electronic collar. This ensures it’s only your pet coming through and not any unwanted guests like raccoons! Below you’ll find in-depth reviews, a convenient buyer’s guide, and frequently asked questions.
Today we’re going to take a look at the best automatic sliding pet door options on the market. Before you spend your hard-earned money, it’s a good idea to know what your choices are. We’ve included electronic dog doors that will work for a variety of dog breeds and door types.
Check Chewy- Incredibly quiet motor
- The door is activated using a unique MS-4 collar that is durable and weatherproof
- Easily programmable using the sensor with the four different levels provided
- Wind and weatherproof with an airtight seal
Check Amazon- Can accommodate pets up to 125 pounds
- Designed with durable ABS panels
- Completely waterproof
- Safety features make it a great option for houses with small children or other pets
Check Amazon- This energy efficient pet door is activated by your pet's digitally coded ultrasonic collar.
- This sleek and elegant pet door is completely wind and weather resistant, even in hurricane-force winds.
- It features dual-pane "Low E" tempered glass that's nearly twice as thick and about eight times stronger than typical patio pet door panels and a heavy duty aluminum frame with a powder coat finish.
- These doors are AC powered via the included AC adapter. Optional batter operation is possible with the purchase of the company's CRG-12V-1B (charger plus one battery) or CRG-12V-2B (charger plus two batteries).
Top Picks for the Best Automatic Dog Door (Sliding Pet Door): Ranked and Rated
#1 Best Overall Automatic Dog Door (Sliding Pet Door): High Tech Electronic Pet DoorÂ
The #1 Best Overall automatic dog door is the High Tech Electronic Pet Door. If you have a larger breed dog, you’ll enjoy that it comes in two sizes: medium and large. It can accommodate pups up to 100 pounds.
One of our favorite things about this option is that the motor is incredibly quiet and smoothly powers a vertical sliding door. The door is activated using a unique High Tech Pet Microsonic Collar that is durable and weatherproof.
The direction sensor on the collar will only trigger the door when they’re walking towards it. This feature is fantastic for dogs that like to sleep near the door, since it won’t start opening when your pup’s taking a nap.
Pet owners can easily program the sensor using the four different levels provided. When it comes to safety and security, you won’t have to worry as the High Tech Electronic Pet Door is wind and weatherproof with an airtight seal.
We can sing praises enough for this choice. The resin is bulletproof. It can run on electricity through your power outlet or batteries. It’s easy to install, and the door will automatically go up if there’s anything in the way.
Some reviewers reported that this pet door didn’t function correctly. And several indicated that the company’s customer service was less than satisfactory.
Pros and Cons of the High Tech Electronic Pet Door
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This vertical sliding door comes in two sizes, medium and large; the latter can accommodate dogs weighing up to 100 pounds. | Some buyers said that this pet door didn’t function correctly. |
| The door is activated only when your pet walks towards it wearing the durable, weatherproof High Tech Pet Microsonic Collar . | Several reviewers reported that the company’s customer service was poor. |
| The motor is incredibly quiet. | |
| This pet door is wind and weatherproof and features an airtight seal. | |
| The resin is bulletproof. | |
| This electronic pet door can run on electricity from your home’s power outlet or on batteries. | |
| It’s easy to install. |
- Incredibly quiet motor
- The door is activated using a unique MS-4 collar that is durable and weatherproof
- Easily programmable using the sensor with the four different levels provided
- Wind and weatherproof with an airtight seal
2. Best Automatic Dog Door for Large Dogs: PlexiDor Performance PDE Electronic Pet Door
The PlexiDor Performance PDE Electronic Pet Door can accommodate pets weighing up to 125 pounds! It’s designed with durable ABS panels that smoothly slide up and down.
The lightweight collar key easily fits on any collar and is completely waterproof. This door will not close if there is anything obstructing it, making it a great option for households with small children or other pets.
When your pet isn’t going through the door, it always remains securely locked. There’s an additional deadbolt you can use as an added level of safety. One of our favorite things about this option is that it comes with not one, but two collars.
Available in both bronze and white finish, this automatic dog door can install into stud, brick, block or cement walls up to 12 inches thick. It’s scratch-resistant and will not interfere with other electronics such as underground fences or security cameras.
A sole reviewer reported that this automatic sliding pet door isn’t reliable 100% of the time. We suggest that you read their lengthy review if you are considering purchasing this device.
Pros and Cons PlexiDor Performance PDE Electronic Pet Door
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This electronic pet door can accommodate pets weighing up to 125 pounds. | A single buyer said this pet door isn’t reliable 100% of the time. |
| It’s durable ABS panels slide smoothly up and down. | |
| The lightweight collar key fits on any collar and is waterproof. | |
| This door comes with two collars. | |
| The door remains securely locked when your pet isn’t going through it. | |
| You can use an additional deadbolt for maximum security. | |
| It’s available in a scratch-resistant bronze or white finish. | |
| This automatic dog door can install into stud, brick, block or cement walls up to 12 inches thick. | |
| It will not interfere with other electronics such as underground fences or security cameras. |
- Can accommodate pets up to 125 pounds
- Designed with durable ABS panels
- Completely waterproof
- Safety features make it a great option for houses with small children or other pets
3. Best High-End: Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door
The Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door is the ultimate in high-end pet doors. This fully automatic pet door is mounted in an energy-efficient dual pane, Low-E glass panel. It’s activated by your pet’s digitally coded ultrasonic collar so strays and wild animals can’t enter your home.
This elegant, sleek design is also rugged and completely wind, weather, and draft resistant, even in hurricane-force winds.
The heavy-duty aluminum frame is nearly twice as thick and approximately eight times stronger than typical patio pet door panels, and it’s coated with an industrial-quality powder coat finish. Full weather stripping is included.
It’s important to note that this door will install alongside your existing sliding glass door, and take up part of your walk-through space. It installs in about an hour.
This sliding pet door operates on AC power via the included AC adapter. Optional battery-powered options are available.
This sliding e-glass pet door is available in two heights (regular and tall) and two sizes (medium and large).
Most reviews for this product were positive. Several reviewers indicated that the collars and batteries are subpar.
Pros and Cons of the Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This automatic sliding pet door is mounted in a energy-efficient dual pane, Low-E glass panel. | The door installs alongside your existing sliding glass door and will take up part of your entry/exit space. |
| It’s activated by your pet’s digitally coded ultrasonic collar. | Some buyers said that the collars and batteries are sub par. |
| This automatic, sliding pet door is completely wind, weather, and draft resistant, even in hurricane-force winds. | |
| Its heavy-duty aluminum frame is nearly twice as thick and approximately eight times stronger than the average patio pet door panel. | |
| It’s coated with an industrial-quality powder coat finish. | |
| It installs in about an hour. | |
| This automatic sliding pet door is available in two heights (regular and tall) and two sizes (medium and large). | |
| It operates on AC power via the included AC adapter. Optional battery powered options are available. |
- This energy efficient pet door is activated by your pet's digitally coded ultrasonic collar.
- This sleek and elegant pet door is completely wind and weather resistant, even in hurricane-force winds.
- It features dual-pane "Low E" tempered glass that's nearly twice as thick and about eight times stronger than typical patio pet door panels and a heavy duty aluminum frame with a powder coat finish.
- These doors are AC powered via the included AC adapter. Optional batter operation is possible with the purchase of the company's CRG-12V-1B (charger plus one battery) or CRG-12V-2B (charger plus two batteries).
Choosing the Best: What to Look For
When you’re considering installing an automatic dog door for your home, there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind, including your pet’s size, outdoor habits, whether or not they’re microchipped, and more. Here are a few other things to consider:
Durability
One of the most important things about an automatic dog door is its durability. The last thing you want is to install something flimsy that does more harm than good. Choosing a dog door that is strong and secure will help with your energy bills, keep intruders out of your home, and keep out drafts, wind, and rain.
Dog Breed
The size of your dog will directly correlate to what size panel you’ll want in a dog door. If you have a larger dog, you’ll want to avoid small panels. Not doing so could cause your dog to get stuck or hurt. Most automatic sliding dog doors have a weight limit listed in their features to give you a good idea of whether or not it works for your pup.
Installation
There’s no denying that some automatic pet doors are much easier to install than others. Who honestly wants a hassle when installing a pet door? It’s crucial to make sure you feel capable of installing the door at your home. If you don’t, opt for a different door or hire someone who’s able to get the job done.
Our Criteria: How We Chose the Best
To compile our list of top recommendations for automatic dog doors, we researched many products on the market and took several key factors into consideration. Is the dog door weatherproof? Does it have a lock feature? Are the directions easy to follow and is installation fairly easy? Do the electronic components work well, and are they durable, especially any piece worn by the dog? Here’s our breakdown of some of the features in the products we’ve found to be the best:
- Weatherproof: Any door protects the inside of the house from the outside, where elements abound. These automatic dog doors have electronic features, so it’s imperative that they stand up against rain and snow. Our overall best item is wind and waterproof with an airtight seal to also keep out cold drafts. Other items we recommended are also waterproof and energy efficient.
- Installation: Installation of an automatic dog door can be tricky, so if you are not a handyman sort, we’d advise you to hire someone to do the task. The options we chose vary — some are best to install in a door, some are good to put in a section of wall, and our priciest option can travel with you, as it is installed in sliding glass doors. All these kits come with detailed instructions and measurements to aid in the process of installation.
- Electronics: The truly automatic doors all come with separate smartkey devices that attach to your dog’s collar. The cutting-edge technology keeps other animals out of your home while allowing your dog to enter by sensing it’s approach and opening the door. The doors automatically lock behind your pet, whether entering or exiting. Take care that the device is firmly attached to your dog’s collar periodically. In our sliding glass door option, the door does not have automatic technology, but it’s great to use if you travel and enjoy staying in cabins or other rentals with your pets.
- Price: Make no mistake: Good quality automatic dog doors don’t come cheap. The automatic sliding doors on our list cost between $450 and $769.99.
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| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | High Tech Pet Products PX-2 Power Pet Fully Automatic Pet Door |
| Best for Large Dogs | PlexiDor Performance Electronic Door |
| Best High-End | Power Pet Fully Automatic Sliding e-Glass Pet Door: Medium |
The Best Automatic Dog Door (Sliding Pet Door): Ranked and Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do automatic dog doors work?
What are the best automatic sliding dog doors?
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