Many people consider their dogs as part of their family and an immense source of joy, happiness and entertainment. Trying to return the favour and make our four-legged friends happy, we do our best to make their doggy life comfortable.

And dogs won't be able to be happy unless they have the ability to freely roam outside. If you have a spacious yard, allowing your dog to go outside whenever he likes can be good for him. Every chance a dog has to laze in the sun or enjoy the breeze, it'll gratefully accept. That being said, it's a smart idea to install a dog door. Here's everything you need to know when making this modification.

Dog doors, doggy doors or pet flaps are small entries on a door, window, or in a wall. The main purpose of a dog door is to allow your pet to comfortably roam around from indoors to outdoors, and vice versa. If you're away from home for long hours, this entry will help you provide your dog freedom and comfort, as dogs are social animals and they do get lonely. Being trapped inside the house all day may cause certain issues.

The first thing you need to consider when installing a dog door is its location. The location of the pet door will impact the dynamic of your home, as you gonna see your pet there more often. Rearrange your furniture and remove fragile items if you had any to assure your pet has easy access to his new space. As dog doors come in different materials, not every material will suit every surface, so before your eye catches a door, double-check if it's suitable for your location.

Whatever dog door you decide to choose, it needs to fit your dog size. You have to carefully measure your dog before you make a purchase. Correct measurement is crucial as your pet should use it comfortably his entire life. Add an additional 5 centimetres to enable convenient pass through. Keep in mind how high of the ground the dog door will be. The space between the ground and the bottom of the flap is called step over, and you would want to keep this space as low as possible because your pet gonna get older and that might be a difficulty for him later on.

There are various types of doors for dogs depending on where you want to attach your dog door, to what colour will suit your home best.

These doors are professionally created for installation into screen doors. They are very durable and solid, manufactured to withstand any kind of bad weather. It attaches perfectly to the existing screen door, designed to protect the mesh from getting torn while your dog is capable to freely go in and out. It has two magnets attached to the flap and frame, to prevent flap swing excessively on windy days allowing insects in.

Size of these doors fit any breed, and it's up to you to choose accordingly. Installation is pretty easy and requires few tools, but you can always involve a licensed contractor to assist with it.

Sliding doors are ideal for larger pets, as it comes with a two-piece aluminium structure that is adjustable to suit most door sizes. This functional slide fitting products are made of glass and are suitable for single glazing, double glazing and sliding windows. Though it isn't meant for tempered glass, this door can provide access to the glass sliding door and security screen door sliding at the same time. A soft opening flap requires both flaps to open simultaneously. Its sturdy aluminium framing can defend even the most active pets. For a piece of mind, these doors usually have lock features to keep your four-legged friend safe, while protecting your house from stray cats and dogs.

These dog doors fit all the types of wooden doors and PVC panels. Very easy to install, these doors got popularity a long ago. Available in various sizes and shapes, this beautiful fit is made of hard plastic mostly equipped with four-way manual locking system, providing quick access to vast outdoors and easy way back. The ones that lack a locking mechanism may be unsafe if you have a baby crawler at home, as they can easily go out when not under supervision.

If a wall is your only option for installation, you can still find many possibilities and choices that can go on any wall. It comes in two common types: single flap doors and double flap doors. The single flap doors are beneficial for smaller pets who have difficulties in opening the magnetic flap. If you live in a pleasant climate and solid insulation isn't your necessity, this door is highly recommended because of its low cost.

The double flap doors offer better insulation, and therefore is considered a good option in an area with severe weather conditions. The price of this product might be higher as you'll need professional assistance to drill a hole in the wall, but complete installation will satisfy your furry friend as he gonna get quick access into the backyard or the front porch.

Not everyone can spend a few hundred dollars on a pet door. The least expensive doors for dogs cost 15-20 dollars, however, they might not be of the best quality.

Screen doggy doors will cost approximately $70 – $90 depending on your dog size, while doggy doors with aluminium frames for timber doors may cost you from $185- $285. The price range for a glass doggy door may go from $105 for a small dog to 375$ for a large dog (this will be better quality doors).

While you can try and do the installation on your own on timbered doors, a glass door requires professional installation which often costs 149$ or above. Once you installed a doggy door for your furry friend, be ready to start doggy door training.

Your dog will be happy and healthy with his new doggy door, and your bond will only grow stronger.