Pet Door through Glass!

Installation, Product FAQs

Plexidor Pet Door through glassIn many houses, the best route to the outside goes through a glass door or even a window. Historically, mounting a pet door in glass has been nearly impossible, but with the PlexiDor Glass Series we are working to provide you with a pet door in your french doors, sliding patio door, or glass patio door.

To install a PlexiDor pet door through glass, an installer will come to your house and measure the width, thickness, and height of your existing pane. The dog door or cat door is mounted in a new pane, which will be installed exactly the same way as the original glass. Thus, the old pane can be put back if you were ever to sell your home to someone without a pet, or if you no longer require a pet door.

For more information, visit the Glass Series page or give us a call at 888-PET-DOOR!

Winner photos

PlexiDor

The dog food contest where one lucky winner can get 1,000 pounds of Black Gold dog food just rolled out for 2015. This is what happened with the 2014 mountain of food:

submission-3077_imagePenny Hamilton in Colorado won first prize. Her submission is of her dog Prince coming out of a tunnel they built onto their elevated deck.

When asked what she thinks about pet doors she said, “Our dog and we love the freedom that our pet doors gives. We live in Colorado high mountains so we made an ‘airlock’ with two pet doors. Our smart dog, rescued from a high kill area, just bounds through ‘his’ pet doors to our elevated deck with is elevated to keep him safe from mountain lions, bears and other mountain critters.”

1,000 pounds of food would be a lot for Prince, and Penny donated her prize to a local animal shelter and dog food bank. We hope the food and her generosity will help many hungry dogs.

Take the opportunity to enter the contest – maybe the Black Gold truck will be coming to you later this year!

Winner of 2014 dog food contest

Dog food contest returns for 2015!

PlexiDor

contestLast year’s dog food contest where a lucky winner received 1,000 pounds of Black Gold dog food was a success. We here at PlexiDor pet doors loved seeing everyone’s photos, and we have decided to do it again. 

To enter, all you have to do is visit this link, answer an easy question, and share a photo of your dog using a dog door. It can be any dog door, it doesn’t have to be a PlexiDor, and if you don’t have a dog door it’s okay to be creative.

Naturally, if you were to win and don’t want the food for yourself you can donate it to a shelter or rescue. Two runners up will win Dunkin Donuts gift cards.

 

Hero dog to the rescue

Pet information

Rocky the Rottweiler is a British hero dog who not only saved his family from armed robbers, but also held one of them until police arrived. The thug is now serving a ten year prison sentence.

The incident happened when Kasha Marie Weston was five months pregnant, and a gang of hooded and armed men broke into her home. One held a knife to her throat while the others beat her partner. Rocky wouldn’t accept this – he broke through a door to come to the rescue.

Rocky’s fury scared the intruders off, but he wouldn’t let it go with that. He followed them outside and cornered one until police came. Afterwards, Rocky would not leave Kasha’s side, and he would nudge her baby-bump with his nose as if telling the baby not to worry.

Can a pet door be safe?

Product FAQs

Plexidor Dog Door Key helps keep pet doors safeWhen considering pet doors safety, remember to weigh in on security. Security is an important factor in today’s world, and many might hesitate to install a pet door because it is one more opening in the home that might let in unwanted persons. These are valid concerns, and we here at PlexiDor pet doors have taken measures to help you feel safe.

Every PlexiDor dog door and cat door comes with a lock and key. The lock features a steel cam inside a hardened metal cylinder.

The doors also come with a steel security plate that is easily attached to the door frame and can be installed when leaving home for an extended period of time.

For those who wish to use the security plate on an everyday basis, the PlexiDor sliding track system is a convenient accessory. Slide the plate down the track and lock it in place with a handy flip lock feature.

There is also an electronic version of the PlexiDor that will only open for pets with a key. The door is controlled by RFID and the pet carries the key on the collar. When the pet comes close enough to the door it slides open – but only for collar keys with the right combination.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any security concerns you might have.

What is it with cats and cardboard boxes?

Pet information

Cats and cardboard boxes have long been strange bedfellows. It’s no secret, cats have a strange affinity for cardboard boxes. But, what is it about a box that’s so fun? Why do they love sitting in boxes, and sleeping in boxes?

A study conducted at Utrecht University in the Netherlands points towards boxes providing relief from stress – they’re likely to feel safe and be left alone when hiding in a box. In the wild, a hiding place like this would be perfect to relax, safe from predators.

Another theory is that boxes helps keep cats warm. Cardboard boxes are generally layered and become great insulators that keep cats safe from drafts.

 

Cats and cardboard boxes seem to go together like this gray tabby cat in a box

Breed spotlight: Belgian sheep herding dogs

Pet information

Belgium is a small country in Western Europe that  shares borders with France, Germany, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands. There are quite a few Belgian dog breeds, several of which are often used as guard dogs and police dogs.

The Belgian Shepherd Dogs are amongst famous breeds from the area. This group is divided into the Groenendael, the Laekenois, Malinois, and the Tervuren. The breeds have similarities in looks and temperament, but they are distinct breeds.

The Belgian Sheep Herding Dogs

Groenendael

The Groenendael is an elegant, strong, and intelligent breed. They were originally used as herders, watchdogs, and companions, but their smarts and versatility quickly made them popular outside of Belgium. Groenendaels soon served as police dogs in Paris and New York City, and were famous for catching smugglers.

Many work in search and rescue, as guide dogs, and as therapy dogs. They also do very well in dog sports such as obedience, tracking, and agility.One of the Belgian Sheep herding dogs is the black, long haired Groenendael shepherd

Malinois

The Malinois is an alert breed often mistaken for German Shepherds, and the confusion becomes bigger from the Malinois being popular for police and military work. While there are physical similarities, this is a completely different breed than the German Shepherd.

An average Malinois is intelligent, confident, and loves to work. They are also popular in obedience trials, herding, sledding, and tracking. Malinois shepherd dog from Belgium

Laekenois

The Laekenois is clever and alert, and can be quite protective of family and property. This breed was originally developed to tend to flocks and guard, and these properties remain in the breed. Laekenois shepherd dog from Belgium

Tervuren

The Tervuren is an elegant and devoted dog that often excels in obedience and agility competitions. Many who see these dogs believe they’re German Shepherds with long hair, but the Tervuren is a different breed. They’re outstanding herders that also do great jobs as therapy dogs and guide dogs.

Tervuren shepherd dog from Belgium

Have you seen the PlexiDor awning?

Product FAQs

PlexiDor Awning in WhiteThe easy to install PlexiDor awning creates a roof for the pet door and prevents rain, sun, and snow from entering the house. This accessory comes in three sizes, perfect for the PlexiDor pet doors.

The awnings are made from durable aluminum with a baked-on finish that will last for many years. They are available in white or bronze.

The small awning is 12″ wide and 8″ deep.
The medium awning is 16″ wide and 12″ deep.
The large awning is 23 1/4″ wide and 16 5/8″ deep.

Click here to see more.

PlexiDor Awning attached to door above dog door

Dangerous to pets

Pet information

Some plants are dangerous to pets, like the Easter Lilies seen here are toxic to catsMany everyday things that look innocent and are perfectly safe for humans can be dangerous to pets. Easter lilies, for instance, can poison a cat just from the cat rubbing up against a vase, getting spores on the coat, and licking them off.

Here is a list with five categories that should be kept out of reach at all times.

5 Items Dangerous to Pets

Prescription medications

This includes anti-inflammatory medications, antidepressants, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, and more. A safe course of action is to assume all medications are dangerous to pets unless specifically prescribed to the pet. This includes items you can buy at the grocery store, like Tylenol. If your pet needs a medication, check with your vet, or at least look the substances up on pet poison helpline.

Insecticides

Most people keep bug poisons, rat poison, ant traps, and similar out of reach for their pets, but also make sure to be careful with flea and tick products. Pay close attention to dosage and never apply a product intended for a dog on a cat. Dogs and cats are very different and their products have different compositions. A dosage appropriate for a dog can be dangerous to a cat, even if the pets are of the same weight.

Household products

This is a wide but important category. Laundry detergent, laundry pods, soap, fertilizer, lawn products, and other cleaning products should all be stored out of reach of pets and children. Be particularly careful with pods filled with detergent – they often look like toys or candy, and cause accidents with children, dogs, and cats every year.

People food

We eat many things that pets can taste, but other things are toxic to cats and dogs. Some items to never give a pet include chocolate, alcohol, xylitol, grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts.

Plants

Many pets aren’t inclined to eat plants at all, but others are all too happy to munch down on greenery and things on the ground. This naturally goes for whatever they find in neighboring yards and along walks, and not just in your own yard. Examples of toxic plants include sago palms, bulbs of tulips, daffodils, and similar, azaleas, easter lilies, and rhododendrons.

What to do

If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, call your vet at once. The sooner your pet gets the appropriate treatment, the better.

Sunshine story: Stolen dog found after 18 months

Pet information

Dozer is a well trained German Shepherd who knows how to open and close doors, turn on lights, and many other useful things. When Dozer was stolen from Richard Brower’s back yard a year and half ago, Brower would stop at nothing to find him. 

The search went on for months, and Brower took help from all his friends – they approached everyone in the area walking a German Shepherd, hoping it would be Dozer.

After eighteen months with no sign of Dozer, Brower pulled up his computer and searched for German Shepherd for sale. The first link took him to a website where a photo of his dog looked back from the monitor!

Brower sent the photo to family members and got on the phone with the shelter. Luckily, his father was in the area, able to pick up the dog. No one knows what adventures Dozer might have experienced during all this time, but he came home that very day.

Dogs can be affected by dementia

Pet information

A dog’s brain is a lot like a human’s, and unfortunately this means that the same problems that affect the human brain can affect dogs. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is the canine equivalent of Alzheimer’s, and around half of all dogs over the age of ten will exhibit symptoms.

Don’t panic – not all aging dogs will get the disease, and those who do get different symptoms than humans. You can also help decrease the risk through providing a healthy diet, mental stimulation, physical exercise, and plenty of human contact.

Dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome may appeared disoriented in everyday situations. They may appear lost in the house or the yard, get stuck behind furniture, or have difficulty finding the door. These problems can also be caused by hearing loss or loss of vision.

Other symptoms include sleeping more overall but less at night, and an increase in pacing back and forth. Some dogs become clingy and want human contact around the clock, while other leek less attention and walk away from their humans.  These behaviors can also be attributed to physical changes, so if your dog displays them, see a vet to get a proper diagnosis.

If your dog gets the diagnosis, there is a drug used to battle Parkinson’s disease in humans that can improve symptoms and give the dog a better quality of life.

Hero dog saves girl from abduction

Pet information

A rat terrier isn’t a big dog physically, but they’re still brave at heart. This was proven the other day when Jennifer Jones’ daughter was on the way to school and a man in a pickup truck pulled over, got out of the truck, and grabbed the girl’s wrist. Without the dog, anything could have happened. 

Luckily, the dog was there and bit the would-be abductor at the ankles. This was enough for the girl to get free and flee.

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Therapy dogs in nursing homes

Pet information

The Volpino Italiano needs a medium Plexidor dog doorA nursing home is a place for a person who needs more care around the clock than can be reasonably given at home, but who doesn’t need to be in a hospital. Many nursing homes strive for a home-like environment. Some allow residents to bring their pets, but this isn’t always possible, and many nursing homes around the USA have opened their doors to therapy dogs who come visit on a regular basis. Therapy dogs in nursing homes has become a common sight across the country.

Dogs have an instinctive way of knowing when they are needed, and a visit from a dog can calm and soothe someone, or lift the spirits of a person who is sad and lonely. The dogs provide a physical touch and many love the feeling of soft fur. They also bring warmth, joy, and a patient ear that will always listen.

Some believe only a certain breed can become a therapy dog, or that they are raised for this purpose as puppies. Therapy dogs come in all breeds and sizes, and many are rescue dogs.

If you’re interested in doing therapy work with your dog, start by training some basic obedience, and bring your dog to many different environments so he or she gets used to noises and people. Then, find a therapy-dog organization in your area. Many states have animal-assisted therapy organizations that offer training programs.

To become a certified therapy dog, a trainer will evaluate you and your dog and suggest courses to take. Then, you’re ready to volunteer. Many organizations will help you find volunteer opportunities. Here is a list that can help you get started.

Bringing dogs to work can reduce stress levels

Pet information

Brown and white dog holding phone receiver in his mouth of old fashioned yellow rotary phone by his side can help in the office when you brig dogs to work
Bringing dogs to work can help reduce stress

Sandra Barker is a professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth’s School of Medicine, and she has been involved in several studies researching dogs in the workplace. The results may not come as big surprises to dog lovers, but are interesting nonetheless.

A study was made in 2012 at a large manufacturing company. The study included 76 employees, and having just three dogs present on any given day reduced the stress level by 11 percent during the day.

Employees with their dogs left at home, however, had an increase in stress level of 71 percent. As the day progresses, dog owners clearly worry about their furry friends!

Bringing dogs to work can serve as a buffer against stress – things still happen, but humans react less to stress factors with pets around.

Nationally, around 2 percent of dog owners take their pets to work, and this adds up to around one million dogs in workplaces around the country.

Poop police coming to Carmel?

Pet information

No one likes to step in dog poop, and there are many reasons to pick it up. Dog poop is the number three cause of water pollution, the water treatment systems aren’t designed to filter dog waste, and it can spread diseases and viruses, to name a few. Many dog owners are still bad at picking it up.

Carmel has a new million dollar dog park, and if dog waste becomes a problem, they’re considering hiring a poop police. The company PooPrints specializes in DNA analysis of dog waste and currently has contracts with apartment complexes and condos in 45 US states, Canada, and the UK.

If the system is put in place, dogs with passes for the dog park would be subject to a gentle DNA swipe from their mouth, and if anything is left behind on the ground, the owner could get a notice and a bill in the mail.

Several apartment complexes currently use the system with great success; the threat of public shaming has been enough to make residents pick up after their dogs.