Frequently Asked Questions

A: PlexiDor dog doors and cat doors are becoming quite popular in Canada, because the door stand up to the harsh climate. The pet doors were recently featured in the Regina Leader-Post. The article mentions how the PlexiDor pet doors feature saloon style doors that won't require replacement of flaps, that the panels are energy efficient and shatter resistant, and that the doors are made for installation through a household door or a wall. PlexiDor dog doors and cat door are constructed to provide safe and easy access for pets without the human having to get up and act as doorman. The doors have security features such as lock and key, and a steel security plate, and the electronic door can only be operated by pets with an RF-ID key. See the entire article here!    

A: PlexiDor Pet Doors were recently featured in an article in the London Free Press, mentioning how a multitude of items enable dog owners to offer their pets the best. The article mentions that "we seem to finally have reached a point where we no longer have to justify a devotion to our pets" and continues with explaining how pet-friendly people nowadays don't care how others feel about them and their pets. The portion about the PlexiDor dog doors and cat door reads: "If Snoopy or Garfield were to go outside on their own, the options for pet doors were once very limited. You had the flap and you had the squeeze, but nothing that matched the quality of the windows and doors on the rest of your house. Now pet door sizes range from kitten to pony and are made from durable products, warranted against failure. You can still buy the vinyl flap, but it’s hardly an option for a Canadian winter. These days doors are lockable, durable and claim to stand up to whatever the Great White North can throw at them. Manufacturer Plexidor specializes in a shatter resistant saloon-style door with an aluminum frame that’s guaranteed to never warp, rust, bend or crack. If you have the budget and the desire to make Lassie the envy of the neighbourhood, Plexidor’s Electronic Door and Electronic Wall versions feature a programmable panel and other elements akin to a house security system. Concern about a possum or raccoon following your furry family member into the house are eliminated with these particular doors. Only the dog or cat that’s wearing a special pre-programmed collar key will gain access." Read the entire article here!

A: Late May, PlexiDor pet doors traveled to Interzoo in Nuremberg, Germany to show the dog doors and cat door. Interzoo is the world's largest trade fair for the international pet supplies industry and it only takes place every second year. Around 1,700 exhibitors from over 50 countries showed the latest products for pets. The show started in 1950 when four member companies presented their new products on pasting tables during the annual conference of the German Pet Trade and Industry Association. This year's show saw over 37,000 visitors from over 120 countries. The next Interzoo exhibition will take place May 26-29 in 2016. You can see the PlexiDor pet doors in the middle of the booth Display with two PlexiDor cat doors and one PlexiDor dog door. Many visitors came by to see the cat doors and dog doors on display.

A: A new article on the Pet Business website mentions how pet products must be both effective and attractive; pet parents want products that work for their pets and complement the living environment. This applies to everything from food and water bowls matching the kitchen decor to pet doors. The article interviews Joseph Ambrose, president of PlexiDor Pet Doors. He says, "Looks are important for dog doors too" and mentions that the frames on the PlexiDor dog doors and cat door are made from aluminum and available in white, silver, or bronze. Mr. Ambrose also says, “It has to match the quality of their kitchen or their family room. People do not want paint that can be scraped off.” The article goes on to mention how people also do not want other animals than their own to enter the house. "PlexiDor also offers the PDE Electronic Pet Door, which opens only when it reads the RFID on the pet’s collar. That way cats stay in, wildlife and svelte burglars stay out, and dogs come and go as they please. In addition, the wind cannot open the hardened acrylic door the way it might blow open a polyvinyl flap door. Also new from PlexiDor is a rain awning." To read the entire article, follow this link.

A: PlexiDor Pet Doors were recently featured in Canadian Toronto Sun. The magazine says, "The options for pet doors were once very limited. You had the flap and you had the squeeze but nothing that matched the quality of the windows and doors on the rest of your house. Now pet door sizes range from kitten to pony and are made from durable products warrantied against failure." They go on with stating, "You can still buy the vinyl flap, but it's hardly an option for a Canadian winter." Read the entire article as PDF, or see it online.  

A: PlexiDor pet doors recently got some attention through SNN Local News 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERwcMUYl8_o

A: Under normal weather conditions, the wind cannot blow a PlexiDor open. PlexiDor panels open at a gentle touch, but they also have a spring that keeps them closed up to wind speeds of 30 miles per hour. If you expect a hurricane or other type of extreme weather with strong wind gusts, your pets shouldn't be unsupervised outside. Lock the PlexiDor and attach the security plate.

A: The PlexiDor is the best pet door for cold weather. The doors will function without problems down to -40 degrees (C or F), and work at even lower temperatures. Though, when the quicksilver falls below -40, the door will get frosty and the weather seal may freeze to the frame. PlexiDor dog doors and cat door are popular in Canada, and have been sealing Canadian weather out for more than 20 years. In the USA, Alaska is the best selling state per dog household. Many pet doors are made from plastic and vinyl. The PlexiDor frame is made from aluminum and the panels from K9 Composite.  Our frames are three to four times as thick as all other frames on the market. This makes the door sturdy and prevents it from warping in extreme weather. And, the corners of the frames are fitted together with metal fasteners and clips, to make sure the frame stays together. The K9 Composite is a material formulated specifically for pet door panels. It is an acrylic alloy similar to airplane windshields that withstands both weather and something hitting it with speed. The average PlexiDor panel can be in use for 20 or even 30 years without cracking or warping. The weather seal is another important difference between the PlexiDor and other pet doors. We use a nylon pile weather seal that is used in doors for malls and movie theaters. It can withstand millions of open-close cycles in cold weather. If you live in a cold climate, the most important thing to think of is keeping humidity away from the PlexiDor. Avoid mounting the door near a dryer wall-vent - the moisture from the dryer can cover the panels and allow ice to form on the weather seal. Also avoid mounting the door where it will be misted with water. Humidity on the weather seal can cause the panels to freeze to the frame.

A: The Extra Large PlexiDor will accommodate dogs up to 220 pounds. It is designed for breeds such as St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, and Great Danes. If you are uncertain, make the cardboard test. Cut out the opening size - 16" by 23 3/4" in a piece of cardboard, and see if your dog can pass through. The top of the opening should be just above the dog's back, so they don't have to crouch to go in and out. The bottom of the door is normally mounted between 12" and 14" from the floor. Dogs this size put dog doors to the test, especially if they like to run through the door. The PlexiDor is constructed to stand up to the power of a 220 pound dog hitting it at full speed. Many dog owners who have tried other doors for their giant breed complain about torn flaps and warped frames. Some even say the dog has torn the pet door right out of the household door. The PlexiDor XL is designed to avoid all these problems. In addition, the panels are lined with a chew-proof trim that will stand up to chewing efforts from strong jaws. Flap doors this size are usually too heavy for smaller pets to open. The PlexiDor opens so easily that a smaller pet can use even the Extra Large model. The smaller dog or cat usually figures out how to open one panel, and will go through one half of the door. Some very large breeds are also able to use the PlexiDor Electronic, but the opening is smaller - 12 5/8" x 19 5/8" - so it's extra important to make the cardboard test. For instance, some male Irish Wolfhounds are able to use it, but larger individuals are not.

A: The PlexiDor closes through heavy-duty springs hidden in the frame. Pets don't get stuck in the door - even if the cat or dog were to start going outside, turn, and go back in with the tail still in the door, the panels swing so easily that the pet will not get stuck. The springs allow the panels to open easily enough for a small pet to use a larger door, yet without blowing open. Once the pet is through, the springs pull the panels shut, quickly and safely. The doors are quiet, and you won't have to worry about banging panels that may frighten your pet or disturb you. The springs will withstand strong winds, but if there are extreme weather conditions they may not be able to keep the panels closed. If there is a hurricane or similar, it isn't safe for your pet to be outside unsupervised. Bring your pets inside, lock the PlexiDor, and attach the security plate.