LET MY DOGS IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.NOW NO PE IN THE HOUSE.

I recently (3/2014) purchased this product after wanting one for several years for my dogs, and just got the installation finished. The product arrived as described, and was packed well. Fair warning - this product requires a custom installation on each home, and will require adjustment to eliminate gaps between the existing sliding door and the pet door. I'd call it a moderately difficult installation for a "weekend warrior" home DIY person (I do most of my own repairs around the house, i.e. install a new dishwasher, fix all the plumbing, etc, but don't put in new floors/tile, work on AC/heating, do drywall work).

I found Charlie the Pug (5/2/12) and Dave's (6/18/2010) reviews useful for assistance with installation. Some changes to what they did in order to eliminate the gap between my sliding glass door and the pet door. I used Frost King White Rubber Foam Weather seal ¾" wide 7/16" thick 10 foot long roll for both sides of the pet door. I put it between the pet door and the sliding door frame (the part that you will never see), and between the sliding door and the pet door. I tried the EPDM Rubber weather seal that Charlie the Pug mentions, and found the Foam to work better. I suggest picking up both and using your intuition when installing. I also put three screws at the top and bottom of the pet door from the sliding door frame into the pet door instead of the 1 that the installation instructions mentioned. This made the door much more solidly fixed to the frame. I then put two screws on the frame side as the instructions mentioned (one 12" below the height adjuster and the other 1" above the pet door).

One major change that I made from the installation instructions was not putting the dog door bottom around the sliding door track. The bottom of the dog door has a semi-circular cut out to fit over the track that your sliding door runs on. I put the dog door between the front lip of the frame and this track so that the pet door sits as close inside of the track as possible. I found that this made the inside edge of the dog door flush with inside edge of my sliding door, and also made it much more stable since it was tightly fit between the frame and the track. Other style sliding doors may not accommodate the pet door like this, but I found it helped me out.

In order to eliminate the gap, I needed compression between the pet door and the sliding door. In order to achieve this, I went with a cam action sash lock that can be bought from my home improvement stores. The one I bought was from Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-Cam-Action-Window-Sash-Lock-U-9925/100166499?N=c3hcZ5yc1v). After the sash lock engages, the handle turns another 90 degrees, which provides compression between the two pieces. Brilliant! It took me 2.5 hours working solidly to eliminate the gap before I found this gem, and then my gap was gone! It also is an effective lock, as the sash lock they provide with the dog door is kind of wimpy. Because I am security minded, I also bought a security bar designed for small sliding door gaps ([...]). I have not tried this yet, but think it will be a nice addition to the sash lock for compression (eliminate gap) and security. Please note: the sash lock only eliminates the gap when it is engaged, so if I have the door unlocked, there is still a small gap between the dog door and the sliding door. I can live with this small gap, and do not really keep my sliding door unlocked unless I am going in/out of it.

The dog door includes a plastic panel to put in as a security measure, and it seems solidly built. There are tracks on both sides of the flap to put the security panel. I think I may pick up a second to put on the outside for use in the winter to add an extra layer of insulation between my house and the cold midwest winters.

Some other suggestions: the screws they provide are pretty weak. I broke several while installing. Got fed up and went to Home Depot and bought better screws that wouldn't break. Follow Dave's suggestion about the sweep between the sliding glass door and the stationary glass door, it helps to have some overlap. Be persistent in installing this door, as it is very useful and a good price. My dogs now love it, and I feel like I conquered Mt. Everest by eliminating that small little gap between the sliding door and the dog door.

For sizing: I bought the Large/Tall. One dog is 67 pounds, lab/pit bull mix, who has 10.5" between the floor and his chest/belly (rise). His withers are like 21". The other dog is 58 pound lab/boxer mix, who has 10" between the floor and her chest/belly, and has 20" withers. Both dogs go through the door with ease, and the extra height of the tall riser (8.5" on the large/tall door versus 4.5" with just the Large door) looks like it would make a huge difference for them using it.

Hope you enjoy

get the LOW bottom threshold--(they should make it with just a super low bottom !) the step over at the base of the opening..can BANG and injure your dogs lower leg when they run thru--!! and in manufacture they left lots of SHARP EDGES--bad--not smart--so tape over the sharp edges and get only the low threshold..and pad it in front both sides..$250 vet bill for xray..and treating cuts..!! once YOU fix their mistakes it is an ok door--the vinly door flap ok at first--then warps does not seal well--but oh well--we put mosquito-fly net in front of it. In winter it is drafty cold..in summer lets some air conditioning OUT..but ya gotta have a pet door. Note when in your slider the slider is NOT secure anymore--not that sliders ever stopped anyone much. Company needs to make the bottom cross bar 3/4 inch, and smooth all the sharp edges.

Great insert but the black seal did not stick well and needing to replace after a week.

This doggie door was so easy to install. I had it up in a flash! I didn't make it permanent because I want to be able to remove it when I'm on vacation. It works great in my new place as a 'porch potty' for my dog. He was used to a doggy door, but this one was a bit different. There was a bit of a relearning curve, but he's good now.

I will say however, that you'll need some better weather stripping, I've researched different products and will be making my purchase. Of course the area where the sliding door connects to the doggie door is not perfect, so..... additional stripping there would be good. And again on the other side. But the area you'll be most concerned about is the gap between the sliding door (that's not closing all the way now because of the doggie door) and the other glass window. One guy recommended buying some of that foam used to fill the gaps around window AC units. His video was very enticing. I'm going to try that. There are many options. You'll need one or you'll be losing cool air in the Summer and Heat in the Winter. Not to mention the bugs that may be trying to get in.

Overall, I haven't had any problems with the door. I keep the door locked with a Master Lock (brand) 265D Door Security bar. It works GREAT.