Your dog needs to go out once in a while and you probably do not want to get up and let it out every time. Use these instructions to make your dog door and give yourself a rest. You will need a drill, drill bits, dog door kit, screws, bolts, utility knife, marker and jigsaw.



1) Decide where you want the dog door to go. One door will probably be sufficient for your dog.



2) Measure your pet and estimate how large of a dog door you will need. Use these measurements to buy a dog door from the local hardware store or home furnishing store. You should get the complete kit to install the door on your door, including a guide to use to cut the hole in your door.



3) Tape the template to your door. This should have come with your dog door kit. If you have a screen door associated with your door, do the following.


4) Remove the screen door and lay it on a flat surface. Match the location of the hole that will be going in the screen door with the location of the dog door. Put a piece of plywood or something of similar construction under the location on which you will be cutting out the hole in the screen door. Use the template from your dog door kit to mark the lines to cut in the screen area with a marker. Make the hole in the screen door one inch larger in diameter than the template suggestion for the door. Cut the screen with a utility knife following the lines you made with the marker. After making the hole, find a picture frame or something similar to place around and strengthen the place in the screen door you cut out. If you use a picture frame, you will need two of the same size and thickness to make it look good. Position both picture frames over the hole in the screen door and screw them together using small screws. Use screws small enough that will not go all the way through both frames. An alternate method is to drill small holes all the way through both picture frames and then use bolts and washers to secure the frames around the hole in the screen door. Use countersunk bolts and screws and a countersink bit on your drill to make it look good.




5) On the wooden ( or whatever your door is made of ) door use the dog door kit template to locate the right location for drilling the holes for the dog door. After drilling use a jigsaw to cut out the hole for the door.


6) Hold the frames in place. You made need another person on the outside of the door to hold the other side while you install the bolts or screws through both sides of the dog door frame.



7) See if your dog will use it. One way is to entice your dog by using a treat on the side of the door where the dog must go through the dog door to eat it. Their nose will lead them. The dog door should not open while not in use.