Upgrading Your Patio Door? Don’t Forget the Pet Door

Two Smart Ways to Make it Work

Replacing a patio door? Don’t forget your furry friends. Explore secure, energy-efficient pet door options for sliding, French, and wall-mounted installs.

You’re halfway through dinner when the scratching starts. Then the whining. Then the full-on bark. You sigh, push back your chair, and get up — again.

If your pet is used to a dog door, even a few days without one can turn convenience into chaos. And cats? They’ll make their displeasure known just as quickly — in their own oh-so-special way.

That’s why it’s smart to plan ahead before replacing your patio door, especially if you’re upgrading to something new.

Depending on the type of door you’re installing, your pet door options vary. Some can be ordered with a pet door already built in. Others can be customized before installation — or added to a nearby wall to leave the door itself untouched.

Here’s how to choose the right solution based on your door style, layout, and how much freedom your four-legged friends are used to.

For Sliding Glass Doors: Built-In Glass Pet Doors

If you’re installing a new sliding patio door, Anlin offers a clean and secure factory-integrated pet door — installed directly into the glass panel before it’s tempered.

That part is key: once glass is tempered, it can’t be cut. So the factory cuts the opening first, tempers the glass, creates the entire insulated glass unit (IGU), then installs the pet door. When done, the result is strong, energy-efficient, and built to last.

They are the only manufacturer we carry that offers a factory-installed pet door for a slider.

Why homeowners love it:

• Sleek, low-profile frame blends into the door
• Magnetic flap with weather stripping helps keep out the heat
• Easy-to-use cover locks it up when needed
• Preserves warranty coverage of the door

You can also choose which corner or panel the pet door goes in — as long as it doesn’t interfere with operation of the door. 

📌 Something to consider: If the glass breaks, you’ll need to reorder the custom IGU from the factory. It’s more expensive than a standard glass replacement, due to the extra labor and materials involved. And you’ll want to consider the safety of your animals when choosing the location of a pet door. Certain placements can become a safety hazard when the sliding door is open, since animals might not realize glass is blocking their access. The last thing you want is a big heavy dog crashing into glass, right? 

For French Doors: Custom Aftermarket Pet Doors

If you’re replacing a French door or swinging patio door, there’s no factory-built option — but you can still have a pet door professionally integrated before installation.

DunRite uses premium Hale Pet Doors, known for their dual flaps, locking covers and energy-efficient performance. Instead of ordering both doors with full panels of glass, one door would have a half-panel of glass on the top. Then the pet door is installed before the unit is delivered, or in some cases, the installer will cut out the opening and assemble the pet door during installation.   

Compatible materials:
✅ Fiberglass
✅ Steel-skinned
✅ Wood
❌ Vinyl (not structurally sound for cutouts)

Placement tip: Most homeowners will need to choose a half-lite French door, either on both sides or just the one side that will have the pet door installed. This ensures the glass doesn’t extend anywhere near the pet door opening, keeping the structure solid and ensuring there’s enough clearance.

If you’re not sure what size to order, Hale’s website has a measurement chart by breed and shoulder height. DunRite also walks homeowners through the process — including where to place the door and how much structural clearance is needed underneath.

What to avoid when cutting into a door:

• Don’t cut closer than 4 inches from the bottom of the door panel
• Don’t install into full-lite or three-quarter-lite glass door
• Never try to modify a vinyl door — they lose structural integrity fast

Wall-Mounted Pet Doors: A Clean, Hidden Option

Want to keep your new patio door looking sleek? Installing a pet door in a nearby wall might be a smart workaround.

It’s a great choice for:

• Homes with ceiling-height glass doors or multi-slide systems
• Homeowners who want a less visible solution
• Large dogs who need a bigger opening than a door allows

DunRite doesn’t handle wall installs, but if interested, you can use a licensed handyman, or one of the pet door installers listed on the Hale website. 

There’s more to installing a pet door than just cutting a hole:

Risks to avoid:

⚠️ Hitting horizontal electrical wiring
⚠️ Cutting into masonry headers, steel-reinforced block walls and trim
⚠️ Chipping or cracking brick/stucco
⚠️ Damaging load-bearing framing or waterproofing barriers

A professional will know how to scan the wall, confirm clearance, and minimize disruption and damage — especially important on finished exteriors.

DIY & Aftermarket Retail Options 

There are two ways to DIY a pet door installation:

1. Order a Hale Pet Door Online

Perfect if you’re handy, already have the door, and want a quality result. Hale provides:

• Clear instructions
• All necessary parts (including a carpet lining for wall installations)
• Replacement parts
• Sizing guides by breed

2. Retail Pet Doors (PetSmart, Chewy, PetCo)

More affordable, but:

• Usually single-flap, with less insulation
• Less secure locking mechanisms
• May lack proper sealing or rigidity
• Wall installation kits typically don’t include the carpet lining
• Quality may not hold up to daily use

⚠️ What We Don’t Recommend: Sliding glass door panel inserts

They might seem like an easy solution — and they’re relatively inexpensive — but we don’t recommend them due to a few serious concerns:

• The main door can’t fully close or lock
• Weather sealing is compromised
• Typically made from single-pane glass
• The insert panel is often unstable and unattractive

Even though these inserts come with their own locking mechanisms, they’re still an aftermarket piece being added to your door. One side latches to the sliding panel, the other to the fixed frame — and that connection isn’t always snug or secure. It’s simply not comparable to an OEM factory lock. 

And since patio doors are one of the most common points of entry during a break-in, that’s something worth thinking about.

If you’re investing in a quality patio door, anything that affects the security or energy efficiency of your home probably isn’t the place to cut corners. And if you have a large dog? This definitely isn’t the direction to go.

Pro Tip: Don’t Oversize Your Pet Door

Planning for a future dog you might adopt? Think twice.

It’s common for homeowners to regret installing oversized pet doors — especially if they have cats or small dogs. Not only does a larger pet door let in more heat and dust, but it can pose a security concern. A small adult could easily fit through a pet door meant for a large breed. Why take that risk if it’s unnecessary?

We recommend starting with the pet you have. You can always upgrade later, if needed.

Homeowner Insight: Watch for Magnet Sensitivity

Here’s a real-world tip that one of our customers passed along: magnets can be an issue for some pets.

On heavy-duty pet doors like those from Hale, each flap has several built-in magnets to keep it sealed tightly — great for energy efficiency, but potentially tricky for smaller or more sensitive pets. In one Phoenix home, a cat got a claw caught in the small clip that attaches the magnet to the flap. After that, she refused to go near it again.

Some pets, especially smaller dogs or senior cats, may also struggle to push open both flaps with their nose.

The good news? Hale offers replacement flaps without magnets — an easy fix if you have a nervous or older pet who just needs a gentler push-through.

✅ Recap: Pet Door Options by Door Type

Final Thoughts

If you’re replacing a patio door and want to include a pet door, your best bet is planning ahead. The right pet door can save you time, preserve your door’s warranty and keep your four-legged family members happy.

Whether it’s factory-integrated, custom-installed or wall-mounted, DunRite can help you pick the right solution for your lifestyle, layout and pets.