Dog flap?

[pupblue]

I have a golden retriever, currently a pup but obviously growing fast.

Our house is an odd layout so there is no garden access from a place that we can see outside and watch the dog outside, and also it's difficult to be up and down letting the dog out. Therefore we are considering a dog flap.

Does anyone have this and how well does it work? We have an inner door we would leave open as dog comes and goes that can also be locked when we are not there for security.

I'm just worried how it will work with a large dog and a person sized hole??

A friend had one with an electronic signal device that the dog wore on his collar to open and close it. He was collie sized. It was forced open by some toe rag and she was burgled.
So I would not be keen. Is he in/ out a lot? Or is it access while you are out ? Would a secure dog run / dog house be an option?
I have 2 labs, and I am basically the door slave, so I understand the issue. I just try to ignore them if I know it’s not a toilet trip and it’s not convenient for me.

Not sure yet how often she will want to go out as she is only small at the moment so she doesn't go out alone. It's only for when we are in the house and not when we are out as she won't be left for long or will be out with us anyway.

I do worry about being burgled though.

A dog flap big enough for a golden retriever is basically a door, you might as well just leave your door open.

I don’t leave dogs outside alone though, too many things they can eat or dig or accidentally get out... or be taken.

FIL has one for a similarly sized dog, my kids very happily go in and out through it...I wouldn't want it in my house, it's essentially an open door.

Even with an inner door that can be locked when we are out or at night?

Does it lock the same as the outside one? My interior doors don’t, they’d be much easier to break in through.

We have a small collie and a little door flap in the back door. When we are not there we slide in a solid panel that locks into place so the door is secure. She’s about half the size of a golden retriever though so the door isn’t much bigger than a cat flap.

I see so many posts about dogs being taken from gardens, I really wouldn't advise leaving any dog unsupervised in the garden! Especially a young one who'd be extra likely to get itself into some sort of mischief by eating something, as PP said, and extra attractive to thieves.

We have a lab and a door flap but it would be very difficult to get into our back garden. It would involve crossing 2 gardens either side. We lock it at night though as she doesn’t need to go out in the night.

we mainly got one as she doesn’t bark and would just sit at the door until someone noticed (or not and then you can guess what happened).

I'd never use one - they're basically an open invite to get burgled, IMO.

If it's big enough for a golden retriever, it's big enough for a human and I suspect you may struggle re. insurance if your company finds out you have a massive, unlocked dog-flap leading into your house!

Taking it on board thanks!

I like the idea of the sliding thing! It is only for when we are in it would be locked when out and at night so something that slides over might work.

I wouldn't be using it until she's bigger anyway.

Impossible to steal dog from our garden though. Unless you can scale walls.