Door Mount Dog Door Installation — Professional Pet Door Installation for Any Door
Portal Pros can install dog doors through any type or style of door — hollow, solid, metal, fiberglass, wood, and more.
Request a Free Door Mount Dog Door Installation Quote
Fill out the form below and a Portal Pros representative will get back to you promptly. When it comes to dog doors only trust the pros, Portal Pros.
What Is a Door Mount Dog Door Installation?
A door mount dog door installation, also called a door mounted pet door or through door pet door, integrates a pet door directly into your existing exterior door. Unlike wall mount installation, no cutting through drywall or exterior siding is required. Unlike glass or patio installations, no custom glass fabrication is needed. Door mount is the fastest, most cost effective installation method and the right choice for most homeowners with a suitable exterior door near where their pet needs access.
Portal Pros installs door mount pet doors into wood, fiberglass, steel, hollow core, and solid core doors of virtually any thickness. Every installation is completed by a licensed and insured installer with a craftsmanship guarantee.
What Door Types Can Have a Dog Door Installed?
Portal Pros installs door mount pet doors into virtually every residential exterior door type.
Wood Exterior Doors
Solid wood and wood composite doors are the most common door mount installation. Clean cuts, minimal prep, straightforward finish work on both sides.
Fiberglass Doors
Standard residential fiberglass entry and back doors. Fiberglass cuts cleanly with the right blade and finishes to a factory look.
Steel Doors
Steel exterior doors require specialized cutting equipment for a clean opening. Interior and exterior frame finish is the same standard as any other door.
Hollow Core Doors
Hollow core interior doors need additional framing support installed around the opening. Portal Pros installers reinforce the cut so the pet door frame mounts to solid material.
Solid Core Doors
Standard installation approach with heavier duty cutting tools. Solid core provides excellent structural support and clean edge finish.
Pre Hung Door Units
Installation goes into the door panel only. Hardware, frame, weatherstrip, and lock all stay intact and continue to function normally.
Panel Doors
Traditional panel doors are typically cut into the lower panel for the cleanest aesthetic result. The panel frame acts as a natural border for the pet door.
Replacement Retrofits
Replacing an existing pet door with a new one? We handle retrofits including non standard openings where the existing cut doesn't match standard sizing.
Which Door Mount Pet Door Is Right for Your Home?
Portal Pros carries the full Security Boss door mount lineup plus the SB72 for chewers. Here is how to choose.
Premium
MaxSeal PRO Door Mount
The absolute best in seal, insulation, and security. Robust composite aluminum and HDPE locking panel, dual vinyl flap insulation, precision weather seal rated for extreme heat and cold. The right choice for high traffic pets, large breeds, and demanding climates.
Sizes: 10 options, XS through XXL
Frame Colors: 5 finishes
Best For: Big dogs, extreme climates, forever homes
Best Seller
MaxSeal Door Mount
Excellent Security Boss performance at a step down from the PRO. Dual vinyl flap insulation, magnetic seal, and a locking security panel. The same core performance in a streamlined package. A perennial top seller for good reason.
Frame Colors: White, Beige, Brown, Silver
Best For: Most homes, moderate climates, all pet sizes
Made to Fit
Custom MaxSeal PRO
The PRO level product built to your exact rough cut. The right call when your existing opening is a non standard dimension, or when replacing a pet door and you want the PRO to drop into your existing cut with no resizing.
Built To: Your exact dimensions
Best For: Retrofits, non standard openings, giant breeds
Made to Fit
Custom MaxSeal Door Mount
A custom dimensioned MaxSeal made to replace a previous pet door without modifying the cut. Same excellent MaxSeal insulation and seal, sized to your exact opening.
Built To: Your exact dimensions
Best For: Retrofits into existing cuts, unique openings
Chew Resistant
SB72 Chew Proof Pet Door
For dogs with chewing tendencies. The hard aluminum swing panel deters chewing, so even if a determined dog tears out the vinyl flap, there is still a hard aluminum flap acting as a weather barrier.
Key Feature: Aluminum swing panel
Best For: Chewers, destructive dogs, anxious pets
Still not sure? Call 855 DOG DOOR or send us your door type, door thickness, and your pet's shoulder height and width. We will recommend the exact right product.
Why Choose Door Mount Dog Door Installation?
Door mount is the most popular pet door installation method for good reason. It is clean, efficient, and works for the majority of homes.
A door mount install gives your pet direct outdoor access while the door keeps working exactly as it did before.
Fastest Installation Method
No wall cutting, no glass fabrication, no tunnel installation. Most door mount installs are completed in one to two hours in a single visit.
Most Cost Effective Option
No custom glass fabrication and no masonry work means door mount installs are generally the most affordable professional pet door installation method.
Your Door Stays Functional
The door operates exactly as it did before. The pet door simply adds a second point of access. Lock, hardware, and weatherstrip continue to work.
Any Breed, Any Size
Portal Pros carries door mount pet doors from XS through XXL. The MaxSeal PRO comes in 10 sizes, plus custom dimensions for giant breeds.
Superior Insulation and Seal
Dual vinyl flap insulation and a precision magnetic seal hold tight against drafts, moisture, and outdoor air. The MaxSeal PRO is rated for extreme climates.
Maximum Security
Every door mount pet door includes a rigid locking security panel that installs from the interior. The MaxSeal PRO uses composite aluminum and HDPE for maximum impact resistance.
Clean, Intentional Result
A properly installed door mount has clean frames on both sides, fully sealed against air and moisture. Most customers say the finish looks factory intentional.
Works With Existing Doors
No need to replace your exterior door. The pet door integrates directly into what you have and can be removed and patched if you ever need to.
How the Door Mount Dog Door Installation Process Works
Measure and Quote
Contact Portal Pros with your pet's shoulder height and width, plus a photo of the door you want the pet door installed into. Include the door type and thickness if you know it. We confirm the right product for your door, recommend the best size, and provide a same day quote.
Scheduling
Once you order, a Portal Pros installer contacts you within 24 to 48 hours to schedule the installation. Dog doors typically arrive within 1 to 5 business days, and installations are usually completed within a few days of the product arriving.
Professional Installation
A licensed and insured Portal Pros installer arrives with the right tools for your specific door type. We mark the opening precisely for your pet's shoulder height, cut the opening using equipment appropriate for your door material, and install the interior and exterior frames. On decorative panel doors, a clear exterior grade caulk bead goes around the outside of the pet door frame to weatherproof the install.
Final Test and Walkthrough
Your installer tests the flap operation, confirms the seal around the frame perimeter, demonstrates the locking security panel, and walks you through care and use. Most installs are complete in one to two hours from arrival to walkthrough.
How Much Does Door Mount Dog Door Installation Cost?
Door mount dog door installation is the most cost effective professional pet door installation method. No custom glass fabrication, no wall cutting, and no tunnel work means door mount projects are generally priced lower than wall mount or in glass installations.
Factors That Affect Pricing
Door Material
Wood and fiberglass are the most straightforward. Steel requires specialized cutting. Hollow core may need reinforcement framing.
Door Thickness
Standard 1 3/4" doors are quickest. Thicker doors or unusual thicknesses may need adjusted product selection.
Pet Door Size
XS through XXL doors are available, plus custom dimensions. Larger doors take more time to cut and install.
Product Selection
MaxSeal, MaxSeal PRO, Custom MaxSeal, and SB72 all carry different price points based on features and construction.
Reinforcement Needs
Hollow core doors need framing built around the cut, which adds time and material to the install.
Location and Access
Standard exterior door access is quick. Doors that are harder to reach or work around can add labor.
Get an accurate quote in minutes. Call 855 DOG DOOR or fill out the quote form above. Most customers get a quote the same day.
How to Position and Measure for a Door Mount Pet Door
Measuring Your Pet
- Shoulder height: Measure floor to the top of your pet's shoulders (withers). Add 1 to 2 inches for the pet door height.
- Body width: Measure the widest point, chest or hips. Add at least 2 inches for the pet door width.
- Between sizes? Always size up. A pet door that is too small forces your pet to squeeze through. A pet door slightly too large is not a problem.
Positioning in the Door
- Bottom of opening: Typically set 2 to 8 inches above the floor. This keeps the step over height comfortable while leaving room for the locking security panel.
- Top of opening: 1 to 2 inches above your pet's shoulder height so the flap does not brush their back.
- Left to right: Centered in the lower door panel is standard. On panel doors we work with the natural framing. Your installer will mark the precise position before cutting.
Weatherproofing Decorative Panel Doors
One detail that separates a professional install from a rushed one: sealing the exterior frame against the raised or recessed panels most modern entry doors have molded into their surface.
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Why Decorative Panel Doors Need Extra SealingMost residential steel and fiberglass entry doors are decorative panel doors. The exterior surface is not flat. It has molded raised panels, recessed channels, and profile lines that mimic a traditional six panel wood door. These profiles add curb appeal but create a real problem for a pet door install. When the exterior pet door frame lands against a raised panel edge or crosses a recessed channel, the frame cannot sit perfectly flush against the door. Small gaps form along the profile lines. Left alone, those gaps let in air, water, and insects, and they show as a visible outline on the finished install. |
How Portal Pros Seals It
Exterior Grade Caulk
We use exterior grade silicone caulk built to hold up to sun, rain, freeze thaw cycles, and expansion movement over the life of the install.
Clear Caulk by Default
Clear caulk disappears into the door's finish once it cures. On the vast majority of installs it is the cleanest looking option and works with any door color. We never paint over caulk.
White Caulk on White Doors
The only time we deviate from clear is on a white door where the customer prefers white caulk. Any other color, we stick with clear.
Perimeter Bead Around the Frame
A continuous bead of caulk goes around the entire exterior pet door frame, pressed into the gap between the frame and the door surface. Any profile line the frame crosses gets extra attention.
Tooled for a Clean Finish
The bead is tooled with a wet finger or caulk tool to press it into the gap and smooth the surface. No blobs, no drips, no rough edges.
Exterior Only
Caulk goes on the outside of the door where weather hits. The interior side does not need caulking. Air and water infiltration is stopped at the exterior seal.
What Happens if Caulking Gets Skipped
- Air infiltration: Cold air, hot air, and drafts pull through the gaps between the frame and the panel profiles. You feel it as a cold spot near the pet door and see it on your energy bill.
- Water intrusion: Wind driven rain works into any gap it can find. Water behind the pet door frame damages the door itself, rots the surrounding material on wood doors, and rusts the steel skin on steel doors.
- Insect entry: Ants, spiders, and small bugs use the same gaps to get inside your home. The pet flap is not the entry point, the un caulked frame perimeter is.
- Visible finish gaps: Without a caulk bead you can see daylight around the frame from inside on a bright day. It reads as unfinished work.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sizing to the current dog only: If you might get another pet later, or have a puppy that will grow, size up now. Cutting a bigger opening later is a mess.
- Skipping the hollow core reinforcement: A hollow core door needs framing added around the cut. Skipping this step means the pet door frame flexes and the seal fails.
- Cutting a steel door with the wrong tools: Steel doors chew up wood blades and finish rough. Steel requires the right cutting equipment for a clean opening.
- Positioning too low: A pet door mounted flush with the floor is a security risk and a moisture entry point. Leave 2 to 8 inches of step over.
- Positioning too high: A pet door mounted too high forces your pet to jump through. Set the top 1 to 2 inches above shoulder height, no higher.
- Ignoring the door's window or panel layout: A pet door cut across a window or panel line looks wrong and can compromise the door's structure. Work with the panel layout.
- Skipping the exterior seal: Both sides of the door need to be sealed against air and moisture. A one sided seal invites drafts and water infiltration.
- No caulk on decorative panels: Steel and fiberglass entry doors with raised or recessed panels need a caulk bead around the exterior pet door frame. Skipping it leaves visible gaps that let in air, water, and insects.
Why Portal Pros for Door Mount Dog Door Installation?
Portal Pros is the nation's leading professional pet door installation company with over 20 years of industry experience.
All Door Types Supported
Wood, fiberglass, steel, hollow core, solid core, and more. If it is a residential exterior door, we can install through it.
Fastest Installation Method
Most door mount jobs completed in one to two hours in a single visit.
Licensed and Insured Installers
Nationwide network of professional installers, licensed and insured everywhere we operate.
Craftsmanship Guarantee
If there is ever an issue with our installation, we make it right. No fine print.
1,100+ Five Star Reviews
From homeowners across the country. Real customers, real installs.
Free Shipping, Always
On every pet door, always. No minimums, no exceptions.
Same Day Quotes
Send a photo of your door and your pet's measurements and we get back to you the same day.
Giving Back
A portion of every sale is donated to no kill animal shelters across the United States.
Ready to Get Your Door Mount Dog Door Installed?
Send us a photo of your door and your pet's shoulder height and width. We come back to you with the right product, the right size, and a same day quote.
📞 Call 855 DOG DOOR 🛒 Shop Door Mount Pet DoorsDoor Mount Dog Door Installation — Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dog door be installed in any exterior door?
In most cases, yes. Portal Pros installs into wood, fiberglass, steel, hollow core, and solid core exterior doors. Send us a photo and we will confirm compatibility before you order.
Can a dog door be installed in a steel door?
Yes. Steel doors require specialized cutting equipment for a clean opening, but the installation process and finished result are the same as any other door type. Pricing for steel door installations may be slightly higher than wood or fiberglass. Your quote will reflect the specific door.
Can a dog door be installed in a hollow core door?
Yes, with proper reinforcement. Hollow core interior doors require additional framing around the cut opening to give the pet door frame solid material to mount against. Portal Pros installers handle this reinforcement as part of the installation.
Where should the dog door be positioned in the door?
The bottom of the pet door opening is typically set 2 to 8 inches above the floor to keep the step over height comfortable. The top of the opening should be 1 to 2 inches above your pet's shoulder height. Your Portal Pros installer will mark the precise position based on your pet's measurements before cutting.
Can I install a door mount dog door myself?
Door mount is the most DIY accessible pet door installation type, and Security Boss products include installation instructions. However, professional installation ensures a proper seal on both interior and exterior sides, correct positioning for your specific pet, and a finished result that will not allow drafts or moisture infiltration. If you want it done right the first time, professional installation is the better choice.
What if my door already has a pet door cut that I need to replace?
Portal Pros handles replacement and retrofit installs. If your existing opening matches standard Security Boss sizing, a standard MaxSeal or MaxSeal PRO will drop right in. If your existing cut is non standard, a Custom MaxSeal or Custom MaxSeal PRO is made to fit your exact rough cut with no resizing needed.
How long does door mount dog door installation take?
Most door mount installations are completed in one to two hours in a single visit. Steel doors or hollow core doors requiring reinforcement may take slightly longer.
What size dog door do I need?
Measure your dog's shoulder height from the floor to the top of their shoulders and add 1 to 2 inches for the door height. Measure the widest point of their body, chest or hips, and add at least 2 inches for the door width. If you are between sizes, always size up. Contact us if you need help sizing for a giant breed.
Is the pet door lockable?
Yes. Every Security Boss door mount pet door includes a rigid locking security panel that slides in from the interior, completely blocking pet access when needed. The MaxSeal PRO features a composite aluminum and HDPE panel for maximum impact resistance.
Do you install door mount dog doors nationwide?
Yes. Portal Pros operates a nationwide network of licensed, bonded, and insured installers. A professional will contact you within 24 to 48 hours of placing an order.
Can you install a dog door in a door with a window or glass panel in it?
It depends on the door configuration. If there is enough solid panel space below the glass to fit the pet door opening, standard door mount installation applies. If the glass panel extends too low, we may recommend a different installation method. We also install dog doors in glass, ordering new custom glass with the pet door built in and recessed into the footer for smaller pets. Send us a photo at sales@theportalpros.com and we will assess your specific door.
Do you caulk around the exterior frame of the pet door?
Yes, on the exterior only. Most modern steel and fiberglass entry doors are decorative panel doors with raised or recessed panels molded into the surface. When the pet door frame lands against those profile lines, small gaps form that let in air, water, and insects if left unsealed. Portal Pros applies a clear exterior grade caulk bead around the entire exterior frame on any decorative panel door. Clear caulk disappears into the door finish and works with any door color. The one exception is a white door where the customer prefers white caulk. We do not paint over caulk, and we do not caulk the interior side because the exterior seal is what stops weather. Caulking is standard on every applicable install, not an upgrade or add on charge.
Do I need to replace my door to install a pet door?
No. Portal Pros installs directly into your existing door in almost every case. Replacing the entire door is only necessary in rare cases where the door is severely damaged or an unusual construction that will not support a cut.
Will installing a pet door void my door manufacturer's warranty?
Cutting into a manufactured door will typically void the door's manufacturer warranty on the panel itself. Frame, hardware, and weatherstrip warranties are usually unaffected. If warranty preservation is critical, consider a wall mount or in glass installation instead. Call 855 DOG DOOR and we will walk through the options with you.
Does Portal Pros donate to animal shelters?
Yes. A portion of every Portal Pros sale is donated to no kill animal shelters across the United States. Our mission goes beyond installing pet doors. It's about opening doors to a better life for animals in need.
Let customers speak for us
It was easy to order and schedule, once you understand how it works. First, you order the doggie door, based on the size of your dog and what type of door it is being installed in. Then the new doggie door is delivered by UPS. Once it arrives safely, installation can be scheduled. This is a quality door and reliable vendor. The end result was very professional and it works like a charm!
The door quality was excellent. Our dog is happy and making us nuts going in, and out, in and out! 🐾
I highly recommend BHC contracting. They were very professional and installation of our first doggie door went smoothly.
The process was seamless, from the initial consultation through the installation of the door. Now if I can just train both dogs to use it.
Portal Pros did a great job installing our dog door through a stone wall!
easy to install and cats started using it immediately, would use them again
Sturdy door with strong and easy to use security panel. A large, freewheeling outdoor cat adopted me a few months ago and he wasn't adjusting to life as an indoor cat. I got him this door and after showing him how it worked, he came in from outside through it the 1st day and was able to go in and out by the second. Happy cat.
I was beyond impressed with the level of customer service from Bryan. I had attempted contact with another company seeking assistance on where to place a dog door that made the most sense- but I was matched with a bot thatwas clearly giving me template answers. That was not so with Portal Pros. Bryan was incredibly helpful and attentive with a customized solution. Installation was excellent, and the install team was professional and great with our dogs.
I had a glass dog door installed in my backyard entrance cant be happier with there work really professional!
I love my door! They were most affordable out of everyone I quoted and the door is high quality. Would recommend.
I had a portal pros install a doggie door at my home. They had to go through a 10 inch wall through natural stone, which took a long time but did an excellent job. I would recommend Portal pros doggie doors to anyone. Brian the sales rep was very knowledgeable & was David the installer that did an excellent job.
Ordered a doggie door to go into the wall. They were very helpful in determining the size of door for our dog when placing the order. They were also great in figuring out the height placement when installed.
It fits in well and our dog got used to it in a couple of tries.
The installation was done professionally. Would recommend to anyone looking to getting a door installed.
Bryan and his team of installers were very professional, responsive and reliable. Bryan followed up on my questions and addressed efficiently several points that I raised.
