Measuring your pet is the most critical step. While we've seen thousands of dogs, every build is unique. Follow these three steps to ensure your pet can pass through comfortably for years to come.
Measure your pet at their widest point (shoulders or hips). Add 1 to 2 inches to this number. Your dog should walk through without brushing the sides.
Measure from the floor to the top of the shoulders (the withers). The top of the flap must be 1 to 2 inches above the shoulders. Do not measure to the head.
This is the threshold height. Ideally, it should be no more than 1/3rd of your dog's shoulder height to ensure easy access as they age.
Cut the intended opening dimensions into a piece of cardboard. Hold it in a doorway at the target height and call your dog through with a treat. If they hesitate, you need a larger size.
The most expensive sizing mistake is buying for the dog in front of you. A door sized to a four month old Lab gets replaced before the dog turns two. Give us three numbers and we'll estimate the adult weight so you can buy once.
This is an estimate built on typical growth curves, not a guarantee. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds vary more. We size the door by shoulder height before anything gets ordered, and weight is the secondary check. If your dog is between sizes, we go up.
Download our custom-built PDFs for exact rough-opening and tip-to-tip dimensions.
*Our Hale guide includes "Tall" and "Plus" sizes not available at retail.
Text a photo of your dog standing next to a standard doorway to 205-564-5788 and we'll give you a professional recommendation.
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