Making a Custom DIY Doggie Door (and getting stuck in it)

I built (and rebuilt) a doggie door at my parents' house for their three beagles. This was a long, frustrating build but the result turned out to be probably the most useful thing I've ever built. No more having to let the dogs in and out all day and all night! Hallelujah!
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#maker #doggiedoor #petdoor
Featured Tools and Supplies -
Ridgid Miter Saw stand - amzn.to/3aNS7th

[@jim4012]

I liked the first door with the magnets. The sound of the magnets is nothing compared to the bell! Walk away with a big fat "YOUR WELCOME"!

[@Zcalicer]

The crazy thing is… you cant just buy this thing, thats why we are here!

[@Scarletraven87]

6:22 Double the central panels Have the internal and external central panels line up with the the bottom of your frames, so your doggies don't bang their eyebrows on the frame inner edge when they are halfway trough lifting the door. OR scrap what I just aid and smooth out the frame, would even be lighter.

[@ourblessedflock]

Lovely❤ thanks for sharing!

[@JeremiahDaws]

My pleasure 😊

[@brandyworthington9762]

Totally awesome! Never thought about using the existing window!

[@JeremiahDaws]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Scarletraven87]

Just have stripes on the glass of the lower half of the window, or you'll have a mortadella on legs crashing into it.

[@mom-and-son]

I have one of those crappy doggie doors you can buy at the store but with my winters in the Midwest, it is NOT ideal. So I’m glad you went through all of this to help me. 😅 my doggie door is in the sliding door but I think I’ll do a frame around it like you did with the final, to make it more weather resistant and with me using the “frame” that’s already there and building your frame on top of it. 🤞🏾 (we’ll see if this idea/thought checks out 🤣😂🤣)

[@kathleenbrown1395]

I also have a glass doggy door in my sliding door. It is GARBAGE!! the sealing strips won't stay in place, and I have to stuff hand towels from top to bottom to keep out as much cold as possible. That looks soooo tacky. I live in Illinois. 😢 My problem is I will be cutting out a wall next to the doorway. First, I have to move an outside plug down a foot, remove some siding pieces, and work from scratch. If not for that, I would have put in a doggy door years ago.

[@SandraAlaniz-gr7xy]

Great job on all

[@kimsmith5872]

Adorable neices n nephews thanks for having then learn while having fun

[@JeremiahDaws]

I love teaching them this stuff.

[@sherihogle8152]

Brilliant!

[@benduncan3865]

Great example and detail on the materials, thanks for sharing your build 👍. The first version you made is what I'm looking to build, looks robust enough to handle 100+ LB dogs, very helpful. Fyi - You could use a low resistance gas strut and/or cabinet door dampers to slow/quiet the door down if you revisit it that is.

[@crabon8172]

I am going to do a variation of the first, noisy but heavier door. We have a big dog that needs to be able to let herself in and out but I want the door to be too heavy for the cat want to use (crossing my fingers). If the cat does go out, going back in should be easier with the double door so he isn't trapped on the outside. Thanks for the ideas.

[@HouseofTherapy2023]

Great job in solving the problem for your parents and their 3 best friends...

[@kimcup5000]

Bless your heart! Thanks for the great video.

[@lisacolbert5987]

For folks who don’t have access to or want something a tad heavier than the plastic he uses here , a short piece of plastic rug-runner/protector isn’t as clear to see out but is the same material used by companies who make exterior wall pet-doors and you don’t need to make a stiffening frame (unless you want to) but can just screw a heavy-ish magnet set-up on the bottom of the flap-door and along the sides - should you want to create more of a seal in colder climates ... AND AGAINST BUGS - read Spiders ... I HATE them . Okay , I know we need them . But can’t deal with them on a primal level . Nope . BTW , I’m not dissing on his door , just a suggestion .

[@Jankolli]

I tried making this kind of door on the outdoor cat house I made for my girlfriends cats. I made a simple swinging door, made up of thin pieces of wood as frames and some sort of plastic as a window. First night there were heavy winds, blew the entire door out. But your initial idea was a good one, I'm gonna try that.

[@JeremiahDaws]

Awesome! Let me know how it goes!

[@jonathanhowe42]

Been there, done that & will continue to do that... It's always a learning experience, even with the frustration & maybe you'll only break even instead of saving money, but you've got something to show for it in the end and it works, so that's ultimately what matters. Good job, though! You can learn how to make stringers on the next project ;)

[@JeremiahDaws]

Yes. Stair stringers is definitely on the list. Need a place that’s more permanent to make them. Maybe at the next house!

[@mom-and-son]

I love the shower curtain idea, imma use it for measurements

[@richmind5867]

Good Job

[@ginaland411]

I love the creativity...great job! Yeah, you could’ve bought it just as easily but where is the fun in that? I’m the same way...i prefer to do things myself...but what you gain is priceless! ...ability to solve problems & new skills!

[@simbajo1494]

You have 3 beagles.. CUTE

[@Paulilmys]

Great video. I have 4 doors to make and this gave me some great ideas. Thanks!

[@JeremiahDaws]

Awesome! Best of luck! Send me a pic when you complete yours. Would love to see how you do yours.

[@allyg47]

Looks great! My beagle is blind and won't use stairs so this wouldn't work for her but it is still a great solution to someone who wants an untraditional doggie door. I'm moving next month and I made sure my new house has a space low enough to the ground where I can install a doggie door that my girl can use.

[@trevorlandy152]

Did you consider double hinges on the vertical rather than two piano hinges on a double door on the horizontal?

[@JeremiahDaws]

Ooh. That might have been better.

[@user-xz1nj7he7b]

Hi! First, I absolutely love your video!!! I know this is 3 years old but I have few questions if you don't mind. So here is the shortened story! My wife and I have just bought a house. As it turns out my daughter and her husband will also be moving in with us and living in the finished basement. They have a 100lb Newfoundland and a 100lb Bernese Mountain Dog. We are thinking about using one of the basement windows as a dog door for them to have easy access to our backyard. I have been totally inspired by your video to make one. So how well has this dog door held up over the years. Do you happen to have any other advice before we dig into it. Thank you for your time!!!

[@JeremiahDaws]

Hey! Thanks for your kind words. Unfortunately, about a week after this video was made, my mom passed away. My dad sold the house about 4 months later. But during those 4 months, it worked great.

[@LivingWords4U2]

Come do my next! 😂😂

[@ms.ladietoyou8672]

I wanted to see how you put the last door together from the beginning to the end

[@jasonmercado9942]

Where did you find the pvc board? I’m looking online and the cheapest I found was 108 for a 6 pack of 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 8

[@JeremiahDaws]

Home Depot.

[@kokeskokeskokes]

I will do the first eventually. Maybe it will open sideways.

[@steffanisea4916]

Hi! Would you be able to type out the materials you used? I’m pretty new to home improvement things and I’m not sure exactly what to ask for when I go to Home Depot :)

[@GechGJ]

Where did u get that yard sale sign for the frame?

[@JeremiahDaws]

Home Depot

[@sarahwilson7983]

The pitch/ angle of the stairs is tight. A bigger platform, with stairs going down flush with the side of the house, would cause less strain on older joints.

[@doggone317]

I like it to make noise so I can hear my dogs go in an out.

[@JeremiahDaws]

Yeah. I didn’t mind it. But the fam hated it. Hah.

[@laurafriesen5321]

👋 hi