There are three measurements to take into consideration when choosing the correct size door for your pet: 1) the width of the passage opening, 2) the height of the opening, and finally 3) the “rise” or the lip at the bottom of the door that the pet must step over to use the door. Use the following guidelines to ensure a proper fit for your pet.

• Measurement 1: Width – This is the easy one. Simply measure your pet at the widest point and add an inch or two for safety. If your pet is long haired, don’t forget that this may make them appear wider than they really are. Alternately, you can open a door just wide enough for your pet to pass through and measure the width of the opening, again adding an inch or two for safety.
• Measurement 2: Height—The pet door flaps should be at least an inch or two above the top of your pet’s back not the head. To get this length, measure your pet from the withers (top of the shoulders) to the floor. Remember that your door won’t be placed completely at floor level.
• Measurement 3: Rise—This measurement is only applicable for panel models which come with the rise built in. Door, wall, screen, and window models can be mounted at whatever height is comfortable for your pet. If you have a short-legged dog or an older dog that can’t lift his feet very high, or if the door is installed with a step on either side, consider ordering a “no rise” door. Our standard rise is 5” or 10”.

Alternate method: You can also make a sample door opening out of a large piece of cardboard based on the above size chart. Place it in a door opening and experiment with height placement. Order the size most comfortable for your pet.