Things You'll Need
- Dog-door kit Level Saber saw Caulk Phillips screwdriver
Instructions
Preparation
Make sure that your yard is enclosed by a fence or gate so that the dog can't leave the yard when he goes outside.
Determine which door of the house is going to have the doggie door.
Determine what this door is made out of (wood or metal) and use this information to purchase the appropriate type of blade for your saber saw.
Buy the doggie door kit. The kit should include the appropriate size doggie door for your particular dog's size. It should also include a frame, a tracing template and a security plate. (See the Resources section.)
Cutting the Opening
Remove the template from the doggie-door kit and place it against the door of the house where the doggie door is going to be installed.
Position the template at the height suggested by the manufacture. This will depend on the model of your doggie door and your dog's height.
Use a level to make sure that the template is not slanted.
Trace around the template onto the door with a pencil.
Remove the template.
Using your saber saw, cut through the door along the pencil marks that you made.
Remove the rectangular-shaped cutout from your door.
Installing the Door
Locate the frame that was provided with your doggie door kit. There should be a frame for the outside of the door and a frame for the inside of the door.
Go around to the exterior side of the door and apply a line of caulk around the perimeter of the newly cut opening.
Take the frame that is for the outside of the door and insert it into the opening.
Go around to the interior side of the door and apply a line of caulk around the perimeter of the newly cut opening.
Take the frame that is for the inside of the door and insert it into the opening.
Screw the two frames together.