Are you trying to find the best dog door for your Bichon Frise?
There are endless features to consider. For example, you might be looking for the best dog door for a sliding glass door or a screen door. Or maybe you need a door that will stand up to extreme weather. Plus, you need to decide whether you want your dog door installed on a wall or a door.
And finally, you need to be careful about picking a door that’s the right size for your Bichon Frise. To help answer these questions, I’ve compiled a list of 13 of the best doggie doors to give you LOTS of options.
Dog doors range in price incredibly, from over a thousand dollars to under fifty dollars. I’ve tried to organize the dog doors below from most expensive to least expensive, so it’s easy to find an option that fits your budget.
12 Best Dog Doors for Bichon Frises:
#1. Endura Flap Double Flap Dog Door
Wall Mount - Amazon | Wall Mount - Chewy
The Endura Flap Double Flap Dog Door is one of the best overall choices for a dog door for Bichon Frises. It’s made of heavy-duty aluminum and vinyl, with a two-flap design that keeps out even the harshest weather. To install the doggie door, you cut a hole in your regular door or exterior wall and then fit the mounting pieces into the hole.
Your dog will be free to come in and out without waiting for you, and you don’t have to sacrifice your comfort or heating costs!
My favorite feature is that the flaps lock into place, so you can keep your dog in (or unwanted visitors out!) anytime. No need to worry about raccoons or squirrels coming in and exploring! 🙂
One drawback to this dog door is the installation process. It’s highly involved, and unless you have plenty of experience with home projects, you may be better off hiring a professional. To see the installation instructions, click here.
Positives:
- The weather-resistant design makes this doggie door perfect for extreme climates.
- Locking flaps mean you can keep your Bichon Frise inside and wild or stray animals out at night.
Negatives:
- Expensive – this is the most expensive option on our list.
- Expert handy skills are necessary, and lots of tools are required. You will need to be careful of electrical and water lines as you cut the hole for the door. A professional is recommended!
#2. PetSafe SmartDoor™
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This option is the best high-tech dog door for Bichon Frises!
The PetSafe SmartDoor™ combines the convenience of a traditional doggie door with the security of a high-tech automated system. With the smartphone app, you’ll have ultimate control and monitoring power, enabling you to set entry and exit schedules, see where your pets are, and even lock the door remotely!
Additionally, the heavy-duty plastic and vinyl construction is weather resistant and well-insulated. So you won’t have to worry about rain or snow getting in when this doggie door is closed. It’s incredibly energy efficient!
This versatile electronic dog door can be installed on a regular door or a wall, so you can pick the best location for your dog to exit and enter your house. Click here to see the installation instructions!
Positives:
- You get the convenience of a doggie door without the normal concerns like animals getting inside or poor insulation.
- The smartphone app gives you control over every detail, allowing you to see what your pets are up to and lock or unlock the door remotely.
Negatives:
- This pet door is one of the most expensive on our list because of the added tech features.
- Installation can be difficult and requires construction skills and tools. For wall installation, an expert is recommended!
#3. Armor Flex Air Tight Pet Door
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The Armor Flex Air Tight Pet Door is the perfect dog door for Bichon Frises that need to be locked in at night. It features a solid plastic lockout panel that slides into place, which keeps your dog in and other animals out!
It’s also versatile since it can be installed on a door or an exterior wall. The tough aluminum frame and strong vinyl flap won’t wear out or create a drafty situation. In addition, the lockout panel provides an extra layer of insulation on windy days!
Check out a video installation guide here!
Positives:
- The lockout panel is great for Bichon Frises that need to be kept inside and for windy or rainy days where you want extra weather protection.
- Heavy-duty aluminum construction means this doggie door will last for years.
Negatives:
- The entry flap is not see-through, so some dogs may be nervous about walking through it.
- Installation can be difficult and requires construction skills and tools. For wall installation, an expert is recommended!
#4. PetSafe Sliding Glass Pet Door
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This dog door is the best option for sliding glass doors!
The Petsafe Sliding Glass Pet Door is a two-piece panel that fits into the frame of a sliding glass door. It has a flap on the bottom for easy exit and entry. It’s easy to install; simply put it into your open sliding glass door, add a few screws for stability, close the door around it, and you’re done!
If you want a doggie door for your Bichon Frise that doesn’t permanently change your house, this option is highly recommended.
Additional features include a heavy-duty aluminum frame, a locking panel for the dog flap, and unbreakable tempered glass windows. Whether you’re renting or don’t want to cut a hole for a doggie door, this is a great non-permanent solution! You can view the installation instructions here.
Positives:
- The no-cut sliding door installation saves you the trouble and expense of a traditional dog door.
- Tempered glass windows are made of glass that has gone through a rigorous heating process to make it five times stronger than regular glass.
Negatives:
- Some homeowners have issues with installation, especially if their sliding door isn’t a standard size or type.
#5. Security Boss MaxSeal Wall Mounted Pet Door
If security is your top priority, the MaxSeal Pet Door from Security Boss is your best option. This doggie door has a heavy-duty aluminum frame, wind-resistant vinyl flaps, and a strong security panel to keep unwanted critters out but your dogs inside.
This model can be installed in any exterior wall, giving your Bichon Frise freedom while you keep your peace of mind. One of the best features is the magnetic flaps that snap back into place after your dog goes through. They will stay in place even on the windiest days!
Positives:
- This door provides extra security and comfort with the security panel and double vinyl flaps.
Negatives:
- Expert-level handy skills are necessary, and lots of tools are required. A professional installer is recommended!
#6. SureFlap Microchip Pet Door
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The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door is perfect for Bichon Frises.
This plastic pet door has a microchip scanner and ONLY opens when it senses a pet microchip nearby. That way, you can be sure no stray or wild animals will wander in with your pup! Keep in mind that this pet door will only work for small dogs that weigh up to about 15 lbs (6.8 kg).
The features don’t end with a microchip scanner. In addition, you can also set a curfew for your pet, only allowing them outside during certain times of the day. The batteries last for up to a year and are a standard C size. The technology works with 9, 10, or 15-digit microchips. You can find out which kind your pet has from your veterinarian.
Conveniently, this door also comes with a collar chip which you can use if your pet doesn’t have a microchip implant.
The video below gives an excellent tutorial on the installation of this door.
Positives:
- Microchip sensor allows your pets to enter your home while keeping out strays or wild animals.
- The “curfew mode” lets you keep the pet door closed and locked during certain times, like at night.
Negatives:
- Installation is not for a beginner – an expert is highly recommended, especially if you install this door in a glass window.
#7. PetSafe Extreme Weather Pet Door
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I would recommend this dog door for Bichon Frises that live in extreme climates.
It’s the best energy-efficient and weather-resistant model. The triple-flap design is fantastic for mitigating wind, rain, snow, and even heat. Additionally, a snap-on security panel provides weather protection and keeps your pet indoors when in place.
PetSafe is one of the most trusted names in pet supplies, with happy customers everywhere. And their Extreme Weather Pet Door is no exception to their track record of quality.
For information on how to install this door, check out the manual here.
Positives:
- This door’s triple-flap design and security panel increase energy efficiency by keeping out unwanted heat or cold.
- PetSafe is a trusted name in quality pet products.
Negatives:
- Installation can be challenging, even with the provided instructions. Therefore, it’s helpful to have someone with handy skills or a professional installer.
#8. Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door
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The Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door is great if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. The double flaps block airflow efficiently, and the sturdy magnets that secure the flaps stay closed even in strong winds. This model also has a lockout panel that can slide into place during nighttime or in bad weather.
The versatile design can be installed on any door or wall, giving maximum flexibility in where you place your pet’s door. The plastic frame is sturdy enough for daily use, and the strong vinyl flaps will also hold up.
Ideal Pet Products also has video instructions for this door’s installation:
Positives:
- This is a true extreme-weather dog door – sturdy, well-built materials that hold up over time.
- The magnetic-closure flaps stay closed even in strong winds.
Negatives:
- Installation can be challenging, even with the provided instructions and template. Therefore, it’s helpful to have someone with handy skills or a professional installer.
#9. Ideal Pet Products Air Seal Pet Door
The Ideal Pet Products Air Seal Door differs from the others on this list. The flap is made of three plastic panels with flexible joints, which allows the flap to seal closed behind your Bichon Frise. As a result, it’s one of the best for weather and wind resistance, offering optimal insulation. It also has a lockout panel to keep your dog inside and protect against extreme weather.
This doggie door can be installed on doors of varying thicknesses, and its plastic construction is durable and weather-resistant. One thing to remember is that the plastic panels that make up the flaps are noisier than a traditional vinyl flap.
Click here for installation instructions!
Positives:
- The flap made of thick plastic panels is more insulating than vinyl flaps.
- The lockout panel keeps your Bichon Frise safely inside when needed and offers additional protection against extreme weather.
Negatives:
- This door’s flap is made of plastic instead of vinyl, which can be noisy when dogs go in and out. It may be too much noise for some homeowners.
- Installation can be challenging, even with the provided instructions and template. Therefore, having someone with handy skills or a professional installer is helpful.
#10. BarksBar Plastic Dog Door
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This no-frills model is the best basic doggie door that works for Bichon Frises.
The Barksbar Plastic Dog Door has a metallic-finish plastic frame and a vinyl flap with magnets on the closure. It also has a lockout panel that slides into place to keep your dog inside easily.
This model also has a telescoping frame to ensure it fits in doors of different thicknesses. And most customers agree it’s one of the easiest door-mounted doggie doors to install!
Positives:
- Most customers have an easy time installing this doggie door over other, more complicated models.
- The no-frills design means this dog door is much cheaper than other doors.
Negatives:
- As a cheaper alternative, it may not last as long as some more expensive models.
#11. PetSafe Window & Porch Screen Pet Door
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This pet door is one of the best dog doors for Bichon Frises that use screen doors!
If you want maximum ease of installation, check out the PetSafe Window & Porch Screen Pet Door. This ingenious design is perfect for creating a less-permanent solution than cutting a hole in your exterior wall or door.
Instead, you snap the two-piece frame together on either side of a screen. Once the frame is in place, cut out the screen inside of the frame and close the pet door flap. Check out the full instructions here!
Additionally, the flap has two sliding locks to keep your Bichon Frise inside or outside when you want.
Positives:
- Easy installation – snap the frame in place, cut out the screen, and you’re done!
- This is an inexpensive, less permanent pet door option than traditional dog doors.
Negatives:
- Some dogs may have difficulty learning to walk through the screen flap, and boisterous dogs may even damage the screen trying to get through.
#12. Ownpets Dog Screen Door
The Ownpets Dog Screen Door for Bichon Frises is easy and quick to install. First, you snap the two-piece frame together on either side of a screen door. It works on windows, sliding doors, and storm doors. Once the frame is in place, cut out the screen inside of the frame and close the pet door flap, and that’s it!
This design is perfect for people who want the convenience of a screen door without permanently altering their door or wall. It installs in just four easy steps:
My favorite feature is the sliding lock mechanism, which will keep your dog inside or outside when you want.
Positives:
- Easy installation – snap the frame in place, cut out the screen, and you’re done!
- This is an inexpensive, less permanent option than traditional dog doors.
Negatives:
- Some dogs may have difficulty learning to walk through the screen flap, and boisterous dogs may even damage the screen trying to get through.
What are the pros and cons of dog doors for Bichon Frises?
- PRO: Doggie doors provide convenience. They allow your pet the freedom to go to the bathroom, explore outside, and stretch their legs whenever they want.
- PRO: They can help nervous dogs calm down. If your Bichon Frise is nervous and needs to burn some energy, it can go outside and run around or track the neighborhood squirrels, even if you aren’t available.
- CON: Doggie doors aren’t just doors for your Bichon Frise! Unfortunately, raccoons, stray cats, and even opossums can enter through a pet door.
- CON: They’re not 100% weatherproof. As with any modification to your walls or door, rain or snow can sometimes find its way in. Additionally, depending on the season, you may notice a cold draft or warm air coming in.
- CON: Small dogs may be at risk. Anytime you let your dog outside without you, there’s a risk that something could happen to them. Small dogs are at a higher risk for predators like coyotes and hawks.
So, you will have to decide if a doggie door is right for you. But, in most circumstances, the convenience of a doggie door is worth the potential issues, in my opinion!
What should I look for in a dog door for Bichon Frises?
- Materials used: You want to ensure you choose a dog door built to last without overpaying for features you don’t need. You’ll see doggie doors made from metal, plastic, PVC, and others on this list. They’re all great choices, but you should pick one based on your climate and needs.
- Installation type: Dog doors can be tricky to install, especially if you’ve chosen a wall- or door-mounted option. They involve cutting a hole directly into the mounting structure. However, other installations like a screen or sliding door attachments are easier.
- Insulation or weather resistance: Depending on where you live, you may care about insulation above everything or not at all! Some options on our list are weatherproof, while others rely on a mild climate.
- Security: Many people are nervous that a burglar might be able to gain access through a dog door, but this is incredibly rare. However, you DO need to be cautious about stray or wild animals that can get in! Manufacturers have come up with many solutions, from simple locks for nighttime to microchip scanners that only allow your pet inside.
What size dog door do I need for my Bichon Frise?
It’s important to make sure the door you choose is appropriate for the size of your Bichon Frise because it could get hurt if the door is too small.
- First, measure your dog from the floor to the tallest point of its back. Then, add 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) to that height. This is the minimum height for your dog door opening.
- Next, measure your dog’s width from shoulder to shoulder. Then, add 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) to that width. This is the minimum width for your dog door opening.
- Finally, once you have an ideal length and width, it’s time to shop! These measurements will give your Bichon Frise adequate space to get in and out without getting stuck or bumping the sides.
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What dog door do you use for your Bichon Frise?
Let us know in the comments!