PetSafe SmartDoor Connected Pet Door

A smart pet door is really an access-control product

PetSafe SmartDoor Connected does more than open a flap. The My PetSafe app can lock or unlock the door, create schedules, set permissions, and report activity. Approved animals are recognized so the opening is not simply available to every neighborhood pet.

That makes the product useful for households that want a dog to access a fenced yard during certain hours, need different rules for multiple pets, or want more control over wildlife entering through a conventional flap.

Medium and Large do not use identification in exactly the same way

This is the most important detail in the review. Both sizes can use PetSafe Pet Door Keys attached to a collar. The Medium SmartDoor can also pair directly with certain implanted microchips. PetSafe lists FDX-B/15-digit, FDX-A/10-digit, AVID H, and AVID Encrypted/9 or 15-digit microchips. The Large SmartDoor does not offer that same implanted-microchip mode and relies on compatible collar keys for pet identification.

That means a cat owner who specifically wants keyless microchip entry should be evaluating the Medium model and the cat’s body fit at the same time. Do not buy the Large opening assuming “SmartDoor” automatically means microchip support.

Measure the pet before measuring the door

PetSafe rates Medium for pets up to 25 lb with a 7.1 × 7.8-inch flap opening, and Large for pets up to 100 lb with an 11.9 × 16.1-inch opening. Weight is only a starting point. Shoulder/chest width and comfortable step-over height determine whether the animal can use the opening without crouching or scraping.

Once the pet size is confirmed, measure the installation surface. Cutout dimensions differ for metal and non-metal doors, and walls, glass, metal, or thicker materials may need an installation adaptor, tunnel extension, or professional glazier/installer. The product is much less forgiving than a collar or feeder because a wrong cut remains in the building.

Power choices are more resilient than battery-only designs

The Medium model uses four C-cell batteries and the Large uses four D-cell batteries. PetSafe also sells a power adapter for both. When the adapter is used, batteries can remain installed as backup. That is a sensible arrangement for a device that controls physical access to the house.

Battery status belongs on a recurring maintenance checklist. A connected lock that has quietly lost power is not something an owner wants to discover after the pet has learned to depend on it.

Training matters as much as electronics

A cautious pet may not immediately push through a motorized or locking flap. Introduce the opening gradually, reward voluntary passage, and never force the animal through. Test the recognition range and schedule while someone is home before allowing unsupervised yard access.

Security has physical limits

The SmartDoor helps block unrecognized pets, but it is still a pet-sized opening cut into a door or wall. Home security, weather sealing, yard fencing, wildlife risk, and local conditions should be considered separately. A smart lock cannot make an unsafe outdoor space safe.

Who should choose it

SmartDoor Connected is best for an owner who genuinely needs controlled pet autonomy and is comfortable making a permanent installation. If the main requirement is simply “let the dog out sometimes,” a basic door costs much less. If the requirement is “this specific pet may enter/exit on this schedule and I want app control,” the connected model has a clear reason to exist.