Best Dog Doors for Large Breeds

Best Dog Door for Large Breeds (Australia 2026)

Looking for the best dog door for a large breed? Whether you own a Labrador, German Shepherd, Greyhound, Rottweiler or even a Great Dane, choosing the right dog door is about much more than simply buying the biggest flap available.

The correct dog door needs to suit your dog’s size, your home’s door type, and the way your family uses the space every day. A poorly matched dog door can make it difficult for your pet to use, reduce weather protection, or even limit your choice of installation.

At Pet Doors Ontime, we’ve installed thousands of pet doors across Australia into glass, timber doors, security screens and sliding doors, so we’ve learnt that the best solution is different for every home.

Why Choosing the Right Dog Door Matters

Large breed dogs place far greater demands on a pet door than smaller pets.

A dog door that is too small can cause your dog to:

  • Crouch awkwardly every time they enter
  • Catch their back or hips on the frame
  • Become reluctant to use the door
  • Place unnecessary strain on joints, particularly in older dogs

 

Measure Your Dog Before Choosing a Dog Door

Breed guides are useful, but every dog is different.

So, the most accurate way to choose a pet door is to measure your dog.

Take these two measurements:

Measurement How to Measure
Height Ground to the highest point of your dog’s shoulders
Width Widest point across the chest or hips (whichever is greater)

Always allow additional clearance so your dog can walk through naturally without crouching.

Additionally, if you have multiple dogs, choose a size suitable for your largest pet.

Best Dog Door by Breed

The following recommendations are based on our installation experience and manufacturer sizing.

Dog Breed Recommended Pet Door Best Installation Types Notes
Labrador Hakuna Super Tough Large Glass, sliding doors, timber doors, security screens Excellent all-round choice with weather sealing. Slim profile makes it ideal for sliding doors.
German Shepherd Hakuna Deluxe Aluminium XL Timber doors and security screens Large opening with flexible flap for confident larger dogs.
Rottweiler Hakuna Deluxe Aluminium XL Timber doors and security screens Strong option for broad-bodied breeds.
Greyhound Premium Underbelly Pet Door – Greyhound Size Glass, sliding doors, timber doors Slim profile and generous height make it ideal for tall, narrow breeds.
Great Dane Premium Underbelly Custom Pet Door Glass, timber doors, custom installations Custom-made options available for giant breeds where standard sizes are unsuitable.

 

Which Installation Type is Best?

Not every dog door works well in every door.

Choosing the right combination makes installation easier and produces a better long-term result.

Installation Type Recommended Products
Glass Doors Hakuna Super Tough Large, Premium Underbelly Pet Door
Double Glazed Glass Hakuna Super Tough Large, Premium Underbelly Pet Door
Sliding Glass Doors Hakuna Super Tough Large, Premium Underbelly Pet Door
Timber Doors Hakuna Deluxe Aluminium Large & XL, Premium Underbelly
Security Screen Doors Hakuna Deluxe Aluminium Large & XL, Hakuna Super Tough Large (depending on screen type)

Need something larger? The Premium Underbelly range from Pet Doors Australia is also available in custom sizes, making it an excellent option for giant breeds or unusual installation requirements.

 

Labrador Owners

Labradors are one of Australia’s most popular family dogs and one of the breeds we install for most often.

For most homes we recommend the Hakuna Super Tough Large  because it offers:

  • Excellent weather sealing
  • Slim profile for sliding glass doors
  • Suitable for glass installation
  • Suitable for security screens
  • Suitable for timber doors
  • Durable construction for active family dogs

It is one of the most versatile large dog doors currently available.

 

Greyhound Owners

Greyhounds have very different body proportions compared to most large breeds.

Although they are relatively narrow, they are exceptionally tall.

The Premium Underbelly Pet Door (Greyhound Size) has been specifically designed with these proportions in mind, allowing Greyhounds to walk through naturally without excessive crouching.

And its slim frame also makes it one of our favourite choices for sliding glass doors.

For rescue Greyhounds or particularly tall dogs, custom-sized Underbelly pet doors can also be manufactured.

What About Great Danes?

Great Danes often exceed the dimensions of standard pet doors.

Rather than forcing a dog through an undersized opening, we usually recommend discussing a custom-built Premium Underbelly Pet Door.

Because these pet doors are manufactured in Australia, custom sizing is available for many applications, particularly glass installations.

Glass Installation Requires New Safety Glass

If you’re installing a pet door into glass, the existing glass panel usually cannot simply be cut on site.

Instead, we replace the panel with a new toughened safety glass panel manufactured with the pet door opening already included.

This allows us to maintain compliance with Australian Safety Standards while achieving a professional finish.

Additionally, if your home has double glazing, we replace the insulated glass unit with a new one manufactured to include the pet door opening. We always replace like for like—single glazing with single glazing, and double glazing with double glazing.

You can learn more in our related guides:

 

Should You Choose a Custom Pet Door?

Custom pet doors are becoming increasingly popular for:

  • Giant breed dogs
  • Tall dogs like Greyhounds
  • Large custom homes
  • Wide timber doors
  • Oversized glass panels
  • Premium architectural homes

A custom solution provides the best fit for both your pet and your home. But it does come at a cost as it is customised just for you and your pet. We highly recommend the custom soltiuons from Pet Doors Australia.

Why Professional Installation Makes a Difference

Large pet doors require accurate positioning and careful installation.

Our experienced installers consider:

  • Your dog’s shoulder height
  • Door construction
  • Security requirements
  • Sliding door clearances
  • Weather protection
  • Australian Safety Standards

The result is a pet door that looks like it was designed as part of your home.

Why Choose Pet Doors Ontime?

When you choose Pet Doors Ontime you’ll receive:

  • Australia-wide professional installation network
  • Instant online installed pricing
  • Glass, timber and security screen installations
  • Specialists in sliding glass doors
  • Premium Australian-made options
  • Installation into single and double glazed glass
  • Trusted by thousands of Australian pet owners

 

Ready to Find the Right Dog Door?

Whether you own a playful Labrador, a loyal German Shepherd, an elegant Greyhound or a giant Great Dane, we’ll help you choose the right dog door for both your pet and your home.

Get an instant online installed price today or contact the Pet Doors Ontime team for expert advice on the best solution for your installation.

Frequently Asked Questions