June 11, 2026
Description
This is a quick, simple training tool designed to safely hold open a dog door installed in a screen door.
Why I Made This
I recently adopted an older dog who was going through a nervous transition phase after spending 5 years with her previous owners. Because she was too timid to stay close and watch me demonstrate how the dog door worked, I needed a way to let her figure it out at her own pace.
By inserting this block, you can keep the main screen door securely closed to keep most of the bugs out, while leaving the dog door flap propped open. This allows a nervous pet to clearly see there is an opening to the outside and practice walking through without being startled by the flap hitting their back. Once they are confident and realize it's a doorway, you can easily remove the block so they can start pushing the flap open on their own.
Dimensions
If you need to scale or modify it to fit your specific door frame, the default dimensions are:
Total Depth: 2.500 in
Base Width: 1.450 in
Front Lip Height: 1.200 in
Step Depth: 0.550 in
Vertical Step Height: 0.750 in
Top Lip Thickness: 0.200 in
Print Settings
Orientation: Print flat on its side. This ensures the layer lines run along the length of the block, making it significantly stronger against the weight and constant pressure of the door flap.
Material: PLA, PETG, or ASA (PETG/ASA recommended if your screen door gets direct, hot sunlight).
Infill: 15% - 20% grid or gyroid is plenty.
License:
Creative Commons — Attribution — Share Alike
DPs_Designs
