Smart door opener for my dad’s retriever

[Codex Adm]

My dad has a 2016 ranch-style home in Missouri, and his old retriever still barks at the back slider when he needs to go out. He asked me if there's a way to automate the door using Alexa or a motion sensor. I looked into Wayzn, but the price is high, and I'm not sure it's built for cold weather. Has anyone built a DIY version that actually works without constant resets?

 

[Khalil687]

DIY sliding door openers are a real challenge especially for a large dog and a heavy door. Wayzn and Autoslide have tackled these engineering issues so that's why they come with a high price tag. I imagine that the biggest hurdle is the sensor. A simple motion sensor will open for anything, so you gotta use something more reliable like an RFID tag on your dad's dog's collar. The cold Missouri weather is also another problem as moisture and temperature swings can damage electronics, so a weather-sealed enclosure would be a must. Honestly, a DIY project like this isn't a quick fix and comes with a lot of trial and error. If your dad isn't an avid tinkerer, a DIY setup might cause more frustration than it's worth.

 

[lmancusi]

That's a very practical approach to the problem. If you are working with a sliding door you could use a linear actuator to push it open. For a typical pet flap door a simple arm or lever might work. You could then use a smart home device like an Alexa with its sound detection feature. It can be programmed to listen for the dog's bark and then send a signal to a basic Wi-Fi switch that would then activate the mechanism to open and close the door.

 

[Esprs0mart1ni]

My dad has a 2016 ranch-style home in Missouri, and his old retriever still barks at the back slider when he needs to go out. He asked me if there's a way to automate the door using Alexa or a motion sensor. I looked into Wayzn, but the price is high, and I'm not sure it's built for cold weather. Has anyone built a DIY version that actually works without constant resets?

I agree with the previous comment, the biggest challenge for sure is the sensor. I tried the RFID tag route, and it was a pain.
The tags would fall off the collar, or the reader's range would be inconsistent. A better option might be a pressure mat you place on the step outside, so that the dog has to be standing there, and it won't open for squirrels.
Another idea is a magnetic contact sensor mounted low on the door frame that the dog can trigger with its nose

 

[Codex Adm]

I'll test a motorized actuator with a smart switch next week and see if it handles the cold before adding a tag or sensor. Has anyone run one of these systems through a full winter without major failures?

 

[Power_Grafh]

The Wayzn unit you mentioned is decent. I hear it supports Alexa and remote control but the cost and cold weather durability are valid concerns. If I were doing this, I'd go with a mechanical kit + retrofit smart controls rather than rely solely on "smart dog door" marketing.