A lot of us leaned on our pets during the pandemic, and a new invention can help you return the favor as life starts to return to normal.

Now taking victory laps at CES 2021, the MyQ Pet Portal allows your pooch or kitty to get a taste of freedom when you’re not home to let them out.

The device replaces the old-fashioned doggie door flap with a smart sliding-door system built into the front door. 

The portal comes with a custom collar sensor and a programmable app so you check in on your furry friend remotely.

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The myQ Pet Portal replaces the old-fashioned doggie door flap with a programmable sliding-door system built into your house’s front door.

The portal is suitable for dogs from 10 to 90 pounds, and includes safety sensors to make sure your pet gets in and out comfortably.

Developed by Chamberlain Group, which typically produces garage-door openers, it’s already won the Best of Innovation Award in the Smart Home category CES 2021, which has moved online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With professional installation, myQ Pet Portal is available for pre-order starting at $2,999.

A sensor on the pet’s collar and an auto-close/lock system ensure other animals don’t leave (or enter) while Fido is coming or going. 

The myQ Pet Portal app allows users to customize how Fido can enter/exit and sends streaming real-time audio and video so you can check in

Streaming audio and video allows owners to check in on door in-real time, while the myQ Pet Portal app allows them to customize how Fido can enter/exit and sends daily reports. 

Chamberlain tapped professional down trainer Brittany McArdell, owner of North Paws Canine Services in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, to put the MyQ through its paces.

‘It definitely provides a smarter way to parent and makes time apart easier for both dogs and their owners,’ McArdell said.

Unlike other smart pet doors, the MyQ portal isn’t retrofitted into an existing front door—it replaces the whole door.

It comes integrated in a variety of Kolbe door styles, with material and color options to match your house’s style.

The app also sends daily reports on your pet’s behavior. The system could be useful to help dogs adapt to changing schedules as people return to work

‘A bright spot for many people in a challenging 2020 has been adding a furry friend to the family,’ said Beril Altiner, director of product marketing for Chamberlain Group.

‘But as COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift in 2021 many dogs will experience a dramatic change in their routine.’

Over 70 million American households owned pets by the end of 2020, and 80 percent of dog owners say they feel guilty leaving their canine companions alone.

The portal is secure and convenient, Altiner says, and can help alleviate ‘the stress and expenses that might come along as schedules change.’

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Smart doggie ‘garage door’ nabs ‘Innovation Award’ at CES for replacing the traditional flap

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