Welcome to our guide to the best dog gates.
Great ways to keep your dog safe and secure at home.
If you have a canine companion at home, a dog gate can be essential for you and your pet.
So, why do you need a dog gate?
What’s the Idea of a Dog Gate?
A dog gate can be used to prevent your curious canine from accessing muddy parts of your backyard, or non-dog-friendly areas of your home such as your kitchen or bathroom.
An indoor dog gate keeps your pup contained in an area that’s safe and where he can’t get into mischief.
In fact, a dog gate can act as a demarcation line for a dog’s safe place.
Puppies can be initially timid in new places, and they can quickly wriggle into an unsafe area.
A dog gate immediately cordons off an area, creating a puppy zone.
Also, if you have kids, a dog often appreciates having his own space away from grasping hands and poking fingers.
An indoor dog gate can also allow you to have your external door open on a lovely sunny day, without the risk of your playful pooch escaping and getting lost.
Best Dog Gates: What to Consider When Making Your Choice
Before we start looking at different types of dog gates, let’s talk about what considerations you need to make when choosing one.
Obviously, you’ll want to look at the best dog gates reviews. Buyers’ experiences can be invaluable when narrowing down the market.
Budget and Quality
Always buy the best-quality dog gate you can afford.
There’s an old saying: “Buy cheap, buy twice.” That’s true when it comes to dog gates.
A dog gate made from cheap materials will most likely not last long.
Secondly, a flimsy dog gate may not withstand the attention of a large dog.
Your pup could easily get through the gate and into trouble.
Material
Dog gates come in several materials, including wood, plastic and metal.
The material you choose will depend on how you want the dog gate to look in your home and on your dog.
Wooden gates tend to blend better with interior décor schemes than plain, white metal ones.
However, wood is not a good idea if your dog is a serial chewer.
Security
If you have a large dog, you’ll need a higher dog gate than you would for a small breed.
A low dog gate that would be ideal for your Chihuahua won’t keep your Labrador confined for long.
Location
A major consideration that will influence your choice of dog gate is where you’re going to use it.
Be sure to measure the space that you want to section off from your pup.
If the gate can fit in a doorway or across your stairs, it’s a good idea to choose an adjustable dog gate.
Best Dog Gates
There are a few different styles to choose from that can make the best dog gates for the house.
In this part of our guide, we’ll take a look at the most popular ones and review a few of the very best dog gates on the market.
You can see full details of each product we’ve highlighted by clicking on each link.
Freestanding Dog Gates
Freestanding dog gates are often the best dog gates for wide openings.
They are also easily portable, so you can relocate the gate whenever you need to, without having to detach and reattach the gate to a door frame.
The Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate is an elegant dog gate that comes in a natural wood or glossy white finish.
The side panels of the gate have wide rubber feet to stop the gate from being pushed over or slipping on polished flooring or tiles.
The gate comes in two sizes from 39.8 to 71.3 inches wide. You can also fold the gate neatly for storage and travel.
Note that this freestanding dog gate is only suitable for small dogs that weigh 20 pounds or less.
The Primetime Petz 360 Freestanding Dog Gate with Door is a smart, four-panel wooden dog gate, standing 30 inches tall and spanning openings up to 72 inches.
An extremely useful feature of this freestanding dog gate is the neat, integral walk-through door that’s housed in the second panel.
The gate’s hinges rotate 360 degrees, allowing unlimited configurations and making this dog gate very versatile.
The gate is fitted with rubber feet to prevent it from slipping and to protect your floors from scratches.
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You can fold the lightweight gate for easy storage and moving.
Adjustable-Tension Dog Gates
Adjustable-tension gates are often the best dog gates for stairs.
These gates can be adjusted to fit perfectly across the top or bottom of stairs and in doorways.
The main drawback of these gates is that you have to step over them to get around them.
That’s no problem if you have a very small dog and a correspondingly small gate.
But you might want to choose a different style if you need a high gate.
The Evenflo Position and Lock Tall Pressure Mount Wood Gate is designed to pressure-mount in any doorway or across your stairs without the need for additional hardware, leaving paintwork unblemished.
The wooden gate expands from 31 to 50 inches. The interior of the gate frame is filled with plastic mesh, rather than bars, removing the danger of your dog getting his head stuck.
The Regalo Walk-Through Gate is a sturdy steel and pressure-mounted hardwood dog gate.
The gate will fit openings from 29 to 44 inches wide.
The interior door opens easily via a latch and secures simply by closing, so you can pass through without having to move the gate.
With a height of 38 inches, this gate is most suitable for medium to small dogs.
Foldable, Hinged Dog Gates
Dog gates with hinges can be easily folded away for storage or when traveling.
This design of dog gate is ideal for visitors in your home who bring a nosy dog with them.
Simply set up the dog gate where needed to keep a curious canine contained.
The Kleeger KLG-195 Wooden Pet Gate, Foldable & Freestanding unfolds to form a “Z” pattern.
This freestanding, foldable gate is attractively designed with a cut-out, black and white zebra print pattern.
The gate is made from lightweight wood and fits openings of up to 45 inches wide.
At a maximum height of 19 inches, this gate is best for small dogs.
Walk-Through Dog Gates
Walk-through gates are perfect for use in doorways and can make the best dog gates for large dogs.
These gates have a doorway set within them so you can open the gate to allow humans (and large dogs) to walk through without having to step over it.
The Regalo Easy Step Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate is 41 inches, making it a perfect dog gate for large dogs.
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The gate expands to fit openings between 29 and 37.5 inches wide.
The durable steel gate is pressure-mounted for easy setup. There’s also a 6-inch extension kit.
Dog Gates Within Dog Gates
Some dog gates are fitted with an additional integral gate, allowing your pet to walk through when the mini-gate is open.
This feature can be really handy if you like to allow your dog access to a room when you’re there to supervise him but prefer to keep him out when you’re not around.
Also, you can use the small dog door to allow your pet access to his safe space while keeping annoying kids out.
This design usually makes the best dog gate for small dogs.
Carlson Pet Products’ Lil’ Tuffy Expandable Gate with Small Pet Door expands to fit openings between 26 and 42 inches wide.
The gate is only suitable for small dogs, standing just 18 inches tall.
This pressure-mounted dog gate has a small integral pet door, measuring 10 inches x 7 inches. The door is ideal for allowing little dogs and cats to pass through while keeping everyone else out. There’s also a neat locking feature.
The gate is made from strong, durable steel and is finished in a smart, white non-toxic coating.
Best Dog Gates: Summary
A dog gate offers the ideal solution for owners who like to keep certain areas of their homes to themselves.
There are several different styles of dog gates to choose from, depending on your individual circumstances and requirements.
Do you have a dog gate in your home?
If you do, we’d love to hear about what type of gate you chose and how you narrowed down your choice.
Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
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