How to Choose Pet Gates

What Kind of Pet Gate Do I Need?

If you’ve been looking into pet gates, you’ve probably seen your options sorted into categories. To help you figure out the best gate for your budget and needs, here are some great tips on how to choose pet gates for your home.

• Large Breed Pet Gate

Some pet gates are taller and heavier to prevent larger animals from knocking them down. They are typically mounted to the door frame, and most include a lock for easy access.

Common heights of pet gates range from 29 inches to 36 inches, the latter being regarded as extra tall. However, there are gates that can expand to even 6 feet tall thanks to additional clip-on extensions.

• Wide Doorways

There are pet gates for doorways that are wider than most, like french doors. They can also be instrumental when you want to contain a section of a room as you can sometimes stretch the wide gates from wall to wall.

• Stair Use

For a gate that can be used on the stairs, you will need one that is mounted directly onto the wall or on a newel post or some other part of a staircase.

If you’re using a pet gate to keep your toddler from getting into too much mischief, like climbing up and down the stairs when you aren’t looking, have a professional install the gate on your stairs. This ensures it’s securely mounted to the wall and won’t give way if something leans against it.

• Outdoor Use

If you’re monitoring your animal on the deck or patio, an outdoor pet gate might come in handy. This type of barrier should be weather-resistant and also should be mounted onto the floor of the deck. Temporary gates will not work well on decks and can even be dangerous.

Black Metal Wall-Mounted Outdoor Safety Gate

What Material Should My Gate Be?

You can choose a gate in wood, metal, or plastic. Aesthetically, a wood gate might fit your house’s décor better, but wooden gates are not ideal for puppies or dogs that tend to chew. The same goes for plastic. If you have a chewer, metal is your best bet.

A word on safety: Always make sure your gate has a pet-safe finish on it so it will not harm your pet if they do chew on it. Also, make sure that the slats of the gate are well-spaced so your pet cannot get its head stuck in between and get hurt. Corners and edges are also possible hazards, so look for a gate with rounded corners to keep your pet safe.

How Do I Mount It?

Once you’ve decided on the best fit for your household, determine how you are going to install the pet gate. Some people are looking for a gate that is easy to install so they can do it themselves. Others need the assurance that the gate will not give way, and so need a mounting system that is more permanent.

• Pressure-mounted

These gates do not require any installed hardware. You don’t have to drill through your walls or use screws to hold the gate in place. They stay in place because of the tension, which you can adjust by twisting a knob on the gate.

• Hardware-mounted

These gates take more effort than pressure-mounted ones because you have to securely mount the gate with hardware into your wall, newel post, or deck.

To expertly install this type of pet gate, you will need a small amount of hardware and a few tools. Most hardware-mounted pet gates come with the hardware they need to set it up.

Quick Tips

• Measure the space you want the gate to span to ensure that it will fit, and then measure it again.
• Make sure the locking mechanism is easy to latch or unlatch. You don’t want to be stuck with your hands full and be unable to unlatch your pet gate easily.
• When in doubt, call in a professional. If you have any trepidation about setting up your pet gate effectively, call a handyman to install it for you.