Best Dog Gates

Best Dog Gates Of 2023/2024

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We’ve put together this guide to help you find the best dog and pet gates.

There’s different types of dog gates so instead of having to go through searching for them yourself, you can go straight to see the top rated lists for these different categories of gates.

Some of the categories we’ve listed below are pressure mounted, hardware mounted, freestanding, extra wide, extra tall, heavy duty and retractable.

We’ve also included review guides of individual pet/baby brand gates.

You should be able to find something suitable for your pet/s, and the location where you want to mount the dog gate.

Let’s take a look!

 

(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)

(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)

 

Best Dog Gates

Some of the top rated indoor dog gates are:

Pressure Mounted Gates

 

Hardware Mounted Gates

 

Freestanding Dog Gates

 

Extra Wide Gates

 

Tall Dog Gates

 

Short Gates

 

Heavy Duty/Strong Dog Gates

 

Retractable Gate

 

Wooden/Bamboo Gates

 

Gates For Stairs (Top Or Bottom)

 

*Make sure you check regulations, laws and how to comply with guidelines in your area about gates for stairs and other locations around the house.

 

Best Dog Gates: Review Guides

Dog Gates For Certain Locations

Best Dog Gate For Angled Walls

 

Dog Gates For Different Dog Types

Best Dog Gate For A German Shepherd

Best Dog Gate For A Labrador

Best Dog Gate For A Golden Retriever

Best Dog Gate For A Husky

Best Dog Gate For A Chihuahua

Best Dog Gate For A Yorkie

Best Dog Gate For Jumpers

 

Individual Dog Gate Reviews

Individual Dog Gate Brands Reviews

 

We outline brands such as:

– North States (Toddleroo)

– Carlson

– Summer Infant

– Richell

– Regalo

– Dreambaby Chelsea

– Evenflo

– Internet’s Best

 

Best Dog Gates: Buyer’s Guide

What Size Dog Gate Should You Get?

The manufacturer should tell you how to pick a size of dog gate, with dimensions to take into account when picking a size of gate.

Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s sizing instructions when picking a dog gate size.

 

It usually depends on three things though:

– The size of your dog. The bigger the dog, usually the taller of a dog gate you want to get

– The width of the opening or space you want to block off. The bigger the opening, the wider of a dog gate you want to get.

You also want to make sure you can fit through the gate if it has a door, and that other openings are big enough 

 

Types Of Pet Gates

Some of the major types of pet gates to be aware of are:

Pressure mounted pet gates

Hardware mounted gates

Freestanding gates

2 in 1, or All in one gates – might combine freestanding, pressure mounted, hardware mounted, and exercise pen capabilities

 

Some types of gates may also be:

Extra tall

Extra wide

Be built with heavier duty materials

+ have other specific characteristics

 

Pressure Mounted vs Hardware/Wall Mounted vs Freestanding Dog Gates

Dog Gates can usually be installed, set up and mounted in 3 different ways:

Pressure Mounted

The dog gate comes with little rubber mounts on the end of tension rods that you tighten to secure the dog gate into place, and untighten to release the gate. This mounting method doesn’t leave a mark 

 

Hardware/Wall Mounted

The dog gate comes with hardware such as screws and fixings that secure the dog gate into the wall for a tighter and more secure mounting

 

Freestanding

The dog gate stands completely by itself and is completely portable

 

Pressure Mounted Dog Gates

Potential Benefits

A pressure mounted dog gate is a dog gate that comes with little rubber mounts on the ends of the dog gate, and when you tighten the mounts, they tighten against the wall.

What this means is your can secure the gate in place without having to drill, screw or fasten into your wall and create permanent damage. They don’t leave a mark

This also means you can untighten the gate and take it elsewhere or store it while it isn’t in use

It’s kind of fall in between a hardware mounted gate and a freestanding gate – you get the secure mounting without the hardware screwed into the wall

 

Potential Drawbacks

Pressure mounted dog gates tend not to fix as strongly to the wall as a hardware mounted gate. 

 

Hardware Mounted Gates

Hardware mounted dog gates are different to pressure mounted dog gates, and freestanding dog gates.

They have the advantage of having a more solid fixing, and therefore being more securely held in place.

 

Potential Pros

They allow you to fix the dog gate directly into the wall and get a really strong/secure mounting of the gate compared to pressure mounting.

For bigger and heavier dog gates, or dog gates where the entire gate swings out, wall and hardware mounted dog gates are better than pressure mounting

 

Potential Drawbacks

Wall/hardware mounted dog gates involve drilling/screwing into your wall, which means permanent alteration to your wall, compared to pressure mounting which leaves no marks

 

Heavy Duty Dog Gates

Heavy duty dog gates might be:

– the gate is well constructed and made of a strong material such as some type of metal

– the gate can be fixed with hardware to the wall so you get a much more secure fixing than a pressure mounted dog gate

A few of the best might be:

 

Walk Through vs Swing Open vs Step Over Dog Gates

There’s usually 3 ways you can pass through or over a dog gate whilst still blocking your dog from passing:

Walk Through – the dog gate has a door built in with a simple lock. You pass through the door and close/lock it when you’re through it

Swing Open – the entire gate barrier can be lifted off the hinges mounted on the walls and swung open and shut

Step Over – usually smaller gates for small dogs. You can completely step over these gates because of their height whilst still blocking your dog

 

Walk Through Dog Gates

Walk through dog gates allow you to block off openings from pets and babies whilst they are closed, and then they swing open entirely, or have a door in the middle of the gate you can pass through so you can get past the gate barrier.

 

Potential Benefits

They allow you to have the dog gate pressure or hardware/wall mounted, and have an opening blocked off, but you can still walk through or pass through the gate and block it off again afterwards

 

Potential Drawbacks

No major drawbacks. Walk through dog gates usually have a door you walk through or the gate swings open entirely. Some people complain that some doors on some gates are slightly thin, but this is a minor concern.

 

Materials Of Dog Gates

Dog gates are usually made of metal, but can also be made of wood, plastic and composite materials.

 

A Few Other Things To Be Aware Of When Buying A Pet Gate

Make sure you measure the size of the opening you want to install the gate into, and check what size opening the gate is suitable for

Check the size of the gate door opening if it has one, and clearance of any step overs if relevant

Make sure the gate is tall enough for pets you want to keep contained, and that your pets won’t knock it over, try to jump it, or break it

Check the gate will be able to be secured properly and safely for your intended uses

Check the age of child the gate is designed for (if you intend on using it for kids too)

Check that the gate meets any relevant safety regulations and standards, and is going to be safe for the intended use in general

Read the set up, operation and safety instructions prior to use

Check the gate aesthetically matches in with your home

Check if the gate is a multiple use gate

Check if any add ons, kits or extensions come with the gate

 

Best Dog Gate For A Small Dog

When looking for the best dog gate for small dogs, it makes sense to go for the shorter height gates.

These gates have the added benefit of usually being gates that you can simply step over, as they are only around 18-24 inches in height.

You may also want a gate that mentions it’s designed for smaller dogs in the product description of the gate, and a gate that provides no space or room at the bottom of the gate for small pets to squeeze under

Some of the dog gates listed in the top rated list at the top of this guide fit this criteria.

Some of those might include the Carlson Lil Tuffy, Richell Wood Freestanding, and Internet’s Best FreeStanding.

 

Best Dog Gate For A Large Dog

For a large dog, you’ll want to make sure the dog gate is:

Tall enough to account for a large dog’s height

Solid enough to act as a barrier for a large dog

Has the option to hardware mount the dog gate so it is more secure against the weight and force of larger dogs

And, of course like all dog gates, is wide enough for the opening you want to block off

 

There are options in the top rated list at the top of this guide for large dogs.

You can also check out these additional guide:

Best Tall & Extra Tall Dog Gates

Best Hardware/Wall Mounted Dog Gates

Best Heavy Duty & Strong Dog Gates

 

Best Tall Dog Gates

Tall & Extra Tall dog gates are good for bigger dogs or babies who might find it easy to try to climb over or hand on smaller gates.

They can also be good for dogs that are jumpers – we’ve put together a guide here on some of the best pet gates for jumping dogs.

Some of the best dog tall gates apart from the ones listed in the top rated list are:

 

Potential Pros

They provide more height for larger dogs

They provide more height for children you like to hand or climb on shorter gates

The walk through gate is at a higher level for taller adults – saves you having to bend down to pull up the lever or push to unlock button on the dog gate

 

Potential Cons

There is a higher centre of gravity on them and they weigh slightly more, so you want to make sure with some of them that they are wall or hardware mounted to support the gate

 

Dog Gates For Jumpers

For jumpers, you may want a gate:

– tall enough to account for a dog’s height and jump height

– solid enough to act as a barrier for dogs that jump – solid construction

– might have the option to hardware mount the dog gate so it is more secure against the weight and force of jumping dogs. This is as opposed to pressure mounted dog gates that aren’t physically fixed into another surface

 

Some gates you might look at for jumpers are:

Hardware Mounted Gates

 

Tall Dog Gates

 

Heavy Duty/Strong Dog Gates

 

 

Best Dog Gate For Inside The House

The best dog gate for inside the house depends entirely on where you want to put the gate.

For example, do you plan on putting it in a doorway, in the kitchen, at the top of the stairs, at the bottom of the stairs, in a hallway?

Determine the location you want to put it, and then determine what size opening you need it for.

Then determine the type of dog gate you want.

Then read the product description and make sure it’s designed for the location, opening width and other specifics of what you need.

 

Best Dog Gate For A Doorway

Consider:

– how wide is the doorway?

– And, do you want want a pressure mounted dog gate, a hardware mounted dog gate, or a freestanding dog gate?

 

Best Freestanding Dog Gates

We already listed some of the best freestanding dog gates at the top of this guide.

Freestanding dog gates boast the advantage over pressure mounted and hardware mounted gates of not having to be connected to a wall.

They stand by and support themselves. They are also portable and easy to move around.

Check that the gate is both tall enough for your requirements, and will fit the size of opening you require, prior to buying

Note that the Regalo 4 in 1 is both a freestanding gate, but can also be a hardware mounted gate, as it comes with a mounting kit

 

Freestanding Dog Gate Pros

They usually come pre assembled – saves you time

They are easy to transport and very portable

No setup time – you just put the gate where you want to block off an opening in the house

 

Freestanding Dog Gates Cons

Because they stand by themselves, and aren’t fixed to a wall, they are easier to push out the way or push over for dogs that want to jump on them and put their bodyweight on them

 

What Makes A Good Dog Gate For The Bottom Of The Stairs?

Making sure the gate meets and regulations for staircase entry and exit where you live is important, and so is making sure the gate fits the area of the bottom of the stairs you want to mount or set it up on is too.

Make sure when you buy the gate that you check the product description to see that it’s approved for the location you want to put it in.

There’s really four main things to look for when picking a good dog gate for the bottom of the stairs:

Make sure the dog gate meets any specific regulations, standards or laws for stair gates in your area

Make sure the manufacturer says their dog gate is designed for staircases

Make sure if the dog gate is to be mounted on the bottom step that any bottom of the gate frame lip is not raised off the ground – this can be a tripping hazard off the last step

Make sure the gate is the right shape for the stairs or area on the stairs you are mounting or setting it up on or in

 

Options might include pressure mounted, hardware mounted, extra wide, tall and heavy duty options – some of which can be found in the top rated list at the top of this guide.

 

What Makes A Good Dog Gate For The Top Of The Stairs?

Making sure the gate meets and regulations for staircase entry and exit where you live is important, and so is making sure the gate fits the area of the bottom of the stairs you want to mount or set it up on is too.

*Make sure when you buy the gate that you check the product description to see that it’s approved for the location you want to put it in

There’s really four main things to look for when picking a good dog gate for the top of the stairs:

Make sure the dog gate meets any specific regulations, standards or laws for top of stair gates in your area

Make sure the manufacturer says their dog gate is designed for the top of stair cases and is top of stair approved

Make sure if the dog gate does not have a bottom frame lip that is raised off the ground – this can be a tripping hazard

Make sure the gate is the right shape for the stairs or area on the stairs you are mounting or setting it up on or in

 

Top Of Stair Approved Gates

 

Other options might include pressure mounted, hardware mounted, extra wide, tall and heavy duty options – some of which can be found in the top rated list at the top of this guide.

 

Best Outdoor Pet Gate

The best outdoor dog gate for a porch or deck will depend on where you are putting the dog gate on your deck or porch.

But, usually people are looking for a dog gate to go at the edge of their deck, and that edge either has stairs or a flat landing leading off of it.

As we mentioned, it depends on where on your deck you are putting the dog gate, and what you want it for.

You might need a wide dog gate, a tall one, or one specifically made for the top or bottom of the stairs.

Make sure that the dog gate you get meets any regulations for outside decks and porches in your area, and that you check the product description to see that it’s approved for the location you want to put it in

Our top picks for the best outdoor dog gates for a porch or deck are:

 

Top Of Stairs Approved Dog Gates

 

Bottom Of Stairs Dog Gates

 

Best Swing Open Gate

Swing open dog gates usually have a hinge at either end of the gate that you can unhinge/detach, which allows you to swing the entire gate away from the opening you have it blocking off.

If you compare this to a regular walk through dog gate, these gates usually need to be either demounted from their pressure mounts or hardware mounts before you can remove the gate from the opening they are blocking off.

So, a swing open gate gives you some convenience and saves you time if you want to clear the opening quickly.

Apart from the top rated gates, another swing open gate is:

 

What’s Good About Them

They allow you to clear the opening the dog gate is blocking in a matter of seconds

They still come with a walk through door you can use

 

Potential Drawbacks

Because they swing, the door needs to be hardware/wall mounted to support the weight of the entire gate/barrier. You can’t pressure mount these doors usually

 

Best Mesh Dog Gates

This mesh dog gate is made of a soft material, which might be a preference for you over the regular dog gate which is usually metal.

This particular mesh dog gate comes as a straight barrier without a door, so be aware of that if a walk through door is something you really want.

One mesh dog gate is:

 

Who Might The Mesh Gate Not Be For?

People looking for a soft pet and baby gate

People looking for a 27 inches tall pet and baby gate

People looking for a pet and baby gate that expands from 38-60 inches wide

People looking for a pressure mounted pet and baby gate

 

Who Might The Mesh Gate Be For?

People looking for a metal pet and baby gate

People looking for a pet and baby gate taller than 27 inches

People looking for a pet and baby gate that is outside the width range of 38 to 60 inches

 

Best Retractable Pet Gate

Although there are many expandable and extendable dog gates on the market, there are not many that can physically retract into themselves like an accordion.

Our top pick for the best retractable dog gate is the:

 

Pros Of Retractable Gate

They usually come pre assembled – saves you time

Once you have them set up, you can very easy retract the gate into itself and the gate will be out of the way

 

Drawbacks Of Retractable Gate

We could only find one popular true accordion style retractable dog gate on the market. So, a drawback might be that there is not a lot of choice when it comes to retractable dog gates

 

Best Dog Gate For A Wide Opening

Wide and extra wide dog gates usually fall within the 50 to 192 inches (16 feet) wide range, with most regular dog gates being anywhere from around 20 to 50 inches wide.

Wide & extra wide dog gates are good for blocking off bigger/wider areas or spaces, such as whole rooms for example, where a shorter length dog gate wouldn’t stretch far enough.

We’ve listed wide gates in the list at the top of this guide.

However, one example is the:

 

Potential Pros

They can cover big and wide spaces and openings that shorter thinner gates can’t

You can cover areas such as whole rooms that shorter gates can’t

Some extra wide gates also double as a containment pen – giving you a 2-in-1 pen and gate

 

Potential Drawbacks

Wider gates usually involve adding extensions to the gates. Extensions although aren’t weak, usually aren’t as strong as just the core centre piece of the gate, especially when fully extended. Be aware of this when adding extensions when they are fully extended. Generally though, with the good gates this isn’t a big issue

Wider gates may need wall mounting for extra support

 

Extensions For Wide Dog Gates

Some gates come with the extensions included. However, some gates require you to buy extensions separately. Make sure you check which extensions are included before you buy

 

Best Dog Gate For The Kitchen

It depends on your dog gate needs, and also the space in your kitchen you want to install the dog gate.

The list at the top of this guide has many options.

 

Best Plastic Dog Gate

Most dog gates are made of steel and plastic. 

A dog gate made of plastic and wood is the Evenflo retractable gate:

 

Best Metal Dog Gates

Most of the dog gates on the market are metal – see the top rated list above for options.

Some potential pros and cons are:

 

Pros Of Metal Dog Gates

Metal dog gates generally don’t get damaged as easily as wooden dog gates

There’s a lot of metal dog gate options on the market

 

Cons Of Metal Dog Gates

Even though they are made of metal, the metal on some dog gates can be cheaper thinner type of metal that can be easier to bend and dent 

Some people think metal dog gates don’t look as good or match indoor decor as much as wooden dog gates do

 

Best Wooden Dog Gates

Our top picks for the best wooden dog gates, or composite wooden gates are:

 

Pros Of Wooden Gates

They tend to be slightly lighter than metal gates

Some people think they look nicer than metal gates

 

Cons Of Wooden Gates

Wooden gates may get chipped or damaged with heavy use more often than metal gates, but this isn’t usually a big concern or issue

 

Best Portable Dog Gates

Pressure mounted and freestanding dog gates are some of the best portable dog gates.

Freestanding gates can be picked up and moved.

Pressure mounted gates don’t require screws and hardware, and can simply be pressure mounted and released and be moved around as required.

We’ve listed options in the top rated list at the top of this guide.

 

Best Dog Gate With A Pet Door

The advantage of these dog gates is that you can keep out your larger pets and babies, whilst enabling smaller pets and cats through.

To give you an idea of the size of these pet doors, they are usually around the 10 inches tall x 7 inches wide dimensions.

Our top picks for the best dog gates with pet doors are:

 

Pros Of Dog Gates With Pet Doors

  • You can still block off big pets and babies, whilst letting through small pets and cats
  • The pet doors can usually be locked or closed off to block out all sized pets

 

Cons Of Dog Gates With Pet Doors

  • No. The only potential drawback is that there’s not a heap of options on the market to choose from. The pet doors are also not big – so they are for small pets only.

 

Best Step Over Dog Gates

Step over dog gates are usually around the 18-24 inch tall range, with most regular dog gates being anywhere from 25 to 35 inches high, and tall gates being 35 inches and taller.

Step over dog gates are well suited to small pets and the youngest babies – the step over gates block off the opening you want to block, but they are short enough to step over without having to use or have a walk through gate that needs you to lock and unlock it.

Apart from the top rated list, these are some of the top rated step over dog gates:

 

Potential Pros

They usually come pre assembled – saves you time

They are easy to transport and very portable and lightweight – you can usually pick them up and relocate them or store them away

You can simply step over them instead of having to open a gate and walk through it, and lock it behind you

 

Potential Drawbacks

They aren’t as suitable for bigger pets and older babies/children because of their height 

 

Dog Gates That Let Cats Through

Some gates that let cats through:

 

Dog Gate For The Garage, Or Garage Door

The best dog gate for your garage or garage door should either:

– Block your dog from getting access to your garage, or

– Block your dog from escaping the garage out onto the street (if your garage is connected to your house)

Below are some gates that might fit the dimensions of the part of your garage you are trying to block in or off.

Specifically, we’ve also listed some extra wide dog gates which might be more suitable for a full width garage door opening.

 

Our top picks for the best dog gate for the garage or garage door are:

Pressure Mounted Gates

 

Hardware Mounted Gates

 

Freestanding Dog Gates

 

Extra Wide Gates

 

Tall Dog Gates

 

Heavy Duty/Strong Dog Gates

 

What Makes A Good Dog Gate For A Garage Door?

It really depends on the size of your dog, and the width of the garage opening you want to block off.

Pick one to match both.

 

Dog Gates For Different Dog Breeds

You’ll want to get a dog gate that takes into account the height and weight of your dog (in addition to fitting the width of the opening you want to block off in your house)

Below are some general sizes of different dog breeds for reference when looking at different sizes of dog gates.

 

Dog Gates For Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are a toy to small breed of dog that average 3 to 6 lbs in weight and around 6 to 9 inches in height.

 

Dog Gates For Yorkies

Yorkies are a toy to small breed of dog that average 4 to 6 lbs in weight and around 8 to 9 inches in height.

 

Dog Gates For Beagles

Consider that Beagles are a medium sized breed, that might be 15 inches tall at the shoulder

 

Dog Gates For French Bulldogs

Consider that French Bulldogs are a small sized breed, that might be 12 inches tall at the shoulder

 

Dog Gates For Labradors

Labradors are a large breed of dog that average 55 to 80 lbs in weight and around 21 to 24 inches in height.

 

Dog Gates For Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are a large breed of dog that average 55 to 70 lbs in weight and around 21 to 24 inches in height.

 

 

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The information is based on either our own thorough research, and/or own experiences, as a means of free speech.

By consuming this information, you accept that TheDailyShep.com do not have client or patient relationship with you, and TheDailyShep.com are not advising you to act on anything you read.

You should always consult your own veterinarian, animal expert, or health care professional and follow their advice before making decisions on all matters.

 

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