The Best Dog Gates

What to Look For

We love dogs, and we also love when they give us a little space. To find the best dog gates to do this, we prioritized these aspects in our search: effectiveness, dependability, and ease of installation. The Arf Pets free-standing door takes minutes to set up, and it works well for smaller dogs. Alternatively, the sturdy retractable gate from Cumbor caught our eye with its sleek design and more permanent installation setup. There’s more to discuss, so read on to find the right dog gate for you.

Kingmazi Extra Tall Pet Safety Gate

Painless setup

The design and build quality of this dog gate is top-notch and it's also easy to set up.

Best Overall

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A pet gate should be sturdy, dependable, and easy to open. This dog gate from Kingmazi hits all three with flying colors. The steel construction means it’s perfect even for larger dogs that might break plastic gates. The pads on the side keep the gate firmly in place. They won’t loosen over time, so you can trust this gate to stay put.

Pros:

• This tall gate has a comfortable handle height for adults. It uses a locking mechanism that’s easy for adults to open one-handed but difficult for young children.
• Installation is a breeze. It’s easy to tighten the pressure pads and adjust the gate’s width.

Cons:

• The auto-closing gate can be a bit loud.

Ronbei Extra Wide Dog Gate

They shall not pass

Keep your little ones safe with this ultimate dog gate that fits a wide range of doorway widths.

Runner Up

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We love a safety gate that doesn’t get in the way. This extra-wide dog gate from Ronbei gives us just that, with a smooth door that glides open and shut. The adults can seamlessly travel through this gate without a thought, while the little ones stay in their safe zone. It stays open when opened past 60 degrees and automatically closes below that point.

Pros:

• The gate uses a two-contact opening mechanism. It’s possible to reach both buttons with one hand as an adult, but kids will have a hard time pressing them, and dogs stand very little chance.
• This gate can be set up inside or outside. It will handle snow and rain just fine.

Cons:

• The stabilizer bar fits a bit loosely.

Summer Infant Pet Safety Gate for Stairs and Banisters

Peace of mind, here we come

This sturdy banister gate keeps babies and pets safe from going downstairs.

Best For Stairs

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Stairs are notoriously dangerous, especially when dogs or kids are involved. To keep the little ones safe, we suggest using this safety gate. It keeps them protected while allowing easy access for adults. It provides us with peace of mind knowing our precious pup can’t careen down the stairs.

Pros:

• The entire gate swings on the hinge. The clearance is just slightly less than the width of the stairs.
• Although meant for stairway banisters, this gate can also be used in doorways. It’s more stable on banisters but holds firmly against walls as well.

Cons:

• The installation instructions are a bit unclear.

Arf Pets Free Standing Wood Dog Gate with Walk Through Door

Elegance meets practicality

This beautiful wood-finished pet gate can be set up and taken down in seconds.

Best Wooden

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We like this dog gate for its classy wood finish and easy storage. It folds up neatly when not in use. It even has a small latched door. We found this to be a great dog gate for parties and get-togethers — it keeps the pets away from the commotion but still looks elegant — and it can be neatly put away afterward.

Pros:

• An extension gate is available to extend the width. Since each gate hinge can swing both ways, this allows for various home setups.
• The four sections can form an enclosure by themselves or against a wall. They work well as a temporary playpen.

Cons:

• This gate might not work with aggressive or energetic dogs since they can push it over.

Cumbor 0-55” Retractable Mesh Dog Gate

For the VIP pets

This unique pet gate made from see-through mesh rolls up with a sliding mechanism instead of using a swinging door.

Best Retractable

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There’s no getting through this gate. With a sturdy mesh wall, this gate keeps pets and kids in secure locations and out of harm’s way. We love the retractable mechanism: it’s smooth and seamless. And when the gate is open, it adds way less visual clutter than other types of safety gates.

Pros:

• This gate uses posts that screw into the walls. This provides maximum stability and longevity.
• The mesh provides enough visibility to see through. This can be useful for keeping an eye on troublemakers.

Cons:

• This involves a more complicated setup than other types of dog gates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a double-latched dog gate?

Many dog gates come with a dual-latching mechanism to open the gate door. Usually, this involves a button on top and one on the bottom of the handle. Once both are pressed, pull up on the handle and the door will open.

Can large dogs jump over gates?

From our experience, large dogs are best deterred by equally large gates. However, depending on their training and temperament, large dogs can learn to accept smaller gates. We recommend slowly introducing them to the gate and using treats to encourage them to stay inside the designated area.

About the Author

Dave's dog Fiona might be a tiny Yorkie, but she has a big personality. She's playful and kind of crazy, but she's sweet, shy, and protective, too. Dave has learned a lot from raising Fiona, and now he wants to share his knowledge of dog parenting with the rest of the world to help provide happy, healthy lifestyles for our furry friends.

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