The Best Pet Gates
There are plenty of good reasons to keep pets out of certain parts of your home. Maybe you have a counter surfer who just can't be trusted in the kitchen, or maybe you're working on the tricky task of potty training and need your furry friend to hang out far away from the carpet. Pet gates also keep your animals away from unsuitable foods and choking hazards, couches, beds, and toddlers. Whatever the reason is, you deserve a gate that's up to the task. And when you find that perfect gate, an incredible peace of mind follows. The right gate will make pet ownership simpler — keeping your animal safe and your home just the same.
What To Look For
When the time comes to choose your perfect pet gate, you’ll want to ask a few serious questions. Will this device harm my drywall? Is it easy to take down and store when it’s not in use? Is it strong enough to stand up to my large pup bumping into it or leaning on top of it from time to time? While performing our research to spot the best versions available today, we were greatly impressed by the InnoTruth blockade for its ability to check all of the boxes, as well as the MyTickles Magic pet gate for its incredible convenience. We can’t wait to find out which one suits your needs best from the list below.
InnoTruth Wide Pet Gate
A stylish solution
This pet gate checks the boxes for many different purposes. To start, it can fit in almost any doorway with its extendable 29 to 36-inch size. Its two height options are tall enough to keep big dogs contained, and it has a door in the middle for your convenience. The edges won’t hurt your walls and the pull-and-lift lock helps to keep kids safe if you need them to be protected by the gate along with your pets. It’s also made of steel with a stunning design —and two color choices— to ensure it will match the style of your home.
Pros:
- We love that this closes automatically. It seems like the perfect solution to protect our pets if we were to forget the gate open once in a while.
- The strong setup seems perfect for large dogs, too.
Cons:
- The four pressure-mounted wall attachments take some time to install, so this isn’t the best gate to move around from place to place. It works better as a semi-permanent solution.
MyTickles Magic Mesh Gate
The easy install
This gate is about as convenient as they come. It includes four ultra-strong stick-on hooks to place on your walls — the gate simply loops onto them. When it’s not being used, it’s easy to slip the side poles out and fold the entire product up for compact storage. The black mesh material is minimalistic, ensuring your room division tool won’t take away from your home’s decor. The extra-long size makes it easy to cover large room openings, too.
Pros:
- We love that the stick-on hooks make application possible on any surface — such as wood trim, drywall, tile, and more.
- The fact that the poles retract to just a few inches long makes storage super convenient.
Cons:
- This is a one-size gate. If you don’t need the full 70 inches, it won’t work well in your space.
Carlson Lil Tuffy Expandable Gate
Let the kitty through
If you have an odd-sized door opening and a little pup that just loves to be where they shouldn’t, this gate is worth checking out. It expands from 22 to 38 inches, and its 18-inch height is easy for adults to step over. It even has a small 9 by 9-inch pet door, so you can let the kitty squeeze through while keeping the puppy out — or whichever animal combination you need. The entire product is easy to move around from door to door, and the pressure system is designed to create tight fits without harming your drywall.
Pros:
- This would work well for keeping dogs away from cat food and litter boxes.
- For such a large device, we think this price is unbeatable.
Cons:
- This only comes in white, but it can always be taken down when you need the house to look extra nice.
Summer Infant Extra Tall Gate
Taller protection
If you have a pet that can jump, you need a gate that they can’t get over. This version from Summer Infant is designed for just that with its impressive 36-inch height. The width adjusts from 28 inches to just over 38, and two metal finishes are available to match your current decor. There’s a door in the middle that can be opened with one hand, so you don’t have to worry about fiddling with a difficult lock every time you need to pass through. The pressure-mounted sides also work anywhere with flat walls, making this a great option for doorways as well as the tops and bottoms of your home’s stairs.
Pros:
- Even though the door in the middle can be opened with one hand, its lift-and-pull mechanism is too tricky for most kids to open. This makes the gate useful for both pets and children.
- We love the sturdy design, which should hold up through all sorts of bumps.
Cons:
- The install process can take some time, but the door in the center lets you keep it up for extended periods so you don’t have to go through the process often.
PetMaker Freestanding Barrier Gate
Set and go
Sometimes, you need pets to stay in an area that doesn’t have a standard door opening. This freestanding gate is the perfect solution — just set it in the spot you need to block off. Its 72-inch size helps you protect almost any area, and its accordion style makes it work for smaller spots, too. The wood comes in three finishes, so you don’t have to worry about bringing something this large into your home and letting it be an eyesore in your space.
Pros:
- We love that this doesn’t require installation — simply set it down and enjoy the space protection.
- It would work well for the bottom of a staircase where attaching to banisters isn’t always an option. Just set it at the bottom to keep pets from going up.
Cons:
- The large style isn’t super convenient when it comes time to store the gate away.
Can all pet gates double as baby gates?
Most can, yes. The most important factor to consider is the sturdiness of the gate you choose. If it’s made of mesh or has a stand-alone style, it might be easy for kids to pass. Other features to watch for when looking for a baby/pet gate include lockable handles that let adults through but not children, vertical bars that can’t be climbed, and a simple setup process so you can move it around from place to place as needed.
Which gates are best for heavy dogs?
For the largest pets, you’ll want to keep a couple of factors in mind. To start, the gate you choose will need to be sturdy — just like gates that can be used with kids. You don’t want your barrier to tip over if your pet bumps into it or leans on the top. Next, you need something tall so your dog can’t just jump over the top and follow you from place to place.
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