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No matter how much you believe your dog is part of the family, sometimes it's better for our furry friends to stay out of the way. For example, when you're cooking in the kitchen with a hot stove, coming down the stairs with heavy items or working outdoors in the garden with sharp tools. Having a piece of equipment like a dog stair gate that can cordon off stairs and both indoors or outside spaces, can keep both you and them safe.
So, how do you know which doggy gate will be suitable for your needs? We've put together a nifty little buying guide that will walk you through the various factors to consider and the different options available to buy online, including extra tall metal gates, extra wide wooden ones for doors and even expandable ones with a dual-lock system. From there, we’ll go on to show you some of our favourites that you can pick up from Amazon, John Lewis and Argos.
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Table of Contents
The first factor to think about when shopping for a dog gate is the material that it's made from. Generally, there are two main options: wood or metal. Both are sturdy, so it’s not a matter of which will be more robust, but more how the material may be affected by where you want to fit it.
For example, if you plan to set up the gate somewhere outdoors, you should make sure the material is rustproof — after all, you can always expect a downpour here in the UK! Thankfully, even if a gate is not already protected against the elements, it’s a relatively easy fix with a few licks of waterproofing spray or paint.
There are also mesh gates available. These have become more popular recently, but they're not as sturdy as the traditional solid bar design, so they're not great if you have a boisterous pup. That said, they do work well as room dividers and should be sufficient if you have a well-behaved dog who won't run into the gate at full speed!
Dog crates are also an excellent way to keep your dog safe and secure, especially during nap times.
Next up, you'll want to consider how to attach the gate so that it stays upright. Now, it’s worth mentioning that not all gates need to be fixed in place, as some have a free-standing design. That said, we know many owners may not trust their pet not to run full-speed ahead at the gate and attempt to knock it over, in which case they may require something more secure.
There are two options for those who want to connect their gate to the wall: pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted fixtures. The names are pretty self-explanatory — pressure-mounted gates are pushed into place using force and usually feature rubber mounts to protect your walls and floor. These are generally a secure option, although particularly boisterous dogs may still manage to barge their way through.
If you need something super-secure, opt for a gate fitted with hardware. These are robust, but since they're a permanent fixture, they’re not as flexible as pressure-mounted gates. Plus, you'll need to consult your landlord before buying one if you rent your property.
When it comes to finding a dog gate that's the perfect height, you’ll be glad to know that most of the options available on the market hit the nail on the head. A gate that's approximately 80cm in height should be enough to deter the majority of breeds from attempting to leap over the top.
We should mention that we’ve included only the maximum dimensions in the specification table below each product review. Some of the designs are extendable, meaning they can stretch or shrink to fit your doorway, so it's worth checking the retracted size before making your final decision.
For those who have a little puppy, a dog pen could be another great option!
Lastly, you might want to consider how the gate door opens, which basically means whether it swings, slides or folds. The latter options are non-intrusive as they don't come into contact with anything when opening. However, swinging doors require space, so you'll need to take the dimensions into account for this type of gate.
Another advantage of sliding and folding doors is that they can be packed up easily, making them ideal for use in various rooms around the home, and of course, you can simply store them away when not needed. Therefore, if you don't think you'll require a dog gate 24/7, opting for one of these styles might be better.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bettacare Close Pet Gate | £34.95 Mid | A Sturdy Swing Gate That Will Fit Any Space | ||
2 | Cherioll Pet Safety Gate | £15.99 Low Mid | Probably the Most Popular Mesh Gate on the Internet | ||
3 | Argos Home Scandinavian Pet Design Guard Me Gate | £58.00 High Mid | Incredibly Practical as Well as Aesthetically Pleasing | ||
4 | BabyDan Wooden Super Flexi Fit Baby Safety Gate | £49.99 Mid | Made for Babies, Works for Small Dogs Too | ||
5 | Futureyun Magic Gate for Dogs | £11.94 Low | An Affordable Option That's Easy to Set Up | ||
6 | Argos Home Extra Tall Pressure Fit Pet Gate | £50.00 Mid | Extra Tall and Extendable | ||
7 | Flexipanel The Portable Dog Fence | £34.00 Mid | Portable Enough to Take On Your Travels | ||
8 | unipaws Freestanding Dog Gate | £89.79 High | Folds Down Small for Easy Storage | ||
9 | PawHut Pet Safety Gate 5-Panel Playpen | £85.99 High Mid | Versatile but Best for Outside Use | ||
10 | Litthing Pet Isolation Door | £26.99 Low Mid | A Classic, Space-Saving Design |
Despite the range of solid, praise-worthy options in the rest of our ranking, this high-quality gate from Bettacare just had to take the top spot! It's made from super-strong metal, has a pressure-mounted design and opens via a swing mechanism.
Not only does the door open both ways, but it can be operated using only one hand and has a dual-lock system for additional security. Most importantly, this gate comes in a mammoth range of sizes, so there's one suitable for practically any space you can think of around the home. What more could you need?
Cherioll's mesh product is possibly the most popular dog gate on the internet, and we can see why! Unlike the previous mesh gate in our ranking, this one provides four hooks that ensure you can keep the fabric taut from any angle. It's this handy addition that will give you peace of mind when it comes to security.
Moreover, the design is also on the larger side, meaning that it's well-suited to keeping big pups out of harm's way. And, of course, a mesh-style gate is wonderfully flexible when it comes to storage and travelling. A brilliant, budget-friendly option that you can't go wrong with!
Before we dive into the specs of this dog gate, we have to say that it's our favourite product in terms of aesthetics. Something about the outdoor fence-style design makes it feel like a traditional dog gate, but it also has a Scandi-chic vibe that won't look out of place in your home.
Thankfully, we've taken more than this gate's looks into account — it's undoubtedly practical too. The design utilises a folding screen that will stay out of the way when you're not using it, unlike a swinging door. Best of all, there are no awkward gaps for your pet to get their precious paws stuck in, so it's totally safe!
We're big fans of products with multiple uses, so it's no surprise that this versatile wooden safety gate made it into our ranking. Technically it's been designed with babies in mind, but it's actually an excellent option for those with smaller dogs too.
The design features an easy-to-open swing door that works both ways, a double-lock for reassurance and the whole thing can be operated using one arm — talk about convenience! Plus, considering all these features, it's pretty decent value for money.
As you can see from the picture, this mesh gate has a fabric square that hangs like a flag. Instead of using pins, it's connected to the frame by hooks, making it super easy to set up. The frame can then be attached to walls or other surfaces to provide a sturdy, pooch-proof gate.
There is, unfortunately, one major downside to this product — slimmer or shorter dogs can easily slip under the gate as there is nothing to keep the material taut at the bottom, so you might want to bear this in mind if you have a particularly crafty canine.
This extra-tall gate from Argos Home is easy to install, as it has a simple pressure-mount system and fits areas between 72 and 85cm wide. There's an extension kit available too (which is sold separately) that allows the gate to work in spaces as wide as 96cm.
The narrow bars have gaps measuring just 5.7cm, meaning it's extremely unlikely that your pet will be able to escape unless they're able to jump very high. If that doesn't put your mind at ease, we're sure the double-locking system will!
The Flexipanel portable dog fence does exactly what it says on the tin. It's designed for outdoor purposes, whether that be at home in your garden or somewhere further afield during your holidays. It's free-standing but can be lightly attached to walls if you'd prefer it to stay in position.
This gate can also be used as a playpen for smaller dogs if you pull the panels around so that they join together. The only downside is that the thin mesh design isn't very robust and is unlikely to hold up if you have a tall, rambunctious pooch.
This gate from unipaws is a three-panelled, free-standing wooden option that doesn't require fixing to the wall, making it ideal for those living in rented accommodation. The design also folds down small, so it's easily stored away.
The white finish looks chic, and we love the rubber pads that will keep your floor scratch-free. However, considering this is a rather expensive product, it's a little flimsy and may be knocked over by boisterous dogs if unsupervised.
This offering from PawHut is a good choice due to its versatility. It can work as a free-standing playpen that encloses onto itself, using the five panels as sides. Or, you can opt to mount it onto your walls, giving you a more traditional gate.
This design is by far the biggest in our offering and would work best outside, especially since the paint is powder-coated to protect it against the elements. Still, if you have plenty of space indoors, then it could work well there too.
Last up in our ranking is this hardware-mounted dog gate from Litthing. It features a classic criss-cross style fence that folds into itself when you need to open it, so not only does it look jazzy, but it takes up no more room than is essential.
Moreover, the gate is available in two sizes (large or small). We've opted for L here, but the S could save you some money if you have a smaller breed. Sadly though, the product comes without fittings, so you'll need to buy them separately.
No. 1: Bettacare|Close Pet Gate
No. 2: Cherioll|Pet Safety Gate
No. 3: Argos Home|Scandinavian Pet Design Guard Me Gate
No. 4: BabyDan |Wooden Super Flexi Fit Baby Safety Gate
No. 5: Futureyun|Magic Gate for Dogs
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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