Anyone who has seen a determined puppy escape to the kitchen bin, or had a curious cat weave towards the staircase, knows how easy it can be to feel the need for boundaries at home. Choosing The Right Pet Gate is a seemingly small decision that has a much larger impact on everyday life than it first appears, as the perfect gate quietly stops accidents and offers more freedom of movement to pets and owners alike.
It seems a simple enough thing to purchase, but the variety of designs and options can make the task unexpectedly difficult. This guide explores choosing the right pet gate in more detail, from the different kinds of barriers to the details which will have to be considered to buy the gate most suitable for an owner and their pet.
Understanding Gate Selection
Pet gates control access to staircases, kitchens, home offices, nurseries and external doors, so that the owner can limit the places in their home accessible to their pet without the constant supervision necessary to stop explorations in undesirable areas of the house. This makes these barriers valuable additions to the home for those with young puppies, elderly dogs, curious cats, or pets which must be kept separate from one another at different times, as it allows for a greater degree of autonomy to come and go while maintaining safety. With the presence of a pet in the house, or the changing of furniture arrangements, it's possible a gate will be needed unexpectedly, and so more than worth the time to choose the right kind.
Types of Pet Gates
There are many types of pet gates with different methods of fixing and materials of construction, and the purpose for which the barrier is to be used should heavily influence the selection from those available. Pressure mounted barriers do not use screws or any method of fixing to the frame, and instead exert pressure against the door or wall to maintain their position, but a sufficiently strong dog may push the gate out of the way, while hardware mounted gates are far more secure as they use a screwing mechanism for fixing, and are best suited to the top of a staircase as additional security. Freestanding gates are useful when there is no space in an area of the home to fix a barrier, but make use of a wide base or folding mechanism to remain in place, while a walk through gate has a small door built into its structure which allows people to pass through while the gate remains in place, or portable barriers are designed to be moved from room to room or taken on trips, often folding to be smaller in size, and are usually fitted with an adjustable height mechanism to fit larger doorways.
Choosing The Right Pet Gate
With the basic categories of gate understood, choosing the right pet gate is a question of personal preference and individual circumstances. The height of the gate should be chosen based on the size and behavior of the pet, as there may be little point in a gate which can easily be reached and jumped over by a large dog, and it should also be taken into account that the gate must also be high enough to stop any pets which may climb or jump against it. The width of the opening in the gate must match whichever doorway it is being fitted to, and the material chosen must be appropriate both to the intended use and the environment in which it is to be placed, as a wooden gate may be preferable for a more homely appearance in some homes, but metal is also far stronger. The method of fixing the gate is also important, and the stability provided should be appropriate to the intended use and the position in the house, and so should also be chosen based on the owners' living situation and the pets' behavior, size and height, as these factors must be taken into account when determining the likelihood that a gate will be knocked over or pushed against with enough force to sustain damage.
Think About Your Pet's Behavior
In the same way that a gate is a poor choice of purchase for a relaxed, elderly cat, a barrier unsuitable for a boisterous, young dog is unlikely to remain in place for long. Pets with the ability to push the gate out of the way or jump against it with enough force to sustain damage require a higher, more stable barrier which has a secure locking mechanism, but pets which are calmer in temperament or small in size may not need such features. Observing how a pet moves around the home and interacts with doorways, staircases and other furniture is also a good idea to help select the barrier most suitable to their abilities.
Safety Features to Look For
The main purpose of a pet gate is to prevent accidents, and therefore safety features are an absolutely vital consideration when choosing the right kind of gate. A secure locking mechanism prevents pets, and even small children in some cases, from accidentally opening the barrier, and the stability of the gate itself should also be a priority, especially if the gate is at the top of a staircase, where any wobbling could result in a fall. The spacing between the bars of the gate should also be an important consideration to ensure that the head, limbs or any other part of the pet cannot become wedged between them and that the edges of the gate are smooth enough to prevent any abrasions.
Pet Gates and Other Pet Essentials
It is unlikely that a pet gate will be purchased alone, but is instead part of a broader selection of household pet essential items, including pet toys and accessories to keep a pet amused in the areas of the house in which they are allowed to roam, to prevent them from becoming bored and destructive to the area in which they are confined.
Another factor which may need to be taken into consideration is the question of dog ramp vs dog stairs, for older pets or those recuperating from an injury which means they are unable to climb stairs. A ramp provides a gentler incline which puts less strain on a pet's joints, while stairs take up less floor space but are potentially more challenging to navigate, and the same considerations which apply when choosing the right pet gate also apply to the selection of either a ramp or stairs for a pet.
Measuring Before You Buy
Regardless of the kind of gate selected, it is important to measure the size of the space in which it is to be placed to ensure the most suitable size is selected. The width of the door or opening should be measured at several points, as walls in older houses can sometimes be uneven, and the depth available on either side should also be taken into consideration. The size of any gaps at floor level must also be measured for a gate which will prevent the passage of a small pet, but there should also be enough space to prevent any dragging of the pet's legs on carpets or other floor coverings. The position of the gate within the house is important too, as it should be placed far enough away from a step to allow it to be opened safely.
Permanent or Portable
A hardware-mounted gate is most useful at the top of a staircase or in an area of the house where its presence is required constantly, or where failing to maintain its position would be dangerous, as the gate is extremely stable in place but cannot be moved to another location with ease. A portable gate is best suited elsewhere, where access is not needed constantly or where the owner is unable to make any alterations to the walls of the house, such as in rented accommodation.
How to Make the Final Choice
To summarize, choosing the right pet gate requires an understanding of the pets' size and behavior, the question of permanent stability versus portable flexibility, accurate measurements of the space in which the gate will be placed, and consideration of the safety features of the gate, such as locking mechanisms and the space between the bars. It should also be taken into account how the gate will fit in with other pet essential purchases, from toys and accessories to the decision of the merits of a dog ramp vs dog stairs.
Why This Matters
Deciding on the right pet gate will not be a quick process, but one which requires honest assessment of the pets' abilities and the location of the gate within the house. Without taking these considerations into account, a barrier chosen purely for appearance or strength, while potentially excellent at first, is unlikely to remain in place for long.
Conclusion
Choosing the right pet gate is less about popularity and more about selecting a barrier which fits the circumstances of an owner and their pet, allowing for a greater degree of freedom for both parties. Investing the time into ensuring the correct gate is selected by measuring accurately and considering the pets' abilities and the location of the gate is much more important than the appearance of the barrier.
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