The Trials of Dog Gate Shopping

That's what most new dog owners believe until they see the wide selection on the shelves and the huge price difference between some of them. Or, perhaps until they get the first couple home and realize they won't work for one reason or another. It turns out shopping for a dog gate that will work for your intended purpose and hold up for the long term can be quite a trial for some people.

The following factors will guide you to selecting a dog gate (or two or more!) that will work within your home for your intended purpose. There are so many dog gate options because it is booming market with many different uses and applications. The trick is just narrowing down your options to what will work best for you.

Permanency

The first thing you need to consider is whether you need just one dog gate that will become a permanent feature in your home for awhile or if you need one that can be moved around easily to different areas of the home. If you travel a lot, then having durable dog gates that is easy to move with you could be an option as well, though frequent travelers often purchase separate gates for the home and travel purposes.

If you will be moving the gate around at different times of the day to contain your puppy in different areas of the home, then you won't want to purchase a gate that secures permanently to your wall unless you are going to purchase more than one. Permanent gates are sturdier than those that just stretch across the doorway and latch temporarily, but the fact that they aren't very portable could become an issue.

Materials

Most of the dog gates designed to permanently stay in the home are made from sturdy wood or metal, but you can find plastic dog gates that work much like temporary baby gates (and some dog owners actually do just use their baby gates as pet gates). You can also find soft mesh material gates which are perfect options for use while away from home since they are so lightweight and easy to transport.

You want something that will be durable and hard for a growing puppy or strong older dog to knock down. This is why so many homeowners like the idea of the gates that hook into the wall and just swing open with an opening latch. You can find those in a wide variety of wood stains so they match your home perfectly. These gates are often purchased by active families that have small children as well as dogs to take care of.

Height

Finally, you have to consider the height of the gate to ensure it is a good fit for the breed of dog you own. You also have to consider the behaviors and personality of the dog you are trying to contain. There are tall gates designed for larger breeds and hyperactive dogs who might jump over a smaller gate.