dog gate dogs Pet Care

Why you should consider getting a Retractable Dog Gate

Whether you’re a new dog parent bringing home your first puppy or if you’re looking to improve the safety of your home and make it more dog friendly, there is no denial that a retractable pet gate is essential around the home.  This equipment is great for managing pet access to and around the house and gives dog parents a peace of mind knowing that their pup is safe and staying out of trouble.

 

 

The benefits of using a dog gate

Pet access aside, pet gates are an important management tool that can help teach your dog boundaries and shape their behaviours and habits. It is crucial that the gate is not used to isolate your pup as this can be detrimental to their mental well-being. Rather, think of this tool in terms of health and safety. There are several scenarios where a pet gate can be used:

 

  1. Pet Safety

This is perhaps the biggest reason for using a pet gate at home. Like small children, puppies do not always understand the difference between safe and unsafe items, meaning they may inspect things like trash, food, and other hazardous items. A gate will separate your pet from these dangerous objects and keep them in designated areas around your home to play and relax in instead.

 

  1. Separating your pet from others

Aside from safety, a pet gate is handy for separating your dog from others. This includes newborns, toddlers or any visitors who may not appreciate being inspected by your furry friend. Alternatively, a gate may be used to separate multiple household pets if they do not aways see eye-to-eye.  

 

  1. Providing a safe space

Just like how we all have our personal space, it is important for our dogs to have their own area. A pet gate can be used to designate a safe space for dogs, so they feel like home. Make sure you provide them with access to food, water, their bed, and their favourite toys. Giving your pet their own space can also help build their independence and reduce the likeliness of stress and separation anxiety which can be harmful for their mental health.

  

  1. Teaching your dog boundaries

The same way we train our dogs to sit, stay and follow so that they can stay safe and learn important skills like waiting for food, avoiding jumping on strangers or running off, a pet gate will train your dog to respect certain spaces.  For example, you may close off the dining room or kitchen from your dog during mealtime so that they won’t scavenge food. Alternatively, a pet gate can also be used after they’ve been outside so that they don’t dirty your brand-new white leather couch after rolling around in the mud.

 

 

Finding the right pet gate – what should you consider?

Finding the right gate for your dog is no easy feat and several factors should be taken into consideration. Luckily, our Retractable Dog Gate range comes in different shapes, sizes, and colours that’s suitable for a variety of dogs.

 

  1. Dog size
Is your dog breed considered as small, medium, large or extra-large sized? If you’re unsure which one it is, we have a pet sizing guide available here. When choosing a pet gate, make sure it is sufficiently tall enough so that your dog can’t scale or jump it. Therefore, it is important to think about the size of your dog and how tall your gate needs to be.
 
For our small and medium sized furry friends, we recommend our standard 55” and 71” inch Retractable Dog Gates which stand at a height of 33”. As for larger dogs, we suggest our Extra Tall Retractable Dog Gate which stands at 41” tall.

 

  1. Dog habits
What are your dog’s habits? Are they a habitual jumper that will attempt to jump their way to freedom, or an escape artist that routinely attempts to climb and wriggle their way out of any opening.
 
If your dog has either of these habits, we suggest our Ultimate Retractable Dog Gate which stands at 39.4”. The height will ensure that your dog isn’t able to escape into the space you have blocked off. Furthermore, the gate’s auto-locking feature means the mesh won’t sag, preventing your dog from crawling underneath the gate.

 

  1. Dimensions and installation
Consider, where do you plan on using the pet gate? Will it be used indoors only, or will it be used outside as well? Do you plan on using your pet gate to keep your dog on one level? Depending on where you plan to use your gate, it is important to ensure that the pet gate dimensions fulfil these needs.
 
All our retractable dog gates are indoor and outdoor friendly – especially our 71”, Extra Tall and Ultimate Retractable Dog Gates. These three items measure a width of 71” which means it can be used in wider areas like doorways, staircases, decks and alfresco areas. For staircase installation, we also offer an Extra Tall Banister Adapter Kit which ensures a tool-less installation on the staircase.

 

  1. Portability
Are you someone that moves around a lot? Will you be bringing your dog with you? Or are you someone that requires a bit of flexibility as you plan to use the dog gate in different areas of your home?
 
Our gates are lightweight and easy to move around. In enhancing portability, we recommend using an additional set of wall mounts so that you can move your gate from place-to-place.

 

  1. Ease of operation
If you have a baby on one hip, or a coffee in one hand, is the dog gate easy to unlatch and open with the other hand? Is it easy to install and use, even for your kids or grandkids?
 
Luckily, our retractable dog gates have been designed with these scenarios in mind. Simply push and twist the gate to unlock and pull the gate to latch into/off the catch mount – no need to hold down any buttons.

 

  1. Appearance

While appearance may not be a priority for your pet pal, us dog parents may consider this factor since the gate will be used for a long time and become a part of your home décor. Our retractable dog gates come in a variety of colours which makes it suitable for homes of all colour schemes.

 

 

Introducing your dog to a pet gate

Your dog may not embrace the idea of separation from their ‘pack’ at first, but with time and effective training, they will get used to it. Like other training, prepare treats as a reward for good behaviour, and give them attention and affection. Make sure you take no notice of bad behaviours like scratching the gate, whining, barking or begging for attention. When first introducing your dog to a gate, stay close by so they know you aren’t far away and in time your pup will get used to being in their own space and will remain calm and relaxed even when you are not around.

 

 

 

 

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