Do you have a dog that likes to escape by jumping? If you do, you’ll want to know what is the best dog gate for jumpers. My family had jumping dogs. When I was very young, one dog – a German Shephard, (Alsatian) called Max, learned to scramble over our side gate that was (at least in my young eyes) like a mountainside.
A naughty dog can wreak havoc. If a naughty dog gets out inside the house, slippers, carpet, food, and beds might be the target. If a naughty get out into the garden or beyond, mayhem can occur, up to a trip to the local dog pound, which in reality is not necessarily how they are portrayed by Disney, or something worse could happen. So, why take the risk?
- EDITOR’s TOP3
- Dreambaby Chelsea Extra Tall Auto-Close Security Gate – EDITOR’s PICK
- Carlson Pet Weatherproof Outdoor Walk-Thru Pet Gate – EDITOR’s PICK
- Carlson Extra Tall Metal Expandable Pet Gate – EDITOR’s PICK
- PAWLAND Wooden Freestanding Foldable Pet Gate
- Richell 3-in-1 Convertible Elite Pet Gate
- North States Easy Swing & Lock Pet Gate
- MidWest Homes for Pets Steel Pet Gate
- Etna Wooden Paws and Bones Pet Dog Gate
- BABYSEATER 2020 Retractable Dual-Use Gate
Anyway back to the present. You need a good dog gate for jumpers. Here’s the place to find some. We’ll make a list of our suitable and recommended gates but let’s start off with our top 3.
Our Top Three
EDITOR’s PICK |
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1. Dreambaby Chelsea Extra Tall Auto-Close Security Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for bigger dogs |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
 |
Top of our list for bigger dogs. Unless they learn to use a stepladder, this 39.5” dual-use baby or pet gate will stop just about any dog, big or small and is recommended both for that and for the handy auto-close feature. No point closing the door of your house, getting halfway to the mall and asking yourself @did I remember to close the dog gate?’. |
| Pros: — A pretty tall dog gate, that should prevent most dog escapes and a neat auto-close feature. |
2. Carlson Pet Weatherproof Outdoor Walk-Thru Pet Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for permanent outdoor use |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
 |
This model is a no-compromise outdoor dog gate, suitable for medium-sized dogs and is great value for money. Snow, ice, rain and sun would kill many wood-based (or non-weatherproof metal) models but not this one. |
| Pros: — Tall enough for most dog escapees, great for cats too. |
3. Carlson Extra Tall Metal Expandable Pet Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for keeping your Cat onboard |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
 |
We recommended this model if you have a medium-sized or vertically challenged breed, like a chihuahua, sausage dog, Pomeroy, etc. You don’t need something that will defeat a rock climber. The big plus for this gate is the catflap. Why punish your cat when it is your dog who is chewing the slippers? Your dog will respect your authority and your Cat - well don’t expect respect from Cat (they own you, remember?) but at least you won’t get those Cat ‘hey why me too?’ guilt- inducingfeline looks. |
| Pros: — Tall enough for thwarting most dog escapees, great for allowing cats out too. |
Our criteria
We spent over 60 hours researching this and looked at dozens of possible best dog gates for jumpers. In the end, we have balanced those suitable for different use-cases, those that maybe cost a little more but are worth the price, those that we recommend because they are just plain value for money, etc. A Sausage Dog is a different use case to a Great Dane or a Dobermann. If you have young kids too, that’s a consideration. Indoor gates and outdoor gates are different again.
So, we don’t take much notice of brands, reviews or what might be a popular model, the key thing is to find something that is right for your pooch and also right for you. So here are our main criteria:
- Multi-use. A lot of dog gates are designed for toddlers too. If you have both (or plan to have both) then why not get a gate that works for both. And if you have no plans for kids (or the kids are grown up) who knows what the future may bring? Maybe grandkids? Maybe a late surprise for you?
- Height. This is a similar point to the previous one. It’s generally better to go for a taller model. You may have a small dog today but who knows in years to come? So better to err on the side of extra height and the dog gate will last you many years.
- Secure fitting. Some dogs are strong and determined. A weak gate (or a poorly fitting gate) won’t be a real obstacle to a determined strong dog and you would just be wasting your money.
- Weatherproofing. Some gates are for indoors only and that’s fine if that is all you want but don’t forget the patio, the yard, the garden, etc.
- Durability and practicality. There’s a wide choice of materials and designs in dog gates. Some look functional some look fancy. Make a sensible choice, it’s a dog, not Royalty. Dogs are not especially fashion conscious.
OK, now let’s take a bigger and more detailed look at our top recommended best dog gates for jumpers
The Best Dog Gate for Jumpers in 2019
1. Dreambaby Chelsea Extra Tall Auto-Close Security Gate
Best for bigger dogs
A 39.5” high metal gate metal – probably – be enough for stopping most dogs. We like the handy auto-close feature too. This means you can go through with your hands full more easily. It also means you don’t need to close the door. This is very important if you are likely to forget, then get a few miles down the road. Do you want to be asking yourself if you actually did remember to close your dog gate? If you didn’t, you might have a pretty messy house to come back to, with the dog giving you that ‘who? me?’ look that some dogs do very well, or even no dog at all, as they are off with their local dog buddies, doing who knows what.
There is a range of size configurations, from 28” wide to a whopping 188” (bigger sizes cost more for extensions).
- A pretty tall dog gate, that should prevent most dog escapes and a neat auto-close feature.
- Like all pressure-mounted gates, a really big strong dog could probably take this gate down.
Verdict: A big dog needs a big gate. This is that big gate. If you buy something smaller and the dog figures out a way over it, then you just wasted your money.
2. Carlson Pet Weatherproof Outdoor Walk-Thru Pet Gate
Best for permanent outdoor use
Although dog gates are mostly for inside use, you might have a porch or a patio that you want to make sure the dog can get on to but not then head off somewhere further outside. This model is a dedicated fully waterproof outdoor dog gate, suitable for all weathers and for medium-sized or below dogs and is great value for money. It could, in theory, be used indoors too but the design focuses on patios, etc.
The gate pressure mounts to posts, stanchions, etc., and has a walk-through design so that people can move around but dogs can’t. If you live within an area that has very strong winds etc., some free-standing models just aren’t that suitable but the Carlson model will be secure.
- Tall enough for most dog escapees, great for cats too.
- Possibly not quite tall enough at 36” for the very determined dog.
Verdict: Solves the patio problem nicely. An indoor dog gate won’t last very long, if left outside for extended periods in areas where rain and snow are common.
3. Carlson Extra Tall Metal Expandable Pet Gate
Best for keeping your Cat onboard
This is a pressure mount design that is fairly easy to set up without the need for tools. At 32” high it’s not the tallest, but we can recommend this model if you have a medium-sized or smaller dog. The unique feature of this gate is the integrated small catflap. This allows your cat to get out without the dog getting out too. Plenty of obvious benefits there, if Nature calls for your cat for example. Also, remember that Cats are much more nocturnal than dogs, so you aren’t getting out of bed to let the Cat out. Of course, if your Cat decides to join forces with your Dog, and become Fido’s partner in crime, the catflap can be locked as well.
- Tall enough for thwarting most dog escapees, great for allowing cats out too.
- Not quite tall enough for the determined big dog.
Verdict: Has most but not all bases covered, due to the lower height.
4. PAWLAND Wooden Freestanding Foldable Pet Gate
Best for blocking off an area
Generally, we are not big fans of freestanding gates, as a determined dog, especially one who is smart and strong, can often find a way over or around. That said, you don’t always have the option of mounting a gate in a doorway, corridor, at the top or the bottom of stairs or other narrower spaces.
So the Pawland wooden folding gate model comes into its own when for example you want to block off an area, like an open plan kitchen, or block in an area, for example giving your dog a corner of a room to play or sleep in. Then this 24” high multi-panel folding gate design works pretty well. Because it folds, it is easy to fit a range of sizes and because it is freestanding, you can easily move it around the house as needed.
- Works well in bigger spaces where a pressure-based gate isn’t practical.
- Its non-anchored design and 24” height won’t stop some canny canines.
Verdict: Useful in some use cases but not the most robust solution.
5. Richell 3-in-1 Convertible Elite Pet Gate
Best for versatility
Another folding dog gate but this time with two neat tricks. The first trick is that it has an access gate built into one panel of the six folding panels, so there is no need to move the whole gate to get past. The second trick is that it can be reconfigured, for example as a pen. That means, for example, that you can turn it into an enclosed place anywhere in a room (not just in the corner) for your dog to play inside, or sleep in. The hardwood panel angles can be set at different angles, including 90 or 180 degrees and locked into place.
- A two in one solution for keeping your dog where you want them, with a handy gate.
- Not as secure as some designs. Use of hardwood might out off some eco-minded people
Verdict: A clever and useful design but with some obvious downsides.
6. North States Easy Swing & Lock Pet Gate
Best for stairs
All pressure mounted gates (including the ones we have looked at) have two obvious downsides. The first is that it is only held in place by pressure exerted on each wall, which is not as secure as proper wall mounting, using drilled holes, screws, bolts, etc. The second downside is that means there needs to be a joining bar between the two sides, to ensure the pressure holds, which is a potential trip hazard for an adult or a child. Now, if you are putting a dog gate at the top of your stairs, you might not want to risk that trip hazard.
So, the North States design fixes directly into the wall via hardware mounts. These mounts, of course, will only work securely into brick or solid wood, not into plasterboard, sheetrock, etc.
There is no joining bar so no trip hazard. This might be really important on the stairs if you are elderly and infirm or if you have young walking children using the stairs. The other bonus of wall mounting is that even the biggest strongest and most determined dog won’t be able to beat this gate.
- Safety and strength. Great for the elderly dog owner or the family with energetic young children.
- Needs a solid material to be safely mounted and if you remove the gate later, you are going to need to do some minor patching up.
Verdict: We recommend the North States for safety, provided you are using it in the right location.
7. MidWest Homes for Pets Steel Pet Gate
Best for sturdiness
OK, so let’s say you have a big boisterous dog, one that maybe is a bit cunning. Dogs aren’t as smart as humans (luckily) but some ain’t so dumb neither. So, if you have a committed jumper, you might think about upping the ante with their MidWest model.
This heavy-duty steel gate comes in two colors and more to the point is over 39 inches high. It can expand up to 38 inches wide, and you get two additional 3-inch steel side extensions for wall pressure mountings. Rover is not going to chew through this baby. The 19” gate swings open one-handed either forwards or backward ( a nice touch we feel, not all gates do so). and there is a robust spring-loaded latch to keep your doggie jailbreaker from heading out for the hills. In a nutshell, this is one model we recommend if you have a big, boisterous committed dog.
- Tough and high.
- Uses presume mounting so could, in theory, get beaten by a big strong dog if not properly fitted (but not if you have fitted per instructions).
Verdict: Doggie Alcatraz. Get your jumping dogs orange jumpsuits to go with this and your dog will know that you really do mean business.
8. Etna Wooden Paws and Bones Pet Dog Gate
Best present for your kids to “buy” your puppy
So, you actually don’t want your house to look like Sing-Sing or San Quentin jail? OK, well maybe let your kids in on the decision and they might enjoy this fun paws and bones motif free standing gate.
It’s definitely fun but at just 19” high, made of wood and freestanding, this is really for puppies or small dogs. It looks a lot better than some of the gloomy or functional gates we have on our list and is a great choice for kids to buy for their new puppy.
- A fun, lightweight best dog gate for jumpers.
- For puppies and small dogs only.
Verdict: Dogs are supposed to be fun and this is a fun model.
9. BABYSEATER 2020 Retractable Dual-Use Gate
Best for flexibility
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a roller model dog gate. This 33” high BabySeater has a clever design that attaches a roller with strong mesh fabric to one wall and then you pull it across to fix on to wall mountings on the other.
The obvious upside is that this design fits almost any smaller width corridor, door opening, staircase, etc. up to 48”. You just pull out more or less of the mesh. Another good point is that there is no joining bar to trip over.
The downside is that the gate does not close itself automatically and you also have to fix it into the wall or door jamb via drilling and make sure you fit it down low enough that a dog can’t squeeze underneath.
- Flexible size means no worries about fitting in smaller spaces.
- Doesn’t close automatically, won’t fix to plasterboard, etc. will cause minor wall damage, will not stop a bigger pet jumping over or (if not well fitted) a smaller pet squeezing under.
Verdict: A clever design that makes it a good dog gate for jumpers which will suit some but not all dog jumping issues.
Best Dog Gates for Jumpers
So, we have looked at many different Brand designs; metal, wood and mesh gates. We have seen freestanding, wall mounting and pressure mounting designs. We have seen gates that work on your patio as well as inside. On price, the key thing is to ignore just cost and focus on what is suitable. Don’t go for a brand just for the name, or a review that might give a great rating but not be applicable to your dog, your house or you.
EDITOR’s PICK |
|---|
| 1. Dreambaby Chelsea Extra Tall Auto-Close Security Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for bigger dogs |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
| 2. Carlson Pet Weatherproof Outdoor Walk-Thru Pet Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for permanent outdoor use |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
| 3. Carlson Extra Tall Metal Expandable Pet Gate |
| «EDITOR’s PICK» |
| Best for keeping your Cat onboard |
| Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
Is there really a difference between dog gates and baby gates?
Generally not that much. If a gate will keep a baby out it will keep a dog out and vice versa. However if you have a baby and you live in a house, then you definitely need a stair gate at the top of the stairs, which is securely fixed by pressure pads or by drilling and bolting etc. Never use free standing gates on the stairs for a baby. Also if you have a really big dog, then you need a really high gate (higher than some baby gates).