Pet Gates, The Basics - Considerations for Height
In a previous post I discussed the need to determine how many locations you may want a single gate to satisfy. Most pet gates are flexible enough in design to accommodate multiple dimension needs. Make sure you get the best value for your first purchase.
The first thing you want to consider is the pet gate height. Do you want your gate to prohibit escape or do you want it more as a psychological barrier. If your dog is well trained, then a psychological barrier can be quite effective as a reminder that this area is off limits. On the other hand if your dog isn’t quite trained to that extent, then you are looking for a pet gate that will absolutely prohibit entry.
Pet gates range from approximately 20 inches to around 40 inches in height, so you should do some pre-visualization of what these gates might look like in the space you are considering. The shorter pet gates are considered walk over gates (from the perspective of the humans in the house). The larger gates usually have latches that permit the gate to swing open and close.
Think about how many times during a typical day that you yourself will need to pass through the gate area. Will your hands be free, or perhaps you might be carrying something (eg. a child, laundry, a vacuum, etc.).
Your pet gate needs to be effective for your pet and practical for yourself and others in your home.
Once you have settled on the appropriate height, then start measuring for width requirements. The width is usually where we need to consider whether the pet gate will be used in multiple locations.
Measuring for width will be covered in my next post.