Dog Safety Gate Tips
Want to know a quick way to prevent most naughty dog behavior? Ever wonder quick ways to teach dogs polite behaviors? Want an easy tip to help during puppy stage? Install a dog safety gate.
Yes, it’s that simple. Management is often overlooked. Instead, we focus on the grandeur of instant behavior changes in dogs. Well, we all know it’s not that simple. I wish I’d quit eating cupcakes, but that behavior hasn’t changed yet. 🙂 If I didn’t buy cupcakes, then I would not eat them, and folks that’s what you call management!
With all the attractive models to choose from, you can’t go wrong! I’ll tell you another secret: I have three safety gates in my home right now because they’re invaluable safety and management tools. 🙂
Dog gates prevent dogs from:
- Chewing walls, furniture and shoes.
- Making potty accidents.
- Running outdoors.
- Knocking over guests.
- Jumping on furniture.
- Barking out windows.
- Digging in trash.
- Eating cat poop.
- Resource guarding.
RELATED: Dog Time Out
Where to Install a Dog Safety Gate
Entryway
Blocking access to other rooms keeps dogs and puppies from wandering around unsupervised, chewing or pottying indoors. Try placing the dog gate in the entryway to prevent your dogs from jumping on guests or running out an open door.
Garage and Window
Use the dog safety gate as a barrier to keep your dogs in a specific area to prevent garage raiding or barking at neighbors, dogs, cats and squirrels through a window. At night, keep all dogs in the bedroom with you. Use a gate to separate your dog from the kitty litter box. Most cats jump over a gate. If not, choose a gate with a cat-sized opening.
Kitchen
Separating dogs while they’re eating is vital to prevent resource guarding (guarding food). It’s also a good idea to separate dogs when they’re chewing on high value items, such as bully sticks or food-stuffed toys.
Introducing Dog Gates
Easy, just install. Management works many different ways. It prevents your dog from practicing a behavior, which is a huge win! It’s half the battle when teaching your dog polite behaviors. Now, you can teach your dog what to do instead like potty outside, chew bully sticks instead of mold or cat poop, ignore movement outside, and most importantly self settle.
If your dog whines or tries to push through a safety gate, ignore him. He’ll learn it won’t budge. If your dog is persistent, give him a food stuffed Kong instead so he forgets what’s on the other side. Make sure it’s tall enough for your dog’s height so he doesn’t learn to jump over it.
Lastly, introduce a new safety gate when you’re home at least for the first week or two. This way, your dog learns to ignore it instead of figuring out ways around it or panicking due to space restrictions. It’s never a good idea to introduce anything new when you’re not home to monitor.
Best Dog Gate Brand
My favorite brand is pressure mount KidCo Safety Gates. I’ve had them for 15 years and they still work and look great. I’ve not had a dog knock one over yet (knock on wood!)–not even Sobek, my bouncing Rottweiler. With a 4.2-star rating on Amazon, I think you get the point.
KidCo gates range between $60-$150, depending on length and height, with many options to choose from. I’ve purchased cheaper brands and they all ended up in the garbage. My dogs either pushed past or destroyed them.
When in doubt, use a dog safety gate!