Door-Wall Barriers for Dog Screens

Dog gates are an easy, stylish and effective way to safely screen off your dog to a particular part of your home. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Manufacturers make it simple to match a gate that fits your dog and home decor. While keeping dogs out of prohibited areas, two-legged folk can easily walk back and forth, without compromising the interior style.

  1. Styles

    • Swing gates allow the door to open in both directions. Most are equipped with easy-to-use locks and are adjustable to fit various openings. Designed for small to large dogs, freestanding barriers act as a screen to fit different widths. Extremely movable when not in use, freestanding barriers come in handy when traveling with your pet. Retractable or expandable gates attach to one side of the wall then latch on the opposite side when locked. Smaller, walkover gates are perfect for puppies or teacup canines; or for older dogs that cannot jump over 18 inches.

    Installation

    • Swing dog barriers are hardware mounted for stability of free-swinging motion. An alternative to latches, a push-button gate is simple to operate with just one touch. Freestanding dog gates do not require any tools or drilling holes into walls and are easily moved from one area to another. A polymer-mesh gate retracts out-of-sight into a slim cylinder, which is attached to one wall. Most retractable gates are a standard 34 inches high and expand up to 72 inches. A pressure-mounted dog barrier expands inside an opening or doorway and holds in place by the resisting pressure.

    Materials

    • Dog barriers come in a variety of materials suited for every size dog.

      Depending on the interior design of your home, dog barriers come in a variety of materials from lightweight plastic or wood to metals for withstanding pressure from larger dogs. Wood constructed gates add warmth with cozy colors such as honey, cherry or mahogany. Bamboo gates are earth-friendly. If a dog is prone to chewing on wood, try wrought iron gates for immeasurable sturdiness. In addition, combinations of wood, plastic, wire or metal are creatively designed to complement most decor.

    Prices and Up-Keep

    • Priced for all budgets, dog gates and barriers range from $30 to $60 for plastic, light wood or metal tubular construction and $100 and up for solid wood or wrought iron, as of June 2011. Proper maintenance provides hygiene and extends the life of the barrier. To clean wood, either brush with a dry cloth or use a mild detergent and water. Chemicals or abrasive cleaning products could damage the finish.