How to Make a Dog Gate for Indoors

Dogs are valuable members of our households, but the best-behaved dog may not always be welcomed in all areas of the house. Because your dog cannot understand that it must remain outside of a particular room, it is necessary to block its entry. A dog gate can be either simple or elaborate, plain or decorative, but it should be matched to the size and the strength of the dog or dogs that you own.

Things You'll Need

  • Lattice or lightweight pressboard
  • Measuring tape or straightedge
  • Pad and pen or pencil
  • Two pieces of pine lumber, 10 feet by 1 inch by 2 inches
  • Jigsaw
  • Drill
  • Screws or wall anchors
  • Enamel wall paint
  • Paintbrush
  • 2 1-inch hinges
  • 2 hook-and-eye or slide bolt fasteners
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Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Doorway

    • 1

      Measure your dog to determine how tall your gate should be. The top of the gate should come to the top of your dog̵7;s chest if your dog is very tall. It should be high enough so that your dog cannot jump it from a standstill.

    • 2

      Use a tape measure or straightedge to measure the distance from the top of the baseboard to the estimated top of the gate. Record the measurement on your paper.

    • 3

      Cut two lengths from the 1-inch-by-2-inch lumber, according to the measurements you have recorded. If desired, paint these strips of wood and wait for them to dry. Use screws or drywall anchors to secure them, short side perpendicular to the walls, on either side of the doorway. These strips will be used to mount the gate hinges and the gate latches later on.

    Build the Frame for Your Gate

    • 4

      Measure the distance between the strips of lumber mounted on the wall. Record this measurement.

    • 5

      Cut two additional pieces of 1-inch-by-2-inch pine lumber using this measurement, subtracting 3/4 inch to allow for the movement of the gate. These pieces will form the top and the bottom of your frame.

    • 6

      Measure the distance from the top of the gate to approximately 3 inches above the floor. Record this measurement.

    • 7

      Cut two additional pieces of 1-inch-by-2-inch pine lumber using this measurement. These pieces will form the two sides of your frame.

    • 8

      Form a rectangle with your cut pieces of 1-inch-by-2-inch lumber, sandwiching side pieces cut in Step 4 of this section between the top and bottom pieces cut in Step 2 of this section. Screw pieces together to complete the frame.

    Complete and Mount the Gate

    • 9

      Measure the sides of the completed frame. Record these measurements. Use a tape measure and a pencil or marker to mark a cutline on your lattice or board.

    • 10

      Use a jigsaw to cut the panel of your gate. Cut a second panel if you wish to enclose both sides of your gate.

    • 11

      Screw the solid or lattice panel to the gate frame. Paint the gate and allow it to dry.

    • 12

      Use screws to mount the hinges and gate to one of the strips of pine lumber that you mounted to the wall in Section 1, Step 3. Mount hook-and-eye or slide bolt fasteners to the other strip of lumber.