Puppy Gate Help....

[Jennifer and Jack]

I have the puppy play pen for Jack which we will use for Molly, Last night I purchased one of the wooden free standing gates for wide areas from Pet Smart, the problem is, I didn't measure it only goes to 72 inches and I need at least 20 more inches.......

 

I don't want the ones that get screwed into the wall if I can help it but I don't want to pay 300 dollars either.. anyone have any ideas?????

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Wow!  I am soo happy for you!  Talk about divine intervention on the gate!  Were you able to take the $100 back?  If so, then you can buy more toys & fun stuff! LOL  I hope you don't lose your sleeping buddy!  Try not to trip on puppy stuff!  You have to take a picture of the puppy with the "It's a Girl Balloons" in the background somewhere.  How precious!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

While the tension gates are great, if too much pressure is put on them they will fall. Plus the rubber end caps eventually pull the paint off the wall. 

I have a childs expandable gate that does screw into the walls. But you can make it free standing very easily by making your own wood ends to screw the gate into.  If you look at a free standing gate the ends are basically a wooden "T".  I used one 6' 2x4 and one 6' 2x6 painted them, but you could used stained oak, walnut, you get the idea.  My gate is about 30" tall, so I cut the 2x4 and the 2x6 into two 30" pieces.  I used the 2x4 for the bottom (foot) board and the 2x6 for the side board.  All you have to do is center the 2x6 on the wide side of the 2x4 and screw the boards together from the bottom.  Now the expandable gate can be fastened to the wooden ends instead of your wall. 

If you have wood floors or tile you can put thick felt on the bottom to prevent scratches.  Smaller lumber yards will cut the boards for sure.  Home Depot and Lowes have also done this for me in the past.  Menards probably does it too, I just have never asked before.

Something to consider when using a tension or freestanding gate system is with too much pressure they will move.  So if you have a dog that likes to lean or place their paws and stand up, the gate is going to move.  That when anchoring to the wall will be necessary. 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Also, Craigslist is a good place to look for expandable kid gates and consignment shops.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I screwed two pieces of thin wood into both sides of the door jam and slid the "gate" between them. I used white plastic lattice from the garden department. It isn't very high but none of our dogs have ever tried to cross it even though they are standards.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks for all the great ideas!!! I am going to take some pictures in the next few days and post them. My mom just moved in yesterday, she will be here for a few months so we are getting her settled, well she is and I am couch supervising!!!!

 

She must have told me ten times already that I can not keep Molly!!!