Anyone who has a dog at home knows there are often areas we'd rather keep them away from, or doors we'd prefer they didn't go through. Sometimes it's a matter of safety — we worry about our dog's wellbeing, which is why we might not want them slipping out the front door. Especially if we live near a busy road and our dog is still a somewhat reckless puppy. So let's find out how to build a dog gate for our four-legged friend!
Why build a dog gate
Sometimes it's not just about safety. For example, we might need to fence off a section of the garden to stop the dog from digging holes or destroying the plants we're growing. Other times, we simply don't want them entering a particular room — perhaps one with more delicate or valuable upholstery. But we all know that keeping doors firmly shut around the house isn't always easy. What happens, for instance, if we're washing the floors and need to leave a door open to let the air circulate? We're forced to shut the dog in another room, poor thing… or we can get ourselves a safety gate, just like the ones used for young children.
How do you build a dog gate?
There's naturally an easy way and a fun way. We could walk into any home furnishings or housewares store and walk out five minutes later with a gate under our arm — without even spending a fortune. Or, even more simply, we could click on any website selling similar products and place an order; within a few days, the dog gate would be delivered straight to our door.
But by now we know ourselves — easy options aren't really our style and never will be. We want to try doing everything ourselves, because there's always something new to learn! So let's work out how to build a dog gate: whether it's a project within everyone's reach and whether it's cost-effective. Once we've decided which doorway we want to block, the first thing to do is make a shopping list to take with us to a DIY store. Let's look at what we need to buy.
What you need to build a dog gate
To build a wooden dog gate we'll need the basic tools: a spirit level, a set square, wood glue, nails and a nail gun. We'll also need a drill at a later stage to fix the gate to the wall. Then, of course, there's the wood itself. To make a wooden gate for indoors, we'll naturally need to buy planks that are already sanded and shaped — unless we're able to do that ourselves. So, for a doorway of around 75 cm, we'll need six planks that are 6–7 cm wide and at least 85 cm tall, which is the standard height for a safety gate.
In addition, we'll need two boards — whatever width you prefer; let's say 8 cm for aesthetic reasons — and 70 cm long. These will be the horizontal crossbars that hold the gate's vertical slats together. We'll also need a sort of frame: a board that we'll fix to the wall and use to anchor the dog gate. Get a square wooden post, 85 cm tall with a square base. Finally, pick up two appropriately sized hinges and a latch to keep the gate closed — choose whichever style you like, but make sure it's not too simple to open. Dogs can sometimes show just how clever they really are.
Let's get started #1
Lay the two wooden crossbars on a flat surface and use the set square to make sure they are perfectly parallel. Place them about 55 cm apart, so that the vertical slats resting on top can extend 10 cm beyond each crossbar at both ends. Begin fixing the two outermost slats with wood glue, checking with the set square and spirit level that they are perfectly perpendicular to the crossbars. Now divide the remaining space evenly to position the other four slats so they are equidistant from one another, and glue them to the crossbars in the same way.
Fixing the slats to the crossbars #2
Once that's done, the hardest part is over. Use the nail gun to secure the slats to the crossbars permanently — to ensure the dog gate stays sturdy over time, use at least four nails at each point where a slat meets a crossbar. If the wood you bought is already sanded and painted, the gate itself is essentially finished; otherwise, move on to the finishing touches using your own personal taste. Now take the square wooden post designated for the frame and drill two holes for the hinges. Taking precise measurements, drill the same two holes in the outer board of the gate on the side that will face the frame.
Finishing the job #3
On that note, make sure the inner side of the gate — the side facing the dog — has smooth slats, and let the crossbars face outward. This way, the dog will have nothing to push their paws against, and you can be confident they won't climb over the gate or damage it with their adorably destructive little paws. Right, then — fix the frame to the wall with two sturdy wall anchors, then attach the hinges to the frame and then to the gate. All that's left now is the latch, which you'll fit according to the model you've chosen. Make sure the wooden gate swings smoothly and that the hinges don't squeak.
The benefits of having a dog gate
And there you have it — your very own dog gate is ready. Let's be honest… we haven't saved any money at all, and it took us quite a while to build our own wooden dog gate from scratch. But isn't there something wonderful about looking at a job we've done ourselves? It's also worth remembering that these types of dog gates are perfect for keeping children safe too — perhaps fitted at the top or bottom of a staircase. With that in mind, always pay close attention to the latch you choose. All in all, we've learned how to build a dog gate that will serve us well over time and keep our best friend safe once again.
