The 6 Best Dog Gates Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Our dogs are very much like our children, aren’t they? They venture into areas we don’t want them to be. Their excitement can make it difficult to control where they decide to roam.

Maybe there is a room you would rather they didn’t enter. Or maybe you have just mopped the floor in the kitchen and would rather not have the unruly patter of muddy paws all over the freshly clean floor - we hear you!

This is why a dog gate can be an absolute lifesaver. Dog gates are easy to set up in any pathway of your home and prevents your dog from reaching areas you don’t want them to be.

Consider this the ultimate guide to dog gates in Australia. To compile it, we teamed up with canine behaviour experts, veterinarians, and dog parents alike to test out the most popular dog gates in Australia. After months of research and nearly 75 dog gates later, our team of independent experts was finally able to agree on the contents of this comprehensive guide.

We’re going to discuss indoor gates and outdoor gates, the qualities of a good dog gate, and finally our recommendations for fantastic dog gates on the Australian market. Hopefully, with this super detailed round-up, you’ll come away with a clear winning product that is right for your purposes.

Let’s dive in!

Australia's Best Dog & Puppy Gates Reviewed

Whether you need an indoor or outdoor gate, a puppy gate or an adult dog gate, our team of independent experts have the ultimate selection for you! These are the best-quality dog gates that easily became a part of our routine, protecting our dogs and homes along the way. We have chosen products at all different price points to help you choose the right one for you.

The type of gate that gives you the most flexibility is a freestanding gate. One that is short enough for you to walk over, light enough for you to pick up when you need to, and stylish enough to blend seamlessly with your furnishings. This is what the Unipaws Freestanding Dog Gate offers you and more.

Firstly, I loved how it arrives fully assembled and ready to go. I just needed to unfold it to the shape of my liking to start using it instantly. We love a no-tool product! In fact, as you'll see ahead, we have another one as our number four choice, which is basically the taller version of this dog gate.

You can fold this gate at each of the three hinges both ways to create the structure you need in the moment. That also enables you to make the gate smaller if needed or fully stretched out to its full length.

Speaking of sizing, there are four models to choose from in total. The smallest size has three 51 cm width panels and is 61 cm in height. In total that is 152 cm width x 61 cm height.

The next size up has four panels of the same height and width. Therefore, the full width of the gate is 203 cm.

Then there are two taller models where the panels are 91 cm in height. So, the third size is a total of 152 cm x 91 cm in height. The largest model is 203 cm x 91 cm in height.

The gates have soft plastic pads at the base of them to prevent scratching your flooring.

The white painted wooden frame is super chic and will blend well with any decor. It doesn’t look cagey at all.

The one con with this product that members of our independent team of experts noted is that it isn’t completely flexible for indoor and outdoor use. Because it is wood, it may rot with excess moisture or split during cold nights. You can use it on dry, ambient days, but it may suffer in extreme weather conditions if permanently left outside.

But this is a small detail. If you are after a portable, indoor (sometimes outdoor) dog gate, then this is a prime pick for you!

If you are on a budget but want an equally functional and easy to use dog gate, this retractable dog gate will work perfectly for your purposes.

This is a mesh woven gate that is tensile and high-quality. It’s great for doggies and babies alike.

To assemble the gate where you need it, simply use the multiple hooks and sticky backs to plant it at the entrance of any stairwell or pathway. The kit comes with two mesh screens, two support poles, six extra-strong sticky hooks, and six double-sided hooks for wood or glass surfaces. It is easy to put together although a touch more work than the wooden freestanding gate in our number one spot that you unfold and go.

When you want to remove the gate, simply unhook the screens and fold away easily. The sticky hooks are likely to stay in their places though so it’s not the most travel-friendly gate on this list.

As for sizing, the gate is fully 210 cm in width and 71 cm in height. This is a decent size for most doorways and stairwells. If you have a huge house or open plan areas, you may feel this is limiting. We would love some more size options.

However, our team of experts appreciated that the fabric is a water resistant cloth material, so we could use this dog gate outdoors.

Overall, this mesh dog gate is a great option as an outdoor or indoor dog gate for your home. Super economical and flexible to use, we highly recommend it (if you don’t mind setting it up!).

For puppies, you need some extra assurances. You need a gate that your pup can’t attempt to climb and rip through so that rules out mesh gates (sorry NINEFOX). You also need a gate that is not easily chewable or easy to pull down. That rules out the freestanding wooden gates (sorry Unipaws).

What you need is more akin to a baby gate, with chew-proof heavy-duty metal bars and the ability to be fixed into the wall permanently for unshakeable use.

The North States puppy gate is probably right up your alley then. This is the perfect addition to your home. It works just like a baby gate with a lockable dog flap for your pup to use when they need to.

In terms of sizing, this gate is designed to fit doorways or hallways 75.7 cm - 96.5 cm wide. It is 76.2 cm tall so short enough for you to walk over but tall enough to keep from your puppy climbing over.

This is a dog gate with not one, but two doors. I was able to use the handle at the top to open the puppy gate like a door. Then I still had the dog flap. The main door is extra wide at 53 cm, allowing me to pass through with ease.

The gate comes in two colours - white and matte bronze - so you can choose the style that would suit your home best. The metal is chew-proof and water-resistant, so it should last you a long time. And according to all of our panel members, no matter how much your puppy paws at it, it will not budge!

This is a fixed dog gate so you won’t be able to take it with you on your travels or move it to different rooms easily, unfortunately.

The Carlson dog gate is another walk through pet gate that slips easily into one spot in your home. You can move this gate around as it doesn’t drill into the wall or stay stuck at all. Similar to our number one choice, it is a completely no-tool assembly. It is the perfect solution for indoor areas such as doorways, stairs and hallways.

The Carlson dog gate is similar to the North States gate in even more ways, with a few key differences.

First is the sizing. The width range of this gate is 73.6 cm - 92.7 cm so slightly smaller than the North States option. As it says in the title, it is also extra tall. The Carlson Pet Gate is almost 92 cm tall, making it one of the tallest on this list. Therefore, this is a great choice if you have a large or extra-large dog that could easily climb or step over the previous options.

The dog door at the bottom of the gate is also smaller and resembles a gate within a gate. It is 20 cm x 20 cm so will only allow small pets through when unlocked. This could be another good option as a puppy gate.

This gate is super sturdy as it is made of heavy-duty steel with a brushed white finish.

But because of this, since it is a steel product, it isn’t as portable as the other items on this list. The construction and size of this gate are also why our team of independent experts rule it out for outdoor use. Though - in theory - steel doesn’t rust easily so you could conceivably use it outdoors if you had a small enough opening. We don’t recommend it though. This is best used inside the house.

Overall, this indoor dog gate is well priced, well reviewed and a great size for large and extra-large dogs!

So, we have covered the perfect indoor dog gate - now for outdoors!

For outdoor use, you need a completely weatherproof option that won’t perish in sleet, snow, rain or heat. A gate that can cope with wild winds blowing it open. A gate that can take kicks and hard knocks. While the indoor gates like the Carlson or the North States models are made of metal, an outdoor safety gate needs to be heavy-duty. 

The Cardinal Gates line is fantastic safety gates for outdoors. It is an all-stainless steel construction sealed with a protective black powder coating. The powder coating makes the surface easy to clean.

This product is ideal to use on your patio, deck or at the base of outdoor stairs.

This one is definitely not travel-friendly or portable in the slightest. It is surprisingly lightweight but must be screwed into the wall for extra security. But don’t worry. Once screwed in, this gate is still able to move. You can unhinge the gate itself and leave the screw bracket in place for an easy fit whenever you need it.

The main door to the gate opens both directions.

The sizing is pretty impressive here. The width is adjustable from 75 cm - 108 cm. I also chose to buy adjustable extensions at 26.6 cm, with an option of 55 cm, when I realised I needed the extra width to fit my chosen space.

Something to note is that some reviews from our team of independent experts say they saw rusting from this product over time. You can keep your steel from rusting by using maintenance products on the gate periodically. It is a bit of an extra hassle, however.

Overall, it is a decent price point and easy to assemble option for your outdoor puppy gate needs.

Finally, we come onto the portable dog gates. The ones you can call on when you need a quick pop-up gate to keep your dog contained in one room. It could be that you are in a villa for a week and need to cordon off areas to keep your dog safe. Whatever you use it for, the Pet Life Porta Gate is pretty marvelous.

Cheap and cheerful, this portable gate is so useful. It is much more lightweight than the other options on this list and packs down in a flash.

Like our number one and number four options, this is a completely no-tool setup. All I needed to do to set it up was  squeeze the gate with the rubberised grips into the right space and secure. The rubber grips are sturdy. You can attach this gate to any drywall or metal-framed opening.

It is constructed of a mesh window with a small retractable flap that allows your small dog or puppy to walk through when you allow them.

As for sizing, the PortaGate is 91 cm in height which is great for breeds of all sizes. The width is adjustable from 67 cm - 92.5 cm.

Unlike most other gates on this list, the Pet Life PortaGate comes in 4 different colours; black, white, brown and “khaki” (which is a kind of pinky beige). Every member of our panel of experts appreciated having a plethora of options to suit your home styling.

For the ideal economical dog gate that works both home and away, the Pet Life PortaGate is the one for you.

How I Use An Indoor Dog Gate

You’ll likely use your dog gate indoors more than anywhere else. I typically use a dog gate to section off areas of my house. Here are the most common ways of using dog gates inside, according to our panel of independent experts:

Use your dog gate at the entrance to the stairs

There are several reasons why you may discourage your dog from going upstairs. Perhaps they have had a back or leg injury that requires them to not overextend themselves.

Use your dog gate at doorways to rooms you don’t want them to enter

It may be the case that you have a room in the house you would rather your dog not enter without you. It could be that you have a plumber or electrician around the house and would like your dog to play in another area of the house whilst they work. Indoor dog gates are perfect for that.

How I Use An Outdoor Dog Gate

Outdoor gates are equally helpful for sectioning off areas of your garden to control where your dog can access. Our team of independent experts have some suggestions on how best to use your outdoor dog gate:

Use your dog gate at the entrance to your garden

Do you have a naughty dog like mine who always digs up new plants as soon as you plant them? Then you may want a dog gate at the entrance to your garden to keep their paws off your fresh flower bed unsupervised!

Use your dog gate at the base of the stairways outdoors

Similar to your indoor stairways, you might want to prevent your dog from attempting to climb them without your assistance. A sturdy gate helps immeasurably.

What I Look For In A Good Dog Gate

Size

Before you begin looking for a good dog gate, you need to know the size that will suit you best. Of course, both the width and the height.

For the width, you’ll need to measure your chosen space and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

As for height, it’s important to understand that a gate doesn’t need to be taller than your dog to be effective. It just needs to be tall enough not to climb over easily.

Durability

To a degree, the durability of doggie gates depends on where you are going to use them. If you are going to use them outdoors, you will probably need to use a heavy-duty metal dog gate. It needs to withstand the elements and take a bit of a beating.

This contrasts a dog gate for stairs, for example. In that case, you need a gate that is quite lightweight but chew-proof.

Portability

You may want to use your dog gate whilst travelling with your pooch. Or perhaps you want your gate to be flexible enough to cover different areas of the house simply by picking it up and moving it around.

In that scenario, you have a few options:

Freestanding dog gates

Freestanding dog gates are great because they don’t attach to your walls at all. You have the ultimate flexibility of picking them up and placing them wherever you need them. The downside is, they tend to be quite bulky and that isn’t the best for travelling.

Mesh retractable dog gates

Mesh dog gates are super lightweight and easy to use. They attach to your walls by way of sticky hooks. This means you can use several points of the house by setting up the sticky hooks wherever you need it and simply moving the mesh fabric to that location.

Portable dog gates

The ultimate portable dog gate is fabric, lightweight and is a no-tool assembly. You need a gate that can pack down easily and attach to any wall or door frame quickly. Different models use different mechanisms to attach the gate to the walls but a common solution is by way of rubber grips or removable sticky pads.

Style

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t place so much emphasis on style unless we are recommending a dog collar or dog bed. Why would dog gates need to look good?

Well, because dog gates essentially become part of your furniture. You have to pass through them every day, so it stands to reason that you’ll want to choose an option that fits the aesthetics of your home.

You may prefer a crisp clean white look. Or maybe you have a more rustic home and like a dark wood style. Wherever you decide to place your dog gate, treat yourself to a style that pleases you every time you see it, and doesn't become an eye sore of your home. 

My Final Verdict 

For a simple dog gate that is portable, easy to assemble and overall usable in most situations, our team of independent experts agree that the Unipaws is a fantastic option. If you need an outdoor dog gate that is heavy-duty, then we think the Cardinal Gates is a great range to investigate!

References

1. Burke, A. April 9, 2018. “Is Your Dog Experiencing Back Pain? Here’s How You Can Help Relieve It”. American Kennel Club. Retrieved May 14, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-back-pain/
2. “Osteoarthritis in Dogs — Signs and Treatment”. May 3, 2022. American Kennel Club. Retrieved May 14, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/osteoarthritis-signs-treatment/