Stairgate advice sought

sparklymessygirl

I'd like to pick the brains of those of you who have bought stairgates, if I may.
I need to prevent my elderly doberman from going upstairs now as it is putting a strain on her spine.
I would like a stairgate but whenever I have visited friends with children and stairgates when they are open you have to step over an initial "lip" or "bar" - hope you know what I mean?
I would like one that is flush with the step or preferably doesn't have a bar at the bottom. The stairgate does not have to be sturdy or permanently fixed - the more easily removed it is the better really. I have a second dog who can safely get upstairs and that is where she sleeps so I want to be able to let her get up the stairs easily

I hope I've made myself clear I'll bet buying stairgates is a minefield and I'm hoping someone can save me some time.

Thank you,
Sparkly

tiamai_d

The only ones without the bar have to be screwed into the door or wall, so I never bothered looking very far.

You do get used to the bar, I still step over the bar going into the kitchen even thought its no longer actually there.

Rockporkchop

We recently bought a stair gate and I remember that there was another one called a "Kiddyguard Safety Gate", which was like a roller blind attached to the wall. It was fairly expensive though.

sparklymessygirl

tiamai_d wrote: »

The only ones without the bar have to be screwed into the door or wall, so I never bothered looking very far.

I didn't realise that - thanks.

tiamai_d wrote: »

You do get used to the bar, I still step over the bar going into the kitchen even thought its no longer actually there.

I was just worried about my other dog (who has less serious problems but a few problems nonetheless) managing this...

Cheers,
Sparkly

Js_Other_Half

Would a travel stairgate be suitable? You would have to remove it each time, or step over it though.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3760907/Trail/searchtext%3ESTAIRGATE.htm

We have kiddyguard stairgates, which are fabulous, but have to be wall fixed. They are like roller blinds so there is no lip/step.
http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_0_10751_-1__3072_10001_

daska

If it's to go at the bottom of the stairs then I don't think the bar should be too much of an issue if you can position the gate correctly.

The ones with bars use pressure fittings. If you put them in a doorway or at the top of the stairs you have to step over the bar but if you put them against the step then the bar isn't an issue. Take a look at these photos and hopefully you'll see what I mean.

Doorway

Top of stairs

Bottom of stairs

tandraig

I believe argos sell a pet stairgate - not sure if it will suit but its worth checking out.

sparklymessygirl

Gosh - thank you all for taking the trouble to reply. Actually - all the suggestions now seem possible depending a bit on my bottom stairpost. There is a pet stairgate on Argos which has got good reviews. The travel one might be good as I will probably only put it up at night. The normal one with a bar might work if I place it flush with the floor.

Thanks everyone,
Sparkly

alanalea

The pet stairgates are a bit taller than regular stairgates I believe, but if your lady has problems jumping you may not need a pet one?
Check out eBay for a cheap 2nd hand gate. Also be aware the the pressure ones only extend so far, so if you have quite a wide staircase you will need an extension (you can buy these separately for approx £7, but I'm having trouble getting one for my Lindam surefit)

jackomdj

ours is at the very bottom of the stairs, so the bar does not matter as you are having to lift your feet up to the first stair anyway.

flybynight

we are cheap skates, to stop our puppy i got a piece of relatively flexible hard board from B&Q which is 6" wider than the gap between the wall and the stair banisters on the other side. when you want to put it in place bend it smaller than the gap, put it on the first step adn let it spring back this wedges it into place. make sure it is bowing out and then if the dog pushes it with its nose, it sets it firmer rather than giving. don't know if this would work with an older dog, but wiht a pup it deters them enough until they ahve got used to the idea they don't go upstairs. and its only £1.95.