X pen vs baby gate

[jomuir]

I want to keep my two out of the living room during the day when we're gone, Forrest jumps at the window like a maniac and has damaged the seal of the large window. With summer coming and the kids out of school, he needs to be contained, esp since I've caught two tykes jumping in front of the window to rile him up, apparently it's hilarious for the 3-6 yr old crowd to get him barking and jumping. I think it'll be easier to keep him contained than to train other people's kids . We installed a Dutch door in the kitchen that we had in storage, it works great for that doorway then for the other doorway we bought a walk-through baby gate today which will be going back, I hate it. It's too narrow to walk through esp if I have a laundry basket or anything to carry, feels really awkward.

So I just picked out a baby gate, this model http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A796WG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A30O99XQN1DIY6 but I sure like the looks of an X-pen more than the gate. I don't want a screw-in gate, it must be pressure mounted for this area. Forrest is nuts when he hears the mailman or kids walking by so my question is, do they knock over X-pens easily if left alone with one?

My plan for either type of gate is to only have it in place while we're out of the house.

 

[Ann]

They would definitely be more secure with a gate in place rather than being in an x-pen. If Forest is a jumper and he jumps on the side of the x-pen, it can go over. The other alternative is to use a folded x-pen across the door instead of a gate. You'd have to brace it with something to hold it, but you can extend it as long as you want to. I've done this on our back deck and it works great.

This is an alternative to the x-pen that I use in my kitchen. I love it, and you can get two extra panels to make it bigger. Some dogs can jump out of it but mine never have.
http://www.amazon.com/IRIS-Indoor-O...=1429533723&sr=1-2&keywords=plastic+play+yard

 

[labgirl]

I would definitely go with a stairgate. X-pens are good when you can keep an eye on them, but are easy to knock over. Sparrow had one as a small pup and it had to be tied to the radiator to prevent her knocking it over.

Either that or dig a moat around your house to keep the kids out. How rude their parents allowing them on your front lawn!

 

[JLSOhio51]

... How rude their parents allowing them on your front lawn!

That's a bit of an interesting take on the situation. When my babies (two legged), were small, I was THRILLED when the neighborhood children played in my yard almost daily. Now, allowing kids to harass the neighborhood pets while they were there is another issue altogether.

 

[Calliesmom]

That's a bit of an interesting take on the situation. When my babies (two legged), were small, I was THRILLED when the neighborhood children played in my yard almost daily. Now, allowing kids to harass the neighborhood pets while they were there is another issue altogether.

well, it's one thing when you have kids and the other kids are playing with your kids. when you don't have kids and the kids decide to play in your yard- that's another thing.
with the way people sue over the tiniest things these days- I have repeatedly told the neighborhood kids that they are not allowed in my yard. I really don't want to have to deal with a situation like that..........

 

[jomuir]

I will stay w/the gate I ordered, it's a pressure mounted model. I was really hoping someone would say why yes the x-pens magically stay in place on their own . I know Forrest would knock one over the 1st day.

Yesterday when I arrived home, they were both crying and looking out at me from behind the temporary gate, little jailed Shelties.

As far as the kids go, we're in a densely populated area, homes are very close together, and the kids play in the sidewalks and yards instead of the road which is a pain but much safer. One little girl is my next-door neighbor and she loves the dogs. If the dogs had been outside she would have been petting them, but I was on my way to work and stopped to chat w/her grandmother, who did try several times to get her away from the window. The other little ones are too sweet to get mad at, they're brother and sister whose entire family was killed in a car wreck down south. Their adoptive mother said she was praying for a sign, for something she needed to do with her life as her kids were teens. She heard about them and took them in, add that the little boy is almost blind and the girl collapses onto Roxie when she sees her. She will run from way down the street when she sees us, and can't stop touching Roxie, she adores her. I have a major sweet spot for those two and so does DH even when the little boy is throwing his ball at the bird-feeder . So I pick my battles and don't worry about the kids, can't control them when I'm not home anyway so I decided it's best to do what I can on my end before school lets out and we're overrun w/kids driving Forrest crazy . I also always carry a few treats the kids love giving them treats and it helps Forrest learn kids aren't all demon spawn out to get him. Whew, that was a long explanation! I will learn to use the baby gate.

 

[JLSOhio51]

... So I pick my battles and don't worry about the kids, can't control them when I'm not home anyway so I decided it's best to do what I can on my end before school lets out and we're overrun w/kids...

Jomuir:
You sound like a very wise woman with a plan for addressing problems with your pup. There are things in your environment that you can control and there are things that you cannot. Somewhere in between are things that you CAN control, but at what cost? You seem to have adopted an attitude that will keep things in balance. Good luck!

 

[BarbV]

I have used both xpens and pressure mounted gates

I can never find the darned picture I took of Callan's set up but its 4 x 4 but you can get larger. I lined the floor with sponge tiles available at any hardware store....no accidents. This is in my bedroom. Callan is 14 months old and still in chew phase.

This was the only picture I could find to load....silly puppy with his stuck inside his toy! Not the whole picture of the setup, but I think you can get the idea.

Carlson Gates have a good selection of pressure mounted gates, and you can purchase extensions if required. I use this also on my basement stairs.

They are both good options, but it really depends on your lifestyle and how much you want to close things off.