How to Build an Interior Dog Gate

Measure the width of the doorway where you want to install the dog gate. Cut 14 1-by-2 inch slats from poplar wood that are 1-inch less in width than the width of the doorway you just measured. For example, for a 36-inch doorway, cut the slats 1-by-2-by-35 inches. The smaller slats allow for the gate to open and closed once attached.

Cut four 1-by-2-by-27-inch poplar slats. If you want the gate taller or shorter, adjust the measurement accordingly. Larger dogs or dogs that jump need a taller gate. A shorter gate is appropriate for small dogs and allows you to step over it without opening the gate.

Lay the initial 14 slats out on a work surface. Position them so they are laying horizontally in front of you and spaced 1 inch apart.

Place a 27-inch slat on the right-hand side of the horizontal slats. Align the slat vertically so that its right side is even with the right side of the horizontal slats. Place a second 27-inch slat on the left-hand side of the horizontal slats. Align it the same way as you did the first slat.

Hammer nails through the 27-inch slat into each of the 14 horizontal slats to secure them together.

Flip the gate over. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on this side of the gate with the remaining two slats.

Place a 3 1/2-inch metal door hinge on one of the 27-inch sides of the gate. The side of the gate you choose is the side that attaches to the wall. Position the hinge 3 inches from the bottom of the gate. Attach it to the gate with two 1-inch screws and a hand-held drill.

Place a second 3 1/2-inch metal hinge on the same side of the gate as the first. Position it 3 inches from the top of the gate. Use two more 1-inch screws to secure it in place

Twist a 1 1/2-inch hook into the gate on the opposite side of the hinge, centering it in the middle of the slat.

Attach a caster wheel to the bottom of the gate, positioning it 2 inches in from the edge of the gate with the hook. Use four 1-inch screws to secure the wheel in place.

Position the gate in the doorway. Rest the caster wheel on the floor then position the unattached sides of the metal hinges against the door frame. Use two 1-inch screws for each metal hinge to attach it to the door frame.

Close the gate. Mark on the door frame where the 1 1/2-inch hook is. Twist an eye hook into the door frame at that mark.