Pet gate for elderly Whippet with mobility issues

An older Whippet losing rear-end coordination around stairs is a real safety concern — a stumble on the way down could cause serious injury. Gate choice comes down to three things: the dog's size and jumping ability, the width of the opening you're blocking, and whether you can wall-mount it — because pressure-mounted gates are not safe at the top of stairs, full stop. To point you to the right gate, can you tell me roughly how tall your Whippet is at the shoulder, where exactly you're installing it (top of stairs, bottom, or a doorway leading to the stairs), and whether you're able to drill into the walls or door frame?

Good — screwing into studs gives you a solid fix, which is exactly what you need at the top of stairs. At 55cm shoulder height, your Whippet could technically clear a low gate if she tried, but honestly, a dog with deteriorating rear coordination isn't going to be jumping anything. The bigger priority here is a gate that holds firmly with zero flex, has no raised threshold bar she could trip over, and opens smoothly so you're not wrestling with it ten times a day. What's the approximate width of the opening at the top of your stairs?

Perfect — 75cm is well within standard gate range. My recommendation is the Safetots Extra Wide Screw-Fit Safety Gate. It wall-mounts securely into your studs, has no bottom bar to trip over (critical for a dog already unsteady on her back end), and opens with a simple one-handed release. It fits openings from around 63cm up to 106cm, so 75cm is right in its sweet spot. The gate stands about 76cm tall, which is more than enough for a Whippet who isn't going to be attempting to jump. It's robust, it won't shift or rattle, and it'll stay put for the long term. Available on Amazon UK for around £35–45 depending on the seller.

Great question. Most screw-fit gates including this one come with wall cups that attach to a flat surface, so a square or rectangular banister post works fine — just make sure the cup sits flush and you're screwing into solid wood, not a hollow decorative cap. If the post is round or unusually shaped, you can buy banister adapter kits separately on Amazon for a few pounds that clamp around the post and give you a flat mounting point. Worth checking the post is structurally sound too, since a wobbly post would undermine the whole setup. But for a standard newel post, you'll be fine with the standard fitting.

Good choice — it'll give her a safe boundary and give you peace of mind. One last thing worth mentioning: consider putting a non-slip mat on the landing just on her side of the gate. If she ever approaches the gate and her back end slips on a smooth floor, that's a hazard in itself. Small addition, big difference for a dog with coordination issues. Hope she stays comfortable for a long time yet.