Gate for Maltese and Labradoodle separation

Separating a fragile elderly Maltese from a bouncy young Labradoodle is exactly the right call — the size and energy difference means your little one could easily get knocked over or stressed. Gate choice here comes down to three things: the Labradoodle's size and jumping ability, the width of the opening you need to block, and whether wall-mounting is an option for you. Worth knowing upfront: pressure-mounted gates are fine for doorways and room dividers, but never safe at the top of stairs. So — roughly how big is your Labradoodle now, where are you thinking of putting the gate, and can you drill into the walls if needed?

Good news — 80cm is a pretty standard width and a pressure-mounted gate will hold that fine for a doorway, so no drilling needed. The key concern with a 25kg Labradoodle is that it needs to be a tall, sturdy gate he genuinely can't barge through or bounce over. A flimsy pressure gate will just pop out of the frame the first time he leans on it. How tall is he at the shoulder, and does he jump at barriers or is he more of a pusher-and-leaner type?

That really helps. A leaner rather than a jumper means height is less critical than structural rigidity — you need a gate that won't flex or pop out under lateral pressure. For this exact situation I'd go with the Safetots Extra Wide Pressure Fit Safety Gate. It's a steel-framed gate that fits 75–82cm openings, stands 76cm tall (enough for a Labradoodle who doesn't jump), and the pressure-fit mechanism is genuinely robust — it has a dual-locking system that resists pushing rather than just friction. It also has a small walk-through door so you're not climbing over it every time, and the bar spacing is narrow enough that your Maltese can't get a leg caught. It's widely available on Amazon UK for around £40–£50 and consistently well-reviewed for larger dogs.

Most dogs test it once or twice and then accept it, especially if you make the other side less interesting. The Safetots gate is rated for dogs up to around 30kg and the pressure mount on a solid door frame holds very well — the main failure point with pressure gates is soft or uneven frames, so just make sure both sides of your doorway are solid plaster or wood, not hollow or tiled. If after a week he's still leaning hard at it daily, you could add the wall cups that come in the box for extra security without a full permanent bracket. That said, for a leaner rather than a jumper at 25kg, it should hold without any additions.

There is a small threshold bar at the base — it's around 5–8cm high, which is standard for pressure-fit gates. For a 12-year-old Maltese that could be a bit much depending on her mobility. The easy fix is to simply carry her through when needed, or leave her on her quiet side and only use the door yourself. Alternatively, if she needs regular independent access, look at the Safetots No Trip Pressure Gate which has a completely flat base — but check your exact doorway width before ordering as the sizing range differs slightly. For most setups with an elderly small dog and a larger younger one, the standard Safetots Extra Wide does the job well and is the better value option.