A Dog with Too Much Time on his Paws

by Jenna Robbins

If you have any experience with baby-proofing your home, it's not a far reach to puppy-proof it. If there are rooms where you absolutely DO NOT want your dog to enter, gates are the answer. They're available in every height and width; can be free standing, pressure mounted or wall mounted; and made of wood, metal or plastic. They range from inexpensive to high-end designer types. Once upon a time, when I was a kid, my father used two shutters placed about an inch off the floor. They swung back and forth like saloon doors and hooked in the middle to keep them closed. Actually, it wasn't a half bad idea. Just think how creative you could be with a little help from a home improvement center.