Carlson Extra Tall Walk-Thru Pet Gate Review (2026)

Name: Carlson Extra Tall Walk-Thru Pet Gate Review (2026)
Item: Carlson Extra Tall Walk-Thru Pet Gate
Rating: 7
Author: Tucker

The Carlson Extra Tall Walk-Thru Pet Gate is a 36-inch steel pressure gate with a walk-through door and a small pet door. In food-hazard season its job is blunt: keep the dog out of the kitchen while the counters are covered in roast fat, candy and dough. It does that well for many dogs — but not for every dog, and the pet door is a gap if your dog is small enough to fit through it.

Good

out of 10

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The full review

We analyzed 35 owner comments across 3 YouTube reviews, published between 2013 and 2025. One caveat up front: those videos cover Carlson gates generally, not only this model. Most of the comments sit on a 2013 review of the Carlson Extra Wide gate, and one video is Carlson's own install tutorial for a different gate. So read the owner feedback below as feedback on Carlson's walk-through gates as a family. Of the 35 comments, 2 mentioned the gate directly; among the comments that carried a clear opinion, 5 were positive and 1 negative.

What owners flag

The most-liked complaint (4 likes) came from an owner whose puppies and older dog were kept in fine, but whose Dobermans pushed straight through the gate and bent it, even after it was secured to the wall. Another owner (5 likes) said a part that is supposed to turn wouldn't turn on their brand-new gate, and another said it works sometimes and not others. The pattern is fit and setup: a pressure gate is only as good as the opening it is wedged into and the dog leaning on it.

Pressure mount or hardware mount

The gate comes as a pressure-mount gate, and the listing also includes wall cups and mounting screws. Pressure mounting is quick and leaves no holes, which suits a kitchen doorway for a dog that respects a barrier. Hardware mounting is what the listing points to for the top of stairs, and it is what we would use for a large or pushy dog given the bent-gate report above.

The pet door catch

The small pet door lets a cat through while keeping the dog out. That is a feature in a cat-and-big-dog house and a hole in a small-dog house. PetSmart lists the pet door at 10 × 7 inches; other retailers list different sizes for what appears to be a different version, so measure your dog against the listing you buy from and check whether that version's pet door can be kept closed.

Quick verdict

What we love

✓36 inches tall — taller than standard gates, harder to hop
✓Walk-through door, so you are not stepping over it carrying hot dishes
✓All-steel construction (retailer listing)
✓Fits openings of 29 to 37 inches, and a 6-inch extension is included (PetSmart listing)

Heads up

✕Owner evidence spans several Carlson models, not just this one
✕One owner's Dobermans pushed through and bent a wall-secured gate
✕Small pet door is a gap if your dog is small enough to use it
✕Specs vary between retailer listings — check the exact version

✓ Buy it if…

you want to keep a medium or large dog out of the kitchen during holiday cooking, you have a standard doorway, and you have a cat who needs a way through.

✕ Skip it if…

your dog is small enough to fit through the pet door, your dog already pushes through barriers (hardware-mount or choose a stronger setup), or your opening falls outside the listed width range.

Key specs

From PetSmart's listing for the Carlson Extra Tall Walk-Thru Pet Gate (item 5118872), checked October 2026 — Carlson's own website could not be reached when we checked. Other retailers list a different pet door size and extension, so confirm the specs on the listing you buy from.

Height	36 inches
Fits openings	29 to 37 inches
Extension	One 6-inch extension kit included
Pet door	10 × 7 inches
Latch	Lever-style handle with one-touch release safety lock
Mounting	Pressure mount; wall cups and mounting screws included for hardware mounting
Material	All steel, white
Weight	13 lb
In the box	Gate, 6-inch extension kit, 4 spindle rods, 4 wall cups, 4 mounting screws, instructions

A note on your pet's health

Holiday kitchens hold a lot of foods that can make dogs ill, from fatty roast drippings and cooked bones to chocolate and other sweets, and a dog that sneaks food off a counter can be in trouble before anyone notices. If your dog has already eaten something it shouldn't, call your veterinarian now rather than waiting for symptoms. A gate is a management tool, not a guarantee — keep an eye on the dog when the gate is open. Consult your veterinarian for individual pet health decisions.

Tucker's bottom line

A tall, steel walk-through gate is the simplest way to keep a dog out of the kitchen while you cook, and this one is a sensible pick for most medium and large dogs. Hardware-mount it if your dog leans on things, measure your doorway against the exact listing, and don't buy it for a small dog that can slip through the pet door.

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Common questions

How tall is the Carlson Extra Tall gate?

36 inches, according to PetSmart's listing.

Will it fit my doorway?

PetSmart lists it for openings of 29 to 37 inches and includes a 6-inch extension kit. Other retailers list slightly different versions: one Walmart listing for a 36-inch Carlson walk-through gate says it does not fit openings between 31 and 34 inches. Measure your doorway and check the exact listing you buy from.

Can a small dog get through the pet door?

Possibly. PetSmart lists the pet door at 10 × 7 inches. If your dog is small enough to fit, the pet door defeats the purpose — check whether your version's door can be kept closed.

Pressure mount or screws?

Pressure mount is fine for a doorway and a dog that respects the gate. For stairs, or a large dog that pushes, use the included wall cups and screws.