One thing that's confusing me...

[luckylambchop]

We will soon be introducing our cat to our new dog, and I keep seeing the recommendation of using stair gates to create areas the cat can go but the dog can't. Seems sensible, but why then do my fences need to be 6ft high if the dog can't get over a 2ft baby gate?

Quite a lot of dogs can jump over stair gates...but, they've not got the run up to it they have in a garden and you're more likely to be very nearby so you can interfere, for some reason they seem to respect internal barriers better than outside.

And worst case, the time taken to jump the gate is the getaway time for the cat.

Because the dog runs up the fence and can't run up the baby gate! Do you see what I mean?

What sort of dog is it? A bit at the thought of anyone needing a 6' fence for a dog, but mine is a dachshund.

I used a baby gate to separate my dog from smaller pets when we got her. First thing she did was jump it, from a standstill but we told her no and put her back on the other side of the gate. She never jumped it again.

I saw it as more of a barrier to remind her not to cross rather than one she can't cross a bit like those little fences that go around grass you are not meant to walk on, you can cross it but you know your not supposed to so don't! We do however have a shut door between her and the small pets just in case but the stairgate stopped her making a rush for or sniffing at the door when she was new. The stairgate is now in the attic as she has no interest in the small animals now she is used to the fact that they exist.

I'm under no illusion that the dogs couldn't jump the baby gate - I've seen ddog2 jump a 5ft fence, and tbh they could both slither over it by putting their front paws over first if they were so minded. But they never do - possibly partly as the format of metal gate you see through being uninviting, and partly that they know they aren't supposed to be in there anyway. But ddog2 is massively food motivated, and will try all he can to open the gate (he can hear if you open it and don't shut it properly from the other side of the house) and still won't jump.

We have the extra tall stairgate...
However, it's more about cats and dogs being able to see each other through the bars and getting used to each other ( and feeding treats to the dogs through the bars for nice, calm behaviour ).
It's an easy way to monitor their reactions without having to have the dog on the lead, and means to some extent you can get on with what you're doing and 'act normal' if you are nervous about introductions!

We have 2 dogs. One can jump over the stairgate in the door way to my sons room no problem but mostly she stays out. She has done the one at the bottom of the stairs a couple of times. The other dog has never jumped one. It discourages them if it doesn't stop them entirely

"What sort of dog is it? A bit shock at the thought of anyone needing a 6' fence for a dog, but mine is a dachshund. grin"

When I was looking for my last dog, there was a lovely 4 month old lurcher puppy... (In the rescue centre) I was completely put off when I saw him jump to eye level from standing, lol, he hadn't even finished growing...