I bought this pet gate for our older, arthritic dog whom loves to travel too frequently, up and down the steps at night. We place it at the top of the steps at night. It is enough of a deterrent for our mild-mannered, physically-challenged dog. It is a beautiful addition to our home: well made in a rich Espresso color. It is also very lightweight and wonderfully easy to transport between the levels in our home. The cons though, are that it does not stand alone on carpet, I have to lean it against the wall to make it functional. And, it would NOT prevent an average-strength dog from entry where you place it.