A fire dog, also known as a grate, or andirons are iron bars that hold up the burning logs in traditional open-grate style fireplaces – they keep them from rolling out onto the floor! In closed fireplace designs you can put a small grate in the firebox. You can also use a few bricks to keep logs from rolling out of your fireplace, or buy a stand for decorative purposes that holds up the log and will prevent it from moving around while burning.