Need a clever gate latch idea-

[MatBirch]

I'm hoping for some clever suggestions for a latch, a few of them actually, for gates in my yard.
I need to keep the dogs inside. I have a weird yard arrangement, and will need to put gates and a fence/guardrail on the deck itself (18" off the ground). Two main gates/fence will be 36-48" tall, the one on the deck, maybe 32".
The trouble is, this is the main route we take daily to get in and out of the house. I'd like something that is easy to actuate with one hand, actuate from either side, latch automatically, and be escape-proof. It would be great if it could be something that has the actual latching mechanism fairly low. One of my mutts is too smart for her own good, and she will constantly try to pull the bottom open. Fortunately she's too dumb to realize that she could go over it with NO trouble!

I can build the gate stiff and strong from steel or aluminum. It needs be stylistically fitting with "white picket fence", so building it with enough mass to just use a door knob lockset isn't really in the cards. I'm a pretty savvy fabricator with access to all I need, but short of a ridiculous Rube Goldberg device, I'm searching for solutions...
I'm off to google images to keep digging

 

[kaymccampbell]

If you make a welded box tube gate, then a conventional gate latch should work just fine, and not flex enough to accommodate your escape artist.

If you really think that you need a double latch, you can slave gate latches together with a piece of bar stock and a couple bolts.

 

[Milton Shaw]

You might look at pool safety gate latches. Some of them are quite easy to use and magnetic one hand operation. These are made to be child safe so should be dog safe too.

 

[bradpac]

We put these or ones pretty similar to them on the gates for our house after our one clever dog decided she could open the regular flip style latches. These allow for opening both ways and you push it shut and they have a provision for a pad lock if needed. Not the prettiest things in the world, but they function great.
https://www.mccoys.com/shop/sure-latch-2-way-lock-gate-latch/p.06020402

 

[niget2002]

You might look at pool safety gate latches. Some of them are quite easy to use and magnetic one hand operation. These are made to be child safe so should be dog safe too.

I was going to say this exact thing.

We have one of the magnetic ones.

We have a gate going to our backyard with one of these. I can easily pull up on the mechanism and use my pinky to pull the gate open. The magnet immediately latches as soon as the gate closes.

The only downside is on the 48" fence you'd have to reach over the top to open it. If you have shorter kids, it might be difficult for them to open it.

Our fence/gate is iron. The mechanism screws into the existing gate. I can take a picture later if you'd like.

Our dog hasn't even tried to open it, and I can see how it'd be difficult for most dogs since you have to pull up on the handle in order to do it. Most dogs tend to pull down when gnawing on things.

 

[lonestardiver]

We put these or ones pretty similar to them on the gates for our house after our one clever dog decided she could open the regular flip style latches. These allow for opening both ways and you push it shut and they have a provision for a pad lock if needed. Not the prettiest things in the world, but they function great.
https://www.mccoys.com/shop/sure-latch-2-way-lock-gate-latch/p.06020402

These or ones very similar to these.
Allows you to open and swing the gate either way as mentioned. Since dogs don’t have opposable thumbs they can’t grab and lift the tabs and swing the gate at the same time.
They are pretty strong although a little bulky.

 

[Kenstone1]

I thought this one was unique and saved a pic of it
I found searching pinterest for stuff like this gets you better results:
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=unique gate latches&rs=typed&term_meta[]=unique%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=gate%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=latches%7Ctyped

changing the search words will get a different results too:

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pi...hes&eq=DYI gate latches&etslf=13245&term_meta[]=gate%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta[]=latches%7Cautocomplete%7C0


.

 

[Firebrick43]

These or ones very similar to these.
Allows you to open and swing the gate either way as mentioned. Since dogs don’t have opposable thumbs they can’t grab and lift the tabs and swing the gate at the same time.
They are pretty strong although a little bulky.

+2

We use these on all our horse gates and they work well.

 

[Dannnn]

One way ring latches are interesting.

 

[CraigStu]

+2

We use these on all our horse gates and they work well.

If you use this look into some way to grease it. I like SilGlide
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...ives And Compounds_Compounds_Brake Lubricants
Our daughter and SIL have this on their goat fence. It works fine but some grease sure could make it smoother.
I would also look into welding on a ring or something so the latches are easier to pull up. We are always carrying food dishes so opening one handed could be easier.

 

[matt_i]

I like a homemade "barrel bolt" made from a piece of 5/8" dia steel rod and a 1/2" piece of black pipe.

Have to be able to mill a slot in the tube and drill + tap the bolt for a handle.

In your case the rod could be a "T" shape accessible from both sides and then just needs a "tooth" (pin, really) to engage the slot. Alternative could be to cut a small hand slot to reach thru or if its low enough, simply reach over.

 

[Renegade1LI]

This is what I did, gates are made of 5/4 PT, not self latching but self closing. I made the latch from PT, may redo with ipe , uses a one inch dowel through the gate to connect the handles and has a simple deadbolt from the inside. Been using for about 6 years, zero issues, going through it daily and the 5/4 let's the dog see what's going on.

 

[egdinger]

No endorsement for this particular one, but this style of latch I've heard good things about.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHSF8K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It's the kind I'm planning on using when I finish up my gates.

 

[dgoetz]

If it's chain link or similar something called a butterfly latch is super easy, but with dogs they may be smart enough to nose it up.

https://fence-material.com/self-closing-latch-butterfly-latch-pressed-steel-galvanized/

 

[perrylane]

Use magnetic latch lock. The magnetic closure is not easy to open for both babies and pets.

 

[fourjeepin]

I have the coil spring closers on my gates and the magnetic pool latches. Easy one hand operation.

 

[Jazz1]

We double gated our yard to keep the hounds in. Both gates attached with a spring so one closed the other. Simple latch you could release at top of post.

 

[lilredex]

We made our gate adult accessible to keep out kids, etc. The handle is just visible from the outside to those who know. We look after a neighbour's two dachshunds as you can see in the first picture, they haven't figured out how to open the gate either. The lift handle does not connect directly to the latch.

 

[engineer2]

My gate latch mod made with some scrap aluminum.
Pull the handle on the inside to unlatch. I need to put a sticker on there that says "PULL". It's not obvious to the uninitiated.
Has enough friction so it will stay open until the spring and door closer shuts the gate.