How to Build a Covered Puppy Pen

A puppy box is a four-sided box that typically has side and back walls that are taller than the front opening. The lower front lip prevents the puppies from escaping, but allows the mother to move in and out of the box as needed, for exercise, bathroom trips or eating. This type of box, also called a whelping box, can be made from a large, empty cardboard box, but plywood will form a sturdier box that can be reused. To accommodate most dog sizes, the finished box should be 4 feet wide, 4 feet deep and 4 feet high.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 plywood sheets, 1 inch thick, 4 feet by 4 feet
  • 6 pieces, 2-inch by 4-inch lumber, 8-foot lengths
  • 92 wood screws, 1 1/2 inches
  • Drill
  • Circular saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Vinyl cutters
  • 2 yards vinyl
  • Vinyl adhesive
  • Vinyl adhesive brush
  • Vinyl roller
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay one sheet of plywood on a flat surface in front of you. This is the floor of your puppy pen.

    • 2

      Measure, mark and cut a 48-inch-square piece of vinyl. Cover the floor with vinyl adhesive. Lay the vinyl on top of the adhesive and use a vinyl roller to flatten the vinyl and remove any air bubbles. Allow the adhesive to dry.

    • 3

      Measure, mark and cut four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber, so that they are each 48 inches long. These are the left and right side supports of your pen.

    • 4

      Measure, mark and cut four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber, so that they are each 44 inches long. These are the front and back supports of your pen.

    • 5

      Measure, mark and cut four pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber, so that they are each 40 inches long. These are the upright supports of your pen.

    • 6

      Lay a front and back support and a left and right side support on top of a flat surface, to form a square. The 2-inch sides should be facing up. Secure the four pieces together by placing two screws at each intersection. The screws should be placed 1 inch from the top and 1 inch from the bottom of each corner along the 44-inch sides. Repeat this process with the remaining supports. These will be called the support frames.

    • 7

      Stand the upright supports on each of the corners of the first support frame. Secure the upright supports using two screws at each location. The screws should be centered at the bottom of the support and thread through the bottom of the support frame and into the bottom of the upright. Lay the second support frame on top of the uprights. Secure the pieces together using the same method.

    • 8

      Lay the support structure on top of the vinyl-covered pen floor. Secure the structure to the floor using 12 screws, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the floor. The screws should be placed 1 inch from the edge and thread through the bottom of the floor and into the bottom of the frame.

    • 9

      Stand up three pieces of plywood along the sides and back of the box. Attach the plywood to the support structure using 12 screws on each piece of plywood, evenly spaced around the perimeter of each piece of plywood. The screws should be placed 1 inch from the edge and thread through the plywood and into the frame.

    • 10

      Lay a second piece of plywood on a flat surface. Draw a square on the piece of plywood that is 36 inches high and 36 inches wide. This will be the front of your pen. The opening will be the entry to your puppy pen.

    • 11

      Stand up the front of your puppy pen so that the opening is at the top. Attach the plywood to the support structure using 12 screws on each piece of plywood, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the plywood. The screws should be placed 1 inch from the edge and thread through the side of the plywood piece and into the frame.

    • 12

      Center the last piece of plywood on top of the support structure and secure it with wood screws. Secure the plywood to the structure using 12 screws, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the plywood. The screws should be placed 1 inch from the edge and thread through the top of the plywood and into the frame.