How to Make Homemade Dog Boxes

If your dog is too large to fit in a pet carrier and you need to take him in the back of your pickup, it's not safe to just let him run loose. You can make a homemade dog box out of plywood. Just be sure to put some blankets inside when you're finished so it is comfortable for your dog, and don't let any nails protrude through to the inside.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood
  • Circular saw
  • T-square
  • Six-inch nails
  • Power drill
  • Hammer
  • Hinge (with screws)
  • Slide lock (with screws)
  • Screwdriver or screwdriver bit for drill
  • Tape measure
  • Level
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide how large you'd like your dog box to be. It has to be big enough for your dog to fit in it comfortably, but it also has to be small enough to be practical. A good dog box size for the average Labrador retriever is three feet deep by two feet tall by two feet long. Adjust for your dog's size.

    • 2

      Buy enough plywood to accommodate each of the walls. You will need six. If you're using the sample measurements, that means four pieces that are three by two feet and two pieces that are two by two feet. The plywood should be at least an inch thick to make your dog box durable.

    • 3

      Cut your wood to size with the circular saw, using a T-square to ensure that all of the corners are exactly 90 degrees. If not, your box will not fit well. If you lack the confidence to cut evenly, see if you can get your wood precut at the lumber yard or wherever you buy it.

    • 4

      Take one of the end pieces and cut a square door into it that will be large enough to allow your dog to enter and exit. Drill at least a dozen holes in the sides of the box so your dog box has good ventilation.

    • 5

      Use a hammer and your six-inch nails to assemble your box so you get a nice rectangular shape. Take the wood you removed to make the doorway and sand all sides of it. Also sand the inside of the doorway hole to remove any jagged edges. Screw one half of your hinge to the dog box wall directly to the left of the doorway and the other half to the door. Use a level to check that it's straight.

    • 6

      Screw the slide latch onto the right side of the doorway, making sure the slide pulls out to the left so it can cover the door, keeping your dog securely inside.