How to Build Ramps for Older Dogs

Dogs are much like their owners and as they age, stairs become difficult to navigate and often are painful to climb. Ease the pain of your elderly dog while maintaining his ability to go to all parts of the yard and home by providing him with a carpeted ramp to walk up rather than stairs. Use carpet to prevent the dog from sliding down the ramp.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Half-inch thick plywood
  • Saw
  • Carpet
  • Utility knife
  • Spray adhesive
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
  • Drill
  • Screws
  • Four 18-inch-long lath strips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the distance from the top step to the floor or the ground and add four inches. Cut your plywood to this length. Cut it 18 inches wide.

    • 2

      Cut the carpet to slightly larger than the plywood with a utility knife. Glue the carpet to the plywood with spray adhesive. Pull the excess carpet to the back side of the plywood and secure it with spray adhesive and staples from a staple gun.

    • 3

      Screw a lath strip at the bottom of the plywood and one at the top. Evenly space the remaining two lath strips between the top and bottom so the dog has traction when using the ramp.

    • 4

      Set the dog ramp in place so the top of the ramp extends past the top step by at least one inch. Screw through the plywood and into the top step to secure the ramp into place.