DIY Puppy Pen

Puppies of all breeds can be tough to handle and keeping them safe while protecting your floors and other belongings is definitely a chore. Their natural curiosity and tendency to chew can get them into trouble in a hurry, but you can keep your puppy safe by building a puppy pen out of lightweight, durable PVC pipe.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 feet of 3/4 inch PVC pipe
  • PVC pipe cutter
  • Felt tip marker
  • 3/4 inch PVC crosses
  • 3/4 inch PVC elbows
  • 3/4 inch PVC T connectors
  • Rubber mallet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and cut your PVC pipe. In order to be effective, your puppy pen will need to be large enough to accommodate play while keeping your puppy away from your valuables and harmful items. For most small breeds, your pen should be 46 1/2 inches across and 35 inches deep. Larger puppies will require longer lengths. This puppy pen design will require at least two lengths of pipe at 35 inches and two lengths of pipe at 46 1/2 inches for each layer. Cut additional 1 1/4 inch long "connector" pieces as these will serve to connect each layer of the pen together. Mark your measurements with a marker and cut with the pipe cutter.

    • 2

      Construct the first layer. Lay out two lengths of 35 inch pipe and two lengths of 46 1/2 inch pipe to form a rectangle. Attach a cross connector to each end of all four pipes, tapping them gently into place with a rubber mallet. Add a connector piece to the open end of the cross and attach the corners of the rectangle together with elbows. Your first layer is now complete.

    • 3

      Add a second layer. Repeat the assembly process to create the second layer and then attach it to the first layer by adding connector pieces into the top of the crosses of the first layer and sliding them into the bottom of the crosses on the second layer.

    • 4

      Repeat the process. Continue building layers and attaching them in the same manner until the pen is tall enough to prevent your puppy from hopping over it. Ideally, this will be several inches over his head. The final or top layer will substitute T-connectors instead of crosses at the corners.