How to Make a Play Area for Dogs

Dogs need to play and exercise just like humans, but that doesn't mean your house should become a jungle gym. Building an enclosure for your dogs will set boundaries on their play area while still giving them room to roam. Don't forget about your dogs while they are in their play space, though. Keep a healthy supply of food and water in the play center at all times so your dogs can remain well hydrated and fed to promote healthy play.

Things You'll Need

  • PVC pipe
  • Measuring tape
  • PVC joints
  • Plywood
  • Drill
  • Screws
  • Newspaper
  • Water dish
  • Food dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut four pieces of 2-inch thick PVC pipe 4 feet long. Place a three-sided PVC joint at the end of each pipe piece. Use a three-sided joint with one socket facing up with the other two sockets pointing away from each other at a 90-degree angle -- the upward facing socket should go on the ends of the pipe.

    • 2

      Cut eight pieces of 2-inch thick PVC pipe to 6 feet. Thread "slip t pipes" -- T-shaped pieces that allow the pipe to slide through the sockets -- onto all the 6-foot-long pieces until you cover the pipe completely except for 1 inch on each end.

    • 3

      Lay two pieces of the 6-inch PVC pipe parallel to each other. Angle all the "slip t pipes" so the open socket faces the opposing piece of PVC pipe. Connect all of the "slip t pipes" with a piece of 4-foot-long PVC pipe so they make a rail.

    • 4

      Connect the remaining sets of 6-foot-long PVC pipe to create identical rails. Connect the rails into a square using the original four pieces of 4-foot-long PVC pipe. Attach the 6-foot long pieces of PVC pipe to the open sockets on the three-sided joints.

    • 5

      Cut and arrange 2-inch-thick plywood boards to form a platform that covers 6 square feet. Set the plywood into the bottom of the pen.

    • 6

      Drill a screw through each of the "T" shaped PVC pipes running along the bottom of the rails and into the plywood. These screws prevent the dog from knocking over the enclosure.

    • 7

      Fill the bottom of the enclosure with newspapers to protect the wood planks. Fill it with toys, the water dish and the food dish.