How to Make Homemade Doggy Steps

Doggy steps are a useful piece of furniture if you have a dog that is small, young, old or ill. They can be used by your dog in order to ease their ascent onto your bed or couch. Doggy steps made of plastic are not too expensive and are commonly sold at pet shops. However, if you enjoy making your own furniture, then you might want to make your own doggy steps. Making your own steps can be done fairly easily and without the skills of an expert carpenter.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 plywood boards, 2 feet x 2 feet x ¼ inch each
  • Table saw
  • 4 plywood boards, 2 feet x 1 foot x ¼ inch each
  • Staple gun
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood stain
  • 2 carpet rectangles, 2 feet x 1 foot each
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut two ¼-inch-thick plywood boards to measure 2 feet x 2 feet. Cut the wood with a table saw.

    • 2

      Draw a line down the center of both plywood squares, 2 inches from either end.

    • 3

      Draw a second line down the center of both plywood squares, perpendicular to the first and 2 inches from either end. You’ll now have your plywood squares divided into four quadrants.

    • 4

      Label the top-left quadrant “1,” the top-right quadrant “2,” the bottom-left quadrant “3” and the bottom-right quadrant “4.” Repeat this step on the second square plywood board.

    • 5

      Cut out quadrant “2” from both squares so that you end up with two "L"-shaped plywood pieces; these will be the sides of your doggy steps.

    • 6

      Cut four ¼-inch-thick plywood boards that each measure 2 feet x 1 foot.

    • 7

      Attach one of the 2-foot x 1-foot pieces to one of the L-shaped plywood pieces. This 2-foot x 1-foot piece should be attached so that one of the 1-foot edges of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece and the 1-foot, right-edge quadrant “4” meet at a 90-degree angle, perpendicular to each other. Attach the pieces using a staple gun.

    • 8

      Attach another one of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece to the same L-shaped plywood board. This piece should be attached so that one of the 1-foot edges of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece meets perpendicular to the top edge of quadrant “1”. Attach the pieces using a staple gun.

    • 9

      Attach a third 2-foot x 1-foot piece to the same L-shaped plywood board as the first two. This piece should be attached so that one of the 1-foot edges of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece meets perpendicular to the right edge of quadrant “1” and the top 2-foot edge of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece meet perpendicular to the 2-foot x 1-foot piece attached to the top of quadrant “1.” Attach the pieces using a staple gun.

    • 10

      Attach the final 2-foot x 1-foot piece to the L-shaped plywood board. This piece should be attached so that one of the 1-foot edges of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece meets perpendicular to the top edge of quadrant “4,” and one of the 2-foot edges of the 2-foot x 1-foot piece is perpendicular to the 2-foot x 1-foot piece attached to the right edge of quadrant “1,” while the other 2-foot edge is perpendicular to the 2-foot x 1-foot piece attached to the right edge of quadrant “4.” Attach the pieces using a staple gun.

    • 11

      Attach the second L-shaped plywood board to the whole structure. The second L-shaped plywood board should be parallel to the first L-shaped board, but perpendicular to all the 2-foot x 1-foot pieces. Attach the pieces using a staple gun. This will create the doggy step that has two steps to it.

    • 12

      Rub all the surfaces of the doggy steps using sandpaper until all the surfaces are smooth, then brush on a thin coat of wood stain.

    • 13

      Cut two 2-foot x 1-foot rectangles of carpet with scissors.

    • 14

      Attach one of the carpet rectangles to the first step. The first step is the 2-foot x 1-foot piece on top of quadrant “4.” Use the staple gun to attach the carpet.

    • 15

      Attach the second carpet rectangle to the second step. The second step is the 2-foot x 1-foot piece on top of quadrant “1.” Use the staple gun to attach the carpet.