Homemade Dog Cage

Wire Cage

• Learn to make your own dog cage by using wire cage materials. Buy several sheets of wire fencing--choosing fencing as close as possible to chicken wire, with smaller holes. To create the cage sides, cut six pieces of wire. Four should be the same size, depending on the size of your dog. For smaller dogs, these pieces can be 3 feet wide and 4 feet long. For bigger dogs, the sizes can range from 4 to 6 feet wide to 5 to 8 feet long.

  Don't just follow suggestions for cage size--it is important to figure out the size for your specific dog. Measure your dog from tail to nose, then from paws to ears. The cage should be at least 4 inches taller than your dog, and at least as long. It should also be at least 6 inches wider than your dog is from shoulder to shoulder.

  The four cut sheets should be long enough and wide enough to make an appropriate cage for your dog. Cut two end pieces that are the size of the width of the 4 other pieces. For instance, if your four main pieces--the top, bottom, and two sides of the cage--are 4 feet by 6 feet, the two end pieces need to be 4 feet by 4 feet so they will fit with your cage.

  To assemble the wire cage, put the six pieces you have cut out on a flat work surface and line all four edges of each wire piece with 1 x 4 pieces of wood. Use bent-over nails, staples or hooks to secure the wood to the wire. Then assemble the four main pieces plus one of the ends by using screws to attach the wood pieces to each other.

  Keep in mind that you need to be able to get your dog in and out of the cage easily. So, before you attach the last piece, which will function as the door, set the piece up where it goes as if it is another wall. Then, instead of screwing the wood pieces together, use a metal hinge on one end--like the top, bottom or one of the sides. Keep the cage closed by using eye hooks, key chains or push hooks.