How to Shade a Dog Pen With a Tarp

Summer heat is likely a huge concern for you if you are a dog owner. The thought of leaving your beloved pet outside in the sun can be disturbing. While you can't control the weather, you may be able to provide a small bit of protection to your dog. Building a tarp shelter is a great way to offer your dog some shade while outside.

Things You'll Need

  • Tarp
  • Mallet
  • 5 6-foot PVC pipes
  • 4 5-feet lengths of nylon rope
  • 4 tent stakes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clear an area of the dog pen to build the tarp shelter. Remove any shrubbery or outside equipment that may get in the way. Purchase a tarp large enough to cover the area.

    • 2

      Measure the area designated for your shelter. Mark off the designated corners of the shelter by sticking the stakes into the ground. When you are finished with this step, you should be able to identify a rectangular area enclosed with stakes.

    • 3

      Remove each stake, one at a time, and replace it with a PVC pole. Drive the PVC pipe into the ground where each stake was located using a mallet. Hammer each PVC pole at least 8 to 12 inches into the ground to ensure it is stable.

    • 4

      Thread each nylon rope through an eyelet on each corner of the tarp. Tie off each corner of the tarp to one of the PVC pipes so it forms a rectangular shelter. Try to make the tarp as taut as possible.

    • 5

      Walk underneath the shelter and find the center point. It does not have to be the perfect center, just somewhere near the center of the shelter. Place the remaining PVC pipe at the center of the shelter so that it pitches the tarp upward. If the tarp is taut, you should be able to stabilize this PVC pipe without drilling it into the ground. However, hammer this pipe into the ground if you find it necessary.