How to Make a Pet Play Yard

You want to give your furry family member some time out in the fresh air, but you do not have a fenced yard. Or, perhaps you need a way to keep a puppy or small pet safe from a larger, older dog who is too rough with her; or need a safe area to put her at a family picnic. Whatever the reason, building this circular, lightweight and portable pet-play yard will provide your little friend with a secure play space, and give you peace of mind. (Play space is 32-inches tall x slightly over 8-feet in diameter. It is adjustable.)

Things You'll Need

  • 12 boards, 8-feet long x 2-inches wide x 2-inches thick. Cut into (36) 32-inch long pieces.
  • 36 corner angle plates 1/2-inch wide (two holes per leg)
  • 144 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Welded wire, 25-foot long roll of 3-foot wide, 2-inch mesh (use 1/2-inch mesh or smaller for ferrets or other small pets)
  • Staple gun and 1/2-inch staples
  • 36 stainless steel closed eye screws, 1-inch long
  • 36 stainless steel carriage bolts and matching nuts (sized to fit through eye hole of closed eye screws)
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut each 8-foot long x 2-inch wide x 2-inch thick board into three 32-inch pieces. You will have 36 boards when you are done.

    • 2

      Lay four of the 32-inch boards on a flat surface so they form a rectangle or frame. (The wire mesh will be attached to this frame.) Place the top and bottom boards to the inside of the two side pieces so that the measurements are 32-inches top to bottom, and 35-inches side to side.

    • 3

      Lay a flat angle bracket on each of the four corners of your rectangle, and fasten in place with 1/2-inch wood screws.

    • 4

      Repeat with the other boards until you have nine identical wooden frames, each measuring 32 inches x 35 inches.

    • 5

      Cut nine pieces of wire, 34-inches long from the roll of wire mesh. Each piece should measure 34-inches tall x 35-inches wide.

    • 6

      Use a staple gun and staples to attach one rectangle of wire to each of the nine frames. (The 36-inch width will be slightly longer than the frame--you may cut off the 1 inch excess if desired or just bend over the edge of the wood.)

    • 7

      Attach one stainless steel closed eye screw, 1 inch from the top and 1 inch from the bottom, on each side of every frame; four total per frame.

    • 8

      Stand two frames up so they are end-to-end with one another, eye screws touching. Lift one frame just enough so the eye screws of one frame lie directly above those on the other frame and slide a carriage bolt through each pair of closed eye screws. Place a nut on each bolt to hold it in place.

    • 9

      Repeat the procedure until all frames are attached one to another, curving them around in a circle as you attach them so that they do not fall over. When you have all nine attached end to end, attach the last frame to the first to complete the circle.

    • 10

      You now have a pet play yard that you can step over to get into, or you can use two hooks in place of the closed eyes on the last frame to create a gate. When you are finished using the play yard, dismantle the circle and stack the frames out of the way. When stacked, they occupy very little space and are easily transportable in most vehicles. Each frame weighs only a few pounds.