How to Build a Dog Shade Shelter

A shade shelter is a temporary structure, meant to keep your dog cool on hot days. A shade shelter does not need to be water resistant or enclosed on all sides. The simplest shade shelter is an awning of some kind, suspended from a frame. A good shelter should accommodate your dog in a fully-stretched position or a standing position, and should provide enough space for a bowl of water as well. This shelter is designed for a medium-sized dog. You can adjust the size as needed for your dog.

Things You'll Need

  • 6 10-foot PVC pipes
  • 14 3-way PVC connectors (side outlet elbows)
  • 4 PVC slip elbows
  • Measuring tape or yard stick
  • Pencil
  • PVC cutter or hacksaw
  • 100 count package of 8-inch Cable ties
  • Twine
  • Scissors
  • Plastic or canvas tarp
  • Grommet setter (optional)
  • Play sand (optional)
  • Tent spikes (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Bottom Frame

    • 1

      Measure and mark 12 36-inch lengths on four of the PVC pipes. Cut these lengths with a PVC cutter or hacksaw. You will be left with four 1-foot lengths of pipe. Set these short pieces aside.

    • 2

      Make two squares with eight of the 36-inch lengths, using eight of the three-way connectors. These connectors have two holes set at 90-degree angles. A third hole sits at the corner of the angle, facing upward. Attach one end of a 36-inch length of pipe into one of the holes set at 90-degree angles. Attach another three-way connector to the other end of the same pipe. Connect four lengths of pipe into a square in this fashion. The third hole of all four connectors should be facing the same direction.

    • 3

      Insert each end of four 36-inch lengths of PVC pipe into the remaining holes of the three-way connectors, connecting the two sides of the bottom frame. You should have a cube-shaped structure when you̵7;re done.

    Top Frame

    • 4

      Measure and cut four 1-inch pieces from one of the four 1-foot lengths. Set these pieces aside.

    • 5

      Cut four 18-inch pieces and five 36-inch lengths from the remaining PVC pipe.

    • 6

      Make a square using the four 36-inch pieces and four of the three-way connectors, as described in Step 2 for the bottom frame. The third hole of all four connectors should be facing the same direction.

    • 7

      Fit two of the 18-inch lengths of PVC pipe in the remaining three-way connectors. You should have two v-shaped pieces of PVC with the third hole of the connector at the base of the ̶0;v.̶1; Connect these pieces with the remaining 36-inch length.

    • 8

      Attach the slip connector to the opposite end of the 18-inch lengths. The angle of the slip connector should face the inside of the "v."

    • 9

      Attach the slip connectors to the remaining holes in the three-way connectors of the square using the 1-inch pieces of PVC. To connect the two parts, place the 1-inch bridge piece into the slip connector and then into the opening of the three-way connector. Push the pieces together until the lips of both connectors meet.

    • 10

      Secure the top frame to the bottom frame with cable ties. Secure each corner with two ties, crossing one over the other in an "X" shape. Attach the top frame and bottom frame PVC pipes to each other using four equally-spaced cable ties on each side. Trim the cable ties with the scissors.

    Covering

    • 11

      Drape the tarp over the center bar of the top frame. Make certain that both sides are of equal length. Trim the tarp to fit the width of the frame, if desired.

    • 12

      Secure the tarp along the front and back of the top frame using cable ties through each grommet along the edge of the tarp. The actual number of cable ties you use will vary depending on the number of grommets in the tarp. Add more cable ties, if desired, by cutting holes in the tarp or by adding grommets.

    • 13

      Roll the sides of the tarp up and use twine to secure them to the frame. They can be lowered as needed to provide a wind break. Alternatively, you can secure the tarp all the way down the front and the back of the bottom frame.