How to Make Portable Dog Ramps

As dogs age and possibly become arthritic, they may begin to have trouble jumping into a car or onto a porch. If your dog is large, you may not be able to lift him; which means he might have to stay at home instead of going places. Meanwhile, small dogs can have trouble reaching their favorite chair or climbing steep stairs. You can build a portable dog ramp to give your dog more independence and dignity whether yours is a small breed or a large one. Heavier dogs require a sturdier ramp than smaller dogs, and you can custom-design it for your vehicle if it is mainly to serve to get the dog into and out of your car. This design is for a medium-size dog of around 40 pounds.

Things You'll Need

  • ¾-inch lumber 5 feet long and 12 inches wide
  • Two 5-foot sections of 3-inch baseboard molding
  • Twelve 1¼-inch drywall screws
  • Six 2-inch screws
  • Strip of ribbed carpet 12 inches wide and 6 feet long
  • About 20 half-inch flat-head screws
  • Two heavy-duty hinges
  • Two heavy-duty slide bolts
  • Tape measure
  • Saw
  • Screwdriver
  • Drill
  • Carpet knife
  • Hammer
  • Paint (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure carefully, then cut the ramp lumber and the baseboard moulding sections in half so that your finished ramp will be 2 feet 6 inches wide and short enough to carry in your vehicle. Predrill screw holes, then attach the molding sections to the side of the ramp using 1¼-inch screws. These form sides to give your dog confidence if he is unsteady on his feet.

    • 2

      Cut the carpet into two 3-foot pieces. Attach the carpeting to the upper surface of the ramp using ½-inch flathead screws. Start the carpet at the end of the board, where the hinges will join the two parts, and wrap the excess around what will be the top and bottom of the ramp. This will keep it from slipping on the ground as the dog walks up.

    • 3

      Attach the two heavy-duty hinges to the bottom side of the ramp so that when it is folded the non-carpeted sides will be together. Attach the slide bolts to the baseboard on the outside of the ramp at the join so that each section of the bolt is on either side of the join. Use 2-inch screws so that one row goes through the moulding and into the ramp. When the ramp is being used, close the slides to make the ramp less flexible at the joint. Paint or stain the sides and base of the ramp if required.