How to Make a Slide Gate for Dogs

A sliding gate allows you to access a dog pen that both you and your dog can use: Simply slide the gate out of the way to leave and slide it back to close it. Make a simple manual gate if you want to keep things easy to install. Consider doing something a little more complicated by installing a gate sensor if you feel that your dog will have trouble opening the gate; the sensor picks up a signal that's given by your dog̵7;s collar and slides the gate open when necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Planks of wood
  • Measuring tape
  • Plywood
  • Drill
  • Rope
  • Metal racks
  • Screws
  • Caster wheel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drive a plank of wood into the ground against the right side of the fence. Position it 6 inches away from the edge of the gate and right against the side. Make the plank 2 feet longer than your fence is tall so that you can drive it 2 feet into the ground and still have it sitting level with the top of the fence.

    • 2

      Measure the distance between the two sides of the fence where you will install the gate and then add 1 foot to properly accommodate the gate. Cut a stiff piece of plywood that is 1 inch thick to that measurement.

    • 3

      Measure the height of each fence and make the plank of plywood 4 inches shorter than the fence.

    • 4

      Drill a 4-inch-wide circle into the right side of the plywood gate 2 inches from the edge of the plywood and halfway up its length. Tie a rope loop around the 2 inches of wood between the hole and the edge of the plywood. Make sure the loop leaves a foot of rope hanging loosely.

    • 5

      Line the top and the bottom edges of the plywood with a wheeled metal sliding track. The track should stretch from one end of the door to the other with a small wheel on the left side of each rack.

    • 6

      Drill a hole through the bottom right side of the plywood. Position it 1 inch from the corner. Insert the screw-end of a 1.5-inch caster wheel into the hole.

    • 7

      Cut two planks of wood 3 inches longer than the measurement that you need for the gate. Place one plank against the bottom of the left side of the fence on the side where your dogs roam, so that the end is lined up with the opening for the gate. Place the plank so that the wider side is parallel with the ground. Insert screws through the side of the plank and into the fence to hold it steady.

    • 8

      Screw a metal sliding track on the top of the plank that sits against the side of the fence. The track should be at least an inch wide. Set the plywood in the track with the caster wheel hanging over the side.

    • 9

      Attach a metal track that is identical to the one on the first plank of wood to the second. Place the second plank, track side down, next to the fence over the plywood. Install the plank by screwing through the side and into the fence.

    • 10

      Slide the plywood piece across the opening of the gate. The caster should support the right end of the gate while the track on the planks guides and supports the left end of the gate. The plank on the right side of your gate will prevent the plywood gate from pulling off the tracks when you close it.

    • 11

      Tie a dog toy to the end of the hanging rope (make the rope longer if you have a short dog). Teach the dog to grab the toy in its mouth and pull the gate back to open it.