How to Build a Double Dog Crate

Your dogs may need a place to sleep at night that prevents them from roaming through the house or chewing the furniture. You can build a crate that will give two dogs their own spaces while providing them the company of each other. Build it in a way that allows your dogs to see out so they don̵7;t feel trapped. Your double crate will also allow them to see each other. In addition, you will be able to visually check on them in the night.

Things You'll Need

  • Lumber, 2-by-4 inches
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • 1/2-inch plywood
  • Wooden slats
  • Hinges
  • Door latches
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Instructions

    • 1

      Estimate the height, length and width of each half of the crate. Your dogs should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down, so leave plenty of room. If your dogs are different sizes, use the measurement for the larger dog. Write down the length, width and height of the entire crate, including both compartments for your two dogs.

    • 2

      Build two rectangles that are the length and width you want for your crate. Use 2-by-4 lumber for this. These rectangles will make the top and bottom frame for your double crate. Cut four pieces that are long enough for the width of the crate and four pieces for the length of the crate. Nail your pieces together to make two rectangles.

    • 3

      Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 lumber for cross braces. These will hold the divider that separates the two halves of the crate. Nail these two cross pieces in place in each rectangle at the halfway mark on the longest side. In other words, measure the longest boards in your rectangle and make a mark that represents half the length. Nail your cross braces in place at these marks. You should now have two rectangles that are each divided in half by a cross brace.

    • 4

      Cut two pieces of plywood to the size of your rectangles. These will be the floor and roof. Nail these on by driving nails through the plywood into the 2-by-4 frames.

    • 5

      Cut six pieces of 2-by-4 lumber to make upright posts. These should be cut to the height you want for your crate. Nail four of these uprights to the corners of your rectangles. Nail two uprights to your cross braces. You should now have a box with a roof, a floor, four upright posts at the corners and two upright posts at the dividing point of your double dog crate.

    • 6

      Cut slats the same length as your upright posts. Nail these to the crate by placing each end of the slats on the 2-by-4 frames of your roof and floor rectangles. Nail them on three sides of the crate, spacing them about 4 inches apart. Also nail slats to the cross braces inside the crate. This will make a divider between your dogs.

    • 7

      Make two doors for the side of the crate that is not covered by slats. Make the doors by cutting slats and creating two frames that will fill the width of the crate when placed side-by-side. Cut more slats and nail them to these frames to make doors your dogs will be able to see through but not crawl through.

    • 8

      Hinge your doors to the uprights of your crate. The doors should meet in the middle. Attach hook-and-eye latches to your doors and to the uprights that are in place at the dividing point.