DIY: PVC Dog Bed

If you prefer to be able to stretch out on your couch without pushing a dog or two out of the way, consider making a PVC dog bed for your pets. Few dogs like to sleep on concrete or wood floors or carpeting. This raised PVC bed will give your dog furniture of its very own so that you can both be comfortable and relaxed.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 10-foot length of 1 1/4 inch PVC pipe
  • 4 3-way PVC pipe connectors
  • 4 1 1/4 inch pipe end caps
  • Heavy duty cloth, 35 inch by 39 inch
  • Drill with screwdriver attachment
  • Round washer head screws (#8-18 inch by 1/2 inch)
  • Tape measure
  • PVC pipe cutter or hacksaw
  • Channel lock
  • Hammer
  • Clothes iron
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Instructions

  1. Make the Frame

    • 1

      Cut the pipe into eight pieces. There should be two 24-inch pieces, two 28-inch pieces and four 4-inch pieces. Set aside the 4-inch lengths of pipe; these will be your bed's legs.

    • 2

      Fit one 28-inch piece of PVC pipe and one 24-inch piece of PVC pipe into one three-way connector. This should form one corner of your frame.

    • 3

      Complete your rectangular frame using the remaining 24-inch and 28-inch pieces of PVC pipe. Use the hammer to tap the pipe firmly into the corner connectors.

    • 4

      Fit the 4-inch lengths into the remaining holes in the three-way connectors. Place the bed frame onto its legs. Tap the bed frame opposite the legs to ensure a firm connection. The bed should be level -- not rocking -- on its legs when done.

    • 5

      Use the PVC cap to cover all four feet of the bed.

    Attach the Fabric

    • 6

      Fold about an inch of fabric toward the wrong side of the cloth. The "wrong" side is generally rougher or lighter in color than the "right" side. Iron a crease along the fold to hold the edges in place.

    • 7

      Lay the cloth on the floor, on a table or another flat surface, wrong side up.

    • 8

      Center the frame on the cloth, legs in the air.

    • 9

      Make a diagonal fold at every corner. Each leg should be centered in each of these folds, positioned outside the edges of the cloth. Iron the folds in place, if desired.

    • 10

      Secure the edges of the cloth to the PVC pipe. Beginning at the center of each piece of pipe, screw the cloth cover to the pipe. Screw the fabric to the pipe at even intervals, using enough screws to hold the fabric in place without puckering and to keep the fabric from pulling away from the pipe.

    • 11

      Use the channel lock to tighten the bed frame and the cloth by rolling one length of pipe toward the center of the bed. Secure the pipe in its new position by drilling one screw up through the corner piece at each end of the pipe. Repeat this process for each side of the bed.

    • 12

      Screw the fabric at each corner in place. Use as many screws are needed to prevent the fabric from pulling away from the pipes and to discourage chewing.