Building Wooden Dog Kennels

Making a wooden dog kennel is a very simplified version of making a house, but it still requires thought and craftsmanship. There are many different variations on dog kennels; some are simply box-shaped, others have peaked roofs and some come with a porch for the pooch to rest on. Making a dog kennel with a porch is not that difficult and it adds a nice touch to your kennel, which your pet is sure to love.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 plywood sheets, ¾-inch exterior grade
  • Lumber, 2-by-2-inch
  • Saw
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Wood glue
  • Clamp
  • 60 screws, 3.5-inch galvanized
  • Drill
  • Hammer
  • 200 nails, 2-inch galvanized
  • Paint/paintbrush
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Instructions

  1. Cutting

    • 1

      Cut your plywood into a 45-by-36-inch piece for the base, 36-by-22-inch and 36-by-40-inch pieces for the roof, two 36-by-24-inch pieces and two 39-by-30-inch pieces for the sides. Cut your lumber into four pieces at 20 inches, four at 21 inches, three at 32 inches, two at 45 inches and two at 30 inches.

    • 2

      Measure down 15 inches from the top of the two 39-inch plywood pieces and mark with the pencil on both sides. Measure across 15 inches at the top to find the center. Draw a line between the center and the sides to form a triangle top. Cut out the triangle top with the saw. Repeat on the other 39-inch piece. Choose one 36-by-24-inch ply piece and cut out a door 15 inches high and wide in the center of one 36-inch side.

    • 3

      Miter one 36-inch side of each roof piece of plywood to 45 degrees so that it will form a right-angled corner when put together. Miter the ends of the 21-inch lumber pieces to 45 degrees for the triangular roof frame.

    Assembly

    • 4

      Form the 45-inch and two of the 32-inch lumber pieces into a rectangular frame, the ends of the 32-inch pieces abutting the inside edge of the 45-inch pieces to form the corners. Glue the joints, clamp and let dry. Screw two screws through each joint. Place the base piece of plywood over the top of the frame and nail down, one nail every two inches.

    • 5

      Place a 30-inch lumber plank horizontally on your work surface. Abut two 20-inch pieces vertically on the top of the ends and form a triangular top out of the mitered 21-inch pieces, the bottoms of which will abut the vertical 20-inch pieces. Glue, clamp and let dry. Screw together with two screws through each glued joint. Repeat with other lumber planks so you have two identical frames.

    • 6

      Position the frames with the 30-inch side flat along one end of the 45-inch side of the base---there should be 15 inches of base left over. Screw five screws through the 30-inch plank into the base to secure the frames upright. Take the remaining 32-inch plank and insert it between the points of the two triangular points of the frame. Screw in place through both ends.

    • 7

      Position the two triangle-topped plywood pieces over the ends of the triangle- topped frames.They should match up. Nail in place with a nail every three inches. Position the remaining two pieces of side plywood over the open sides of the frame; the piece with the door should face the side with the extended base. Nail into the frames, one nail every three inches.

    • 8

      Place the roof pieces of plywood over the triangle top of the frame---the mitered edges mated to form a corner at the top. The longer piece should extend over the base to make the covered porch. Nail down the roof pieces, one nail every three inches. Measure the distance between the end of the porch roof and the base and cut two extra pieces of lumber to this length; nail in place on the sides of the roof and base for supports. Paint your wooden kennel as desired.