Homemade Dog Ramps

Among the many genetic- or age-related afflictions dogs may face--especially the larger, heavier breeds--are joint malformation, hip dysplasia and arthritis. These, and other medical problems sometimes make it difficult for your pet to use steps or jump up on beds, couch or into a vehicle. You can help your dog by building a gradually sloping ramp to ease its discomfort and aid it to get to those hard-to-reach places. This ramp design based on one from Make and Build Dog Stuff includes a long, gentle slope that should work well for most disabled dogs.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 piece ¾-inch-thick plywood 67½ inches long by 24 inches high
  • 1 piece ¾-inch-thick plywood 18 inches wide by 72 inches long
  • 1 piece ¾-inch plywood 18 inches by 24 inches
  • Saw
  • 2 ramp support boards 2 by 2 by 63 inches long
  • 2 back support boards 2 by 2 by 24 inches long
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Screwdriver
  • Box 1¼-inch flathead wood screws
  • Outdoor carpet, 18 inches wide by 70 inches long
  • Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Carpet tacks and/or carpet adhesive
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the piece of plywood measuring 24 inches by 67½ inches diagonally into two identical triangular pieces of plywood, each measuring 24 inches high by 67½ inches long by 72 inches diagonally.

    • 2

      Mark all the pieces as follows: the triangles "sides," the 18-inch-wide-by-72-inch-long piece "ramp face," and the 18-by-24-inch piece "back." Mark the 63-inch long boards "ramp supports" and the 24-inch long boards "back supports."

    • 3

      Lay the ramp supports on a level surface parallel to each other, 18 inches apart, and run a bead of carpenter's glue along the top face of each.

    • 4

      Place the ramp on top of the ramp supports so that the ramp is flush with the supports on the sides and extends 2¼ inches beyond the ramp supports on each end.

    • 5

      Screw the ramp face to the ramp supports with flathead screws (at approximately 4-inch intervals).

    • 6

      Lay the sides on a level surface, with their bottom edges touching. Run a bead of carpenter's glue along the edge measuring 24 inches long.

    • 7

      Place the back supports on that 24-inch edge (one to each side piece, on top the glue bead) so that they are flush with the edge and one end of each back support touches the bottom face (the 67½-inch edge) of each side piece.

    • 8

      Screw the sides to the back supports with flathead screws.

    • 9

      Lay the sides flat and parallel, again with bottom edges touching and the back supports facing up; then run another bead of carpenter's glue along the 72-inch-long side of each of the two sides.

    • 10

      Stand the two sides upright and parallel (get help holding them or prop them temporarily) with the longest dimension up, glued edges facing in, and lay the ramp face on top (with the ramp supports inside and touching the glued sides.

    • 11

      Screw the sides to the ramp face with flathead screws.

    • 12

      Stand the back upright against the high end of the ramp and screw it to the back supports at the end of the sides.

    • 13

      Finish by painting the sides and back of the ramp, then tacking and/or gluing a strip of 18-inch-wide-by-70-inch-long outdoor carpet to the top of the ramp for slip resistance (tucking the extra length under the top of the ramp and over to the back for a more finished appearance).