How to Reinforce the Panels for a Dog Pen

Dog owners use dog kennels to keep their dogs in a safe environment when the dogs cannot be supervised. Many dog kennels are made from panels that consist of metal tubing covered with chain-link fabric. Some smart and determined dogs learn to escape from these types of kennels. To keep these dog safe, the panels need to be reinforced. Reinforcing dog kennel panels is something most any dog owner can do with tools that are available around the house and materials available at most any home center.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog kennel panel
  • 10-gauge insulated wire
  • Work gloves
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase 10-gauge wire at any home store. An 8-by-8-foot panel will require approximately 40 feet of wire.

    • 2

      Put the dog out of the kennel and into another safe environment. Put on work gloves.

    • 3

      Take apart the panels of the dog kennel. Reinforcing each panel is considerably easier if the panels are separate and the dog owner is able to lift and move the panels while working with wire.

    • 4

      View the chain-link fabric that is on the panel. The chain-link fabric should be on the outside of each metal tube. If the chain-link fabric lays on the inside of the tube, it is much easier for the dog to pull or bite the fabric away from the tube and form an escape route. If the fabric is on the inside of the tubing, remove the metal clips holding the fabric and place the fabric on the outside of the tubing.

    • 5

      Unwind approximately 3 feet of wire. Start at one of the lower corners of the panel and weave the wire around the tubing and through the chain-link fabric. Pull off wire from the wire bundle while proceeding. The wire should wind around the tubing and lash down each square of chain-link fabric. Weave the wire for the entire length of the base of the panel. Cut the wire with the wire cutters at each end of the panel, leaving enough wire to tie a square knot at each end.

    • 6

      Weave the wire up each side and across the top of the panel in the same manner as accomplished above. When complete, all four sides of the panel will be secure with woven wire, and the chain-link fabric will be on the outside of the metal tubing.

    • 7

      Continue this for each panel of the kennel. Reconnect all the panels of the kennel. Take off the work gloves

    • 8

      Place the dog in the kennel. Leave the area. Observe the dog from a place where the dog cannot see it is being viewed. The dog will immediately know that there is a new addition to the panels of the kennel. He will usually try to escape but will be unsuccessful.