Can You Do It All by Yourself, a Dog Crate for Your Little Four-Legged Friend?

 

Suppose you consider yourself a pretty talented person, with some DIY skills, then more than sure you will be able to make on your own the nicest puppy pen for your little four-legged friend. Plus, the internet has so many ideas of how to build all sorts of things; therefore, if you want to try to see if you can finish a dog crate from zero, start looking at videos. It is important to get all the things you may need from the start to have everything on hand when you start the actual project.

What Do You Need for a Puppy Pen?

Before starting the job, it is important to make a plan. See what model you think you would manage to do easier, what tools you may need, the material to use, and of course, what features the puppy pen needs to have. Take a paper and a pen and start writing down all your necessities. It is crucial to do some research before, because the material is the most important first thing to consider. Many usually choose wood, but maybe you prefer something else, which is why you need to see which is the best option.

Conceive a Plan for the Dog Crate

For starters, make a plan regarding how you want the dog crate to look. Then, make a list with everything you need, from the material it will be made of, nails, a saw, measuring tape, and everything that you consider you will need. Also, make a list with pros and cons regarding each material, because you do not want to later think that it would have been better to choose something else. If it is not urgent to make the cage right away, take some time to consider all your options.

A puppy pen is not hard to make, but there are lots of models that later would look nicer, and you would want that model, too. It depends on how pretentious you are, too. Just remember that the most important thing is for your pet to be safe from the weather and other dangers; the model should not be the one to focus on. Before starting the job, measure your pet to know how big the cage should be. Of course, you need to make it bigger, because your pet will have to be able to stretch.

Plus, the dog crate is not a place where your pet will only want to sleep. He will also play inside it, so you need to consider making it big enough so that he can have enough space for that, too. Of course, the space you have available is also a factor to consider, because even if you want to make it in a certain dimension, the space you have may be designed for this may not allow it. That means you should reconsider the location, based on all the factors involved and your pet’s needs.

Connect All the Pieces

If you have decided about the size, the next thing is to choose the materials, which, as previously said, are different, and the best thing to do is to choose recommendations from other animal owners.  Other things to consider are ventilation, which is vital for obvious reasons, choosing the door you like, and, of course, considering which is the best way for easy cleaning. Once you have all these things cleared, you are ready to go. Another important thing, if you want to put a bed inside the puppy pen, consider it when you make the measurements.

How does the actual process work? Well, for starters, you need to get the materials you need for the base, the cages’ sides, and the back frames. Cut all the materials to the proper length, based on the dimensions you want and then start building the age, starting with the base, then attach the side, and the last part is to attach the back frames. Do it using glue and screws to connect them better and make them last longer. For the front of the dog crate, you can use another type of design to look as you want it to.

You can place coloured strips, thin ones, at a distance small enough so that your pet does not get his head stuck. Be sure to provide a smooth finish to your puppy pen so that there are no splinters that your pet can get hurt. Use non-toxic paint to protect the material you make the cage from, as this is safe for animals, which is the main purpose when you have a pet: to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. Once you get this done, the next thing to do is to make sure your pet likes it.

Get Your Pet Inside Its Cage Easily

There are animals that do not really want to stay inside their cage and that is because of many reasons. There are many things you can do to help your pet get inside his new dog crate. For starters, you can place inside the cage comfortable bedding and some toys, preferably its favourite ones. You can also put some snacks inside it, and that will surely attract him inside. Some dogs enter the age for the first time they see it as they are pretty curious, while for others it takes some time.

What is important is to make the puppy pen cosy and offer your pet different things that he likes, so that you encourage him to go inside. It is very important to always leave the door open so that your pet can be curious and go alone to inspect what is inside. Never force it to go inside, because that will have exactly the opposite result. After he willingly enters, you can offer some treats to reward him. Do not close the door for good, but rather for a few seconds, then open it again. With small steps, you will get there.