Build A Dog Ramp To Cover Your Stairs
Is it hard for your dog to go up and down stairs? Build a dog ramp to cover the steps so that your dog can still get in and out of the house with dignity and you won't need to lift him or her. Here are a few things to consider before you start: - How big and how heavy is the dog that will use the ramp? (Or dogs if more than one)
- How often will you need to move the ramp?
- How many ramps will you need?
If you aren’t sure about the answers to these questions, why not first build a dog ramp using the very simple design below and then go from there?
SIMPLE PLYWOOD DOG RAMP
We thank our friend Ruth for the design and photo. Her Yellow Lab, Dude, used this simple dog ramp for years. Sadly, after she'd had him for over 17 years, Dude had to be put to sleep in 2006.Ruth suggests you have your dog try the ramp before you nail it down just in case it's too steep and you have to lengthen it to get a more gradual slope.
ESTIMATED TIME - 30 minutes to an hour to get materials
- About 1 hour (per ramp) to make
MEASUREMENTS- Take a measuring tape and measure the distance from the top of the stairs to the bottom
- Add 4 inches (100mm)
- This will determine the length of your plywood and carpeting
- If you don't have one piece of plywood long enough to build a dog ramp, put two pieces of plywood together, place a wide section of board at least 3/4 inch (19mm) thick underneath and across the join
- Using several screws in a zigzag pattern, screw through the plywood pieces into the board
- Repeat as needed for additional pieces of plywood
- For a dog over 100 lbs, you may need 3/8 or even 1/2 inch (9.5mm or 12.5mm) plywood
- The ramp can be as wide as you like. We're using 16 inches, but 18 or 24 inches (460 or 610mm) may work better for your dog(s)
MATERIALS- A piece 16 inches x Length you measured x 1/4 inch plywood
- [Metric: 400mm x Length x 6mm plywood]
- Indoor-outdoor carpeting, 16 inches (400mm) x above Length
- Four strips of wooden lathe 16 inches (400mm) long
- 20 wood screws, 3/8 or 1/2 inch (9.5 to 12.5mm) long
- 8 wood screws, 1 inch (25mm) long
TOOLS NEEDED- Staple gun with 1/4 inch (6mm) staples or strong, waterproof glue
- Power screwdriver or hand screwdriver with phillips head
- Tape measure
COST OF MATERIALS- To be determined for items purchased new
- Note: Check your lumberyard, hardware store or a salvage yard for scrap or discount materials
- Ask carpet stores about discounted carpet or leftover pieces
INSTRUCTIONS - Staple or glue the carpeting to one side of the plywood
- Starting from the bottom, attach lathe crosswise over the carpeting at regular 11 inch (275mm) intervals
- Move the ramp to one side of your steps
- Overlap the top part of your plywood with the top step by a few inches
- Screw it in place, using the 1 inch screws in a zigzag pattern
- If your top step is made of concrete instead of wood, you may need a different fastening method such as concrete anchors or special concrete nails
That’s it - you now know how to build a dog ramp!
Time to have your dog give it a try...P.S. Don't worry if he or she doesn't get what the ramp is for right away. Just lead the dog to it, place a few favorite treats on up the ramp, and repeat as necessary. It shouldn't take long! Now that you're done with that project, how about checking our ideas for other ways to build a dog ramp?
Or check the buttons at left if you're itching to try making something else dog-related!
|
