Dog stairs will help a small pet reach a high sofa, or an arthritic dog climb up to a tall bed. Dogs easily learn how to climb pet stairs and will typically prefer this easy solution to jumping up and down. Store-bought dog stairs come in a range of fixed sizes, but if you want a custom size to fit your furniture or your dog’s needs, it’s best to build your own pet stairs. In addition, cheap store-bought pet stairs are made of bulky, ugly plastic. But you can build dog stairs out of elegant wood, and the whole project will cost less than the cheapest store-bought pet stairs.
No woodworking experience is required to build pet stairs from wood. This tutorial will list all the hardware and materials you will need, as well as walk you through every step in building your beautiful dog stairs. So let’s get started.
Here’s the Hardware Required to Build Your Dog Stairs:
* Hammer.
* Wood glue.
* 3 inch nails.
* Wood stain.
* Sew
Here Are the Materials Required to Build Your Dog Stairs:
* Two 2×4 lumber, 17 inches long (bottom side)
* Two 2×4 lumber, 11 inches long (middle side)
* Two 2×4 lumber, 6 inches long (top side)
* Six 2×4 lumber, 15 inches long (front and back frames)
* 3 hardwood, 2 x 18 x 6 inches (width, length, depth)
* Old carpet or rug (optional).
Tip: You can change the measurements to fit your custom need. The basic dog stair design will remain the same.
Here Are the Steps Required to Build Your Dog Stairs:
#1. Cut the Wood
You can use the wood cutting services at your home improvement store to cut your wood down to size. Otherwise, use a simple hand saw.
#2. Build the Pet Stairs Frame
Create the bottom frame of the dog stairs from two 2×4, 17 inch long pieces, and two 2×4, 15 inch long pieces. Form a square with the wood sections resting on their 2 inch sides, and the shorter sections fitting inside the longer ones. You should end up with a perfect square, 17 inches on each side. Nail the frame together. The sleek, unbroken side (17 inch wood) will form the side of the dog stairs.
#3. Build the Second Tier of the Pet Stairs
Create the second level of the dog stairs using two 2×4, 11 inch long pieces, and two 2×4 15 inch long pieces. Form a rectangle with the wood sections resting on their 2 inch side and the 15 inch lengths inserted inside the frame. Nail the frame together, then glue it over the dog stair bottom frame, aligning the second tier flush with the back of the first.
#4. Build the Third Tier of the Pet Stairs
Create the third level of the dog stairs using two 2×4, 6 inch long pieces, and two 2×4 15 inch long pieces. Repeat the previous step to create the smaller rectangle of the third tier. Make sure the 15 inch long pieces are inserted inside the frame before you nail the pieces together. Finish by gluing the third level of the dog stairs to the middle one, once again aligning flush with the back.
#5. Build Steps for the Pet Stairs
Using the three 2x18x6 sections create the dog stair steps by laying each wood section flat over the frame. The wood steps will stick out a little over the sides. If you want to paint or finish the dog stair steps without carpet, go ahead and nail them in place. If you want to coat them in an old carpet or rug, cut the carpet down to size, then wrap around the steps and lay them flat over the frame. When you nail the step in place, the carpet cover will be fixed in place.
#6. Finish the Pet Stairs
In addition to paint, finish or carpet, you can spray paint the dog stair steps with rubber spray paint to give them a non-slippery cover. Alternatively, you can cut a yoga or rubber sports mat down to size and glue it over the dog stair steps. If the dog steps wear down with time, simply replace them with fresh sections of wood over the existing frame.
#7. Increase the Height of Your Pet Stairs
You can change the measurements chosen for this article to fit your custom needs. One easy way to increase the height and size of your pet stairs is to add a fourth stair. Do so from the bottom of your pet stairs. Add a bottom from made of two 2×4, 23 inch long, and two 2×4, 15 inch long. Nail the sections together to create a new and larger bottom frame for the pet stairs. Glue the frame under the dog stairs, then add a 2x18x6 hardwood step.
#8. Train Your Dog to Use His Pet Stairs
Teach your dog to use his new dog stairs by placing his front paws on the bottom step and gently coaxing him up the stairway. At first, your dog will leap over the dog stairs, seeing them as an obstacle. But pretty soon he will grasp the principal of climbing up the stairs. Dog’s that have trouble jumping up on tall beds or furniture will learn how to use their dog stairs more quickly, by necessity. In addition, dogs typically learn how to climb pet stairs before they learn how to descend them. Within a few days, however, your dog will be a master of his new dog stairs and happy to have them there when he’s tired or in pain.
Spoil your furry friend even more with a homemade orthopedic bed. Here’s the step-by-step tutorial.
