How to Build a Dog Crate

By: Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. 14-by-14-inch inch reproduction floor heating grate

2. Decorative cabinet grille Get enough to cover the window cutouts on the side and back panels.

3. Dog tray for a plastic or metal crate, sized to your dog's weight.

4. 4-by-4-foot piece of ½-inch oak veneer plywoodfor the crate's sides, back, and top.

5. 8 feet of 1x2 oak

6. 6 feet of 1x3 oak

7. 2 feet of 1x4 oak

8. 5.2-mm Lauan plywood for the crate's floor.

9. ¾-inch square dowels to make floor supports and cleats on the back of the face frame.

10. 3/8-inch square dowels to hold the decorative grille in place.

11. 1 5/8-inch oak crown molding and ½-inch oak glass bead molding to trim the top.

12. Pivot hinges

13. Latch

14. 3-inch finish-head screws for the door and face frame.

15. 1-inch drywall screws to assemble the box and install the decorative grille.

16. 5/8-inch brad nails to secure all trim pieces.

17. 1 3/8-inch brad nails to secure cleats, blocking, and crown molding.

18. Stainable wood filler

19. Shellac and lint-free rag

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Pneumatic brad nailer
- Speed Square
- Screwdriver
- Jigsaw fitted with a plywood blade
- Miter saw
- Drill/driver and various bits: 5/16-inch, 3/32-inch, and #6 countersink
- 24-inch bar clamps
- Tin snips or heavy-duty wire-cutters
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little girl petting a dog in a pet crate that doubles as a side table

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Photo: Laura Moss

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20

19: Attach the Latch and Finish the Crate

10 hours
About $330

Difficulty: Hard The small pieces and mitered trim require precision measurements and cuts.

Though your grown-up pup might still enjoy the security of his training crate, there's just no good place to put that ugly metal cage. Once he's past the chewing stage, build him a decorative furniture piece from wood that doubles as a safe haven when your pooch wants to curl up for a snooze. This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers created a design that incorporates a reproduction heating grate and decorative cabinetry grille, so you can easily use it as a side table in a living space while your furry friend slumbers inside. Keep reading to see how he put it together.

Reproduction floor heating grate: The Renovator's Supply, about $99
Decorative cabinet grille: Van Dyke’s Restorers, about $109