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13 DIY Dog Playpens You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
All dogs deserve to play, but what do you do when you can’t be there to supervise them 100% of the time? One of the most popular solutions to this common problem is the humble dog playpen. Big or small, indoor or outdoor, dog playpens allow our canine companions to do their thing when we can’t be there to keep them out of trouble.
Unfortunately, many commercial dog playpens are expensive. Even if you find one within your budget, there’s a good chance that it won’t fit your living space or suit your dog’s specific needs.
The best way to solve these problems is by building a DIY dog playpen of your very own. Here are three plans to get you started.
Top 13 DIY Dog Playpen Plans
1. Custom Indoor DIY Dog Playpen by Instructables
Instructables offers detailed instructions on how to build an indoor dog playpen with just a few simple supplies found at most hardware stores. Not only will this DIY playpen keep your dog out of trouble around the house, but it also features a bottom that will protect your flooring underneath. If you position your finished playpen against an outer door, as done in the example, you can easily let your dog out to go potty whenever they need to.
| Materials: | Plywood, Lumber, Chicken wire, Linoleum, Screws, Staples |
| Tools: | Drill, Chop saw, Circular saw, Staple gun, Box cutter |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
2. Quick and Portable Wire Dog Playpen by Instructables
Another quick and easy way to build an outdoor DIY dog playpen comes from Instructables. These plans feature affordable supplies, like wire livestock mesh, that are available almost anywhere and can be transported with ease. If desired, you can also install a metal gate to make entry and exit a little bit easier.
| Materials: | Heavy-gauge wire livestock mesh, Aluminum wire, Safety latches, Metal fence posts (optional) |
| Tools: | Sledgehammer, Pliers |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
3. PVC Puppy Playpen by Dreamydoodles
If woodworking isn’t really your thing, then Dreamydoodles offers simple instructions for building a fully functional puppy playpen out of just PVC piping. This project is great for situations when you need to keep small dogs or puppies contained in one place, such as after a new litter is born.
| Materials: | PVC pipes, corners, crosses, T’s, and caps Tarp (optional) |
| Tools: | PVC pipe cutters, Rubber mallet, PVC glue (optional) |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
4. Cheap & Easy DIY Dog Playpen by flickr
| Materials: | Scrap wood, fencing rolls (chicken wire), door hinges, screws, paint, wood glue |
| Tools: | Drill, screwdriver, miter saw or a circular saw, sandpaper |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
If you’re looking for a quick way to make a playpen for your dog, consider building this cheap and easy DIY dog playpen. Although the creator of this plan wasn’t detailed with the materials and building steps, you can figure out what to do by looking at the picture of the finished playpen.
This DIY dog playpen will require you to get either scrap wood or any kind of lumber boards, fencing rolls or chicken wire, door hinges, screws, and paint. You’ll also need basic tools, such as a drill and a miter or circular saw. Overall, it’s an easy-to-make, affordable dog playpen that’s excellent for puppies and smaller breeds.
As the creator’s plan doesn’t offer a full explanation, you can follow these simple tips to make this playpen for your furry companion:
Cut the boards to your desired size.
Attach boards into a frame.
Attach the chicken wire.
Connect your frames using door hinges.
5. Customizable DIY Puppy Playpen by Making It Work
| Materials: | PVC pipes, PVC tees, lumber, vinyl flooring, metal brackets, pipe clamps |
| Tools: | PVC pipe cutters, fasteners, drill |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Having a large playpen where your dog can play is a great way to entertain your furry friend in a safe environment. There are many different ways to make a playpen for your dog instead of spending money on a store-bought one. If you want to create a comfortable space for your dog to rest and play, check out this customizable DIY puppy playpen.
The creator has large dogs, but you can follow this plan using measurements suitable for your canine. Overall, it’s an easy project that requires a few basic tools and materials, though nothing that would prevent beginners from building it.
6. Temporary DIY Dog Playpen by Daves Everything Channel
| Materials: | Wire cube storage shelving, cable ties |
| Tools: | Wire cutters |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Those who are looking for a quick solution for a play area for their dog but don’t have much money to spend should consider making this temporary DIY dog playpen. This extremely easy project requires no tools other than wire cutters. Depending on your dog’s size, you can customize this playpen and make it either larger or smaller.
This is a no-tools project, so remember that it's temporary and not sturdy enough for regular usage. That said, it can be a great way to easily create a play area for your canine when you’re busy or have chores. You can also take this playpen with you on vacations so your dog can always have a safe play area.
7. DIY Wooden Dog Playpen by Dakota Busy
| Materials: | Scrap wood, plywood, screws, hinges |
| Tools: | Sandpaper, tape measure, pocket hole jig, drill, table saw |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
You can use scrap wood to make this DIY wooden dog playpen. This project is great for people looking to be budget friendly while creating a safe environment for their dogs. The creator’s video instructions cover everything that you need to know to execute this plan, from the tools and materials to the precise steps of construction.
This intermediate project is suitable for people with beginner skills in woodworking, as the information is quite detailed. Your dog will love the finished product, as there’s plenty of space to roam freely and explore.
8. DIY Puppy Pallet Playpen by Adapt & DIY
| Materials: | Pallets, wood screws |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, tape measure. level, drill, hand saw, sander, hammer |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
If you are looking for a simple and affordable way to make a great playpen for your dog, consider building this DIY puppy pallet playpen. This project will require you to find pallets and have basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer, sander, and a hand saw.
The creator took the time to explain all the parts of this plan, so you can follow the video and instructions to make the playpen for your canine. You can adjust it according to your free space and your dog’s size.
9. Large Indoor DIY Dog Playpen by 100 Things 2 Do
| Materials: | Scrap wood, wood glue, pocket screws, plywood, stain, hinges, metal bars |
| Tools: | Table saw, tape measure, drill, pocket hole jig, sander |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
People with enough free space inside their homes can consider building this large indoor DIY dog playpen. The creator used the finished playpen as a play/crate area for their dog; you can decide whether to use it just for playing or for something else too.
This type of dog playpen is most suitable for small and medium-sized dogs and puppies, as it has enough space for them to play, relax, and run around. The creator provided detailed instructions for making this plan, from the required materials and tools to what you need to do to build the playpen.
You should be able to make this dog playpen in a day, and the best thing about it is that it’s quite affordable.
10. Cardboard DIY Puppy Playpen by Luna Furever
| Materials: | Cardboard, glue |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Anyone looking to quickly make a puppy playpen while on a budget should check out this cardboard DIY puppy playpen. This is the simplest plan on this list, as it only requires you to have cardboard, glue, and scissors. The instructions that the creator provided are quite detailed, and all you need to do is cut the cardboard and glue it together.
This playpen is the perfect solution for creating a play area for small dogs and puppies. That said, since the primary material of this dog playpen is cardboard, it would be unsuitable for large breeds, as it’s not that sturdy or durable, which is something to keep in mind.
11. Spacious DIY Dog Playpen by MzChasten2u
| Materials: | Wood boards, chicken wire, wood screws, screws |
| Tools: | Miter saw, circular saw, drill |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
If you have extra time on your hands, consider building this spacious DIY dog playpen. It’s excellent for large dogs, which require more space than small breeds. If you do have a small breed, you can follow the instructions from this plan and simply adjust the playpen size to your dog.
Since there’s cutting that needs to be done, this is an intermediate project that will require you to have woodworking skills. The finished playpen looks beautiful and is extremely functional. Your furry friend will be able to easily get in and out of the playpen while having enough room to play inside.
12. DIY Puppy Playpen & Whelping Box by hallmarkchannel
| Materials: | Plywood, PVC pipes, wood glue, wood letters, wood discs, newspaper, towels |
| Tools: | Jigsaw or miter saw, PVC pipe cutter, tape measure, level, clamps |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Your dog just had puppies, but you may not have an appropriate place for them to relax and spend their free time. You should consider making this DIY puppy playpen and whelping box for your pups!
This dog playpen plan is affordable and easy to make, and it will benefit both you and your new puppies. You can adjust the size of this playpen based on the size of the litter; it would also be suitable for small dog breeds.
If you stumble upon any obstacles while building this dog playpen, you can follow the creator’s video instructions to get back on track.
13. Simple & Affordable Wooden DIY Dog Playpen by DANROJAS
| Materials: | Wood boards, wood screws, glue |
| Tools: | Cordless drill, table saw, miter saw |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Those looking for a quick solution for creating a dog playpen should check out this simple and affordable wooden DIY dog playpen plan. This extremely easy project requires few materials and basic tools and has detailed video explanations of the whole building process.
Since this is a non-assembly project, you’ll need to ensure that your finished playpen will be able to go through your doorways. The whole project is straightforward and most importantly, budget-friendly, as it should cost you less than $50.
Conclusion
Giving your dog the space they require to run, jump, and play to their heart’s content doesn’t need to be expensive. By building your own DIY dog playpen — whether from wood, PVC, or something else entirely — you can create a pen custom-tailored to your home and your dog’s unique needs.
Which of these DIY plans will you try your hand at first?
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Featured Image Credit: Candice Pun, Shutterstock
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Visnja is a content writer that covers various topics such as DIY, pets, home improvement, travel, gardening, and more.
She is a young mom and a college student, who didn’t have enough time to balance her personal and work life, so after multiple years of working a regular 9 to 5 job, she decided to pursue her passion and make a living out of it. She has been writing for a couple of years, helping people find valuable and interesting information online.
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