5 DIY Modern Dog Crate Ideas You Can Make on Your Own

It’s common for pet parents to want to give the best for their dogs. This includes ensuring that their Fidos feel safe in their modern dog crates.

But, if you’re a resourceful pet parent who prefers giving a unique aesthetic to your canines’ modern dog crate furniture, here are some ideas you can emulate:

1) A modern dog crate with tabletop and wheels

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Materials:

• A wired dog crate
• Wood
• Wood glue
• Brads
• Spray paint
• Wheels
• Circular saw
• Woodworking tool
• Kreg jig
• Screws
• Jigsaw
• Carpentry clamps
• Screw gun
• Planes

Steps:

• First, measure the top and base of the dog crate and the cabinet. Once you determine the measurement, use a circular saw to cut the wood.
• Before making the lip of the removable lid, sand the surface of the cut parts of the wood. After sanding and making the lip, attach the wood cover with wood glue so that the brads will hold it together.
• This time, measure and cut L-shapes stiles. Use a Kreg jig to drill holes on the pockets and use screws to join the stiles together. Afterward, measure the top rails for the cabinet, cut them, and attach the four rails to the four stiles.
• For the base, create it in the same way you did the removable lid and add a border to hide the wheels at the bottom. Spray paint the bottom then finally, add the wheels.
• Attach the stiles to the base, then stain and poly the top part. When your cabinet is done, simply attach the wired crate inside. You now have your very own unique modern dog kennel.

2) Repurposing a cabinet

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Materials:

• An old and unused cabinet
• Extra wood for rails
• Dog bed
• Wood glue or screws
• Decorative supplies

Steps:

1. Make sure the cabinet is clean and is at the right size to make your job much faster.
2. Detach the side covers of the cabinet (i.e. glass, wood, etc.) to make way for rails that your dog can breathe through. You should also detach other unnecessary attachments like interior lights and cables.
3. Make rails out of the extra wood and attach them to the sides of the cabinet. See to it that the gap between them is wide enough to contain your dog while still giving them enough breathing space. Also, avoid cramping the space inside so that your dog will be comfortable.
4. Paint the whole thing if you must, but be mindful of when to install the dog bed. Make sure that the paint is completely dry before putting the bed. Decorate further, if you want.

3) A wooden crate with a sliding door

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Materials:

• ½ sheet of ¾” plywood
• 11 pieces of 2x2 boards
• 2 ½” pocket hole screws
• 1 ¼” pocket hole screws
• 2 ½” wood screws
• Wood glue
• A pair of 22” drawer slides 

• Kreg pocket hole jig
• Drill
• Miter Saw
• Circular Saw
• Square clamps (optional)
• Plywood edge branding (optional)

Steps:

• For each of the side panels of the crate, you're going to need seven pieces of 27” 2x2s for vertical support and two pieces of 27” 2x2s for horizontal support.
• To put together the slats, drill 1 ½” pocket holes into the ends of each of the seven vertical slats. Place the vertical slats 2 ¾” apart from each other using wood glue and 2 ½” pocket hole screws to assemble the side panel. You can also use the 2 ½” wood screws for the bottom slats.
• For the top panels, you’re going to need another seven pieces of 47” 2x2 slats. Put 2 ¾” of space between the 47” 2x2s and link them to the top of both side panels using screws. The end result should give you an n-shaped frame.
• The front section of the crate needs four pieces of 27” 2x2s and one piece of 17” 2x2. Assemble the vertical slats, placing 2 ¾” of space between from each other, and attach them to the 17” base.
• Link the front panel to the left side panel using 2 ½” wood screws for the bottom slat and 2 ½” pocket hole screws on 1 ½” pocket holes for the top slats.

• For the sliding door, cut your plywood into two 24” x 31” panels for the front and back of the door, and one 27 ½” panel for the top part. 
• Assemble the door parts using wood glue and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws on ¾” pocket holes.
• Align and attach the pair of drawer sliders on the underside of the top of the sliding door and on the top of the crate. Screw them in to make sure they stay in place. You should have your own twist of a modern dog crate!

4) Transforming an old crib into an amazing dog crate

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Materials:

• An old crib
• Mattress
• Extra wood for roof and door
• Locks, hinges, and screws

Steps:

• Create an opening at the side of the crib where you want to put the door. Cut it in your preferred size.
• Make a door using the extra wood you have. You can use the cut rails as the inner foundation of your door.
• Attach the door to the opening using your hinges and screws. Don’t forget to also install the lock system. You should now have a functioning door system.
• Place the mattress inside. You can put it now or later, but doing it now will make the installation much easier.
• Cover the top of the crib using  your remaining wood and screws.
• Decorate it however you please.

5) A DIY dog crate end-table

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Materials:

• Four 2” x 2” x 8” wood
• Four 1” x 4” x 8” wood
• 8” x 3” deck screws
• Drill and drill bit for screw heads
• Drill bit slightly smaller than screw size
• Chop saw
• Sand paper

Steps:

• Making modern dog crate covers for your simple dog crate is common. In this case, prepare your dog crate and measure its length, height, and width. With the 2” x 2” x 8” wood, make four cuts with the measurement of the length. Add ½” to the measurement. Make the same measurements for the width, adding ½”.
• To make four leg cuts, measure the diameter of your wood (it’s supposed to measure 2”) and add double this measurement to your height measurement. 
• Remember to always measure twice and cut once. The materials listed are enough for this creation.
• With sandpaper, smoothen the rough edges of your cut wood.
• Using the wood you cut, make sure your wood parts for the height goes in between the two pieces of wood. Pre-drill all three pieces for the joints to fit.
• This time, pre-drill all your screw holes if you want to avoid splitting the wood. Use the right size of drill. Otherwise, it will split the wood.
• Fit the deck screws on the pre-drilled part, and you now have a hollow cube. Do not use regular screws, as they may mess the wood.
• Try to fit the dog crate to see if the cube’s measurements are correct. Once you’re sure that the crate fits in the cube, you can proceed to making the top.
• For the top, use the 1” x 4” x 8” pine boards and think of the length and width measurement of your table. Add ½” to each side. 
• Screw the four pine boards to the cube. Add some finishing touches or designs of your own. Now, you have your modern dog crate furniture.

All in all

Creating a DIY modern dog crate is relatively easy.

What’s really important, aside from the crate’s physical appearance, is how comfortable your dog will be when they use it. Constantly thinking about that should set you on the right track.

Enjoy your craft!