DIY Dog Crate Kennel; How To Build Your Own

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The Perfect Piece of Furniture For Your Dog; DIY Dog crate Kennel Furniture

If you’re looking for a awesome dog crate kennel for your home you’ve come to the right place. I am sharing my own design on how you can make a DIY dog kennel.

Although I did not personally build this custom dog kennel I designed it and had it custom built.

Join me on my creation to building a custom piece of furniture. Yep, dog kennel furniture for the home.

What Type of Kennel Is Right For You

For many years I have used plastic crate kennels for my fur babies. Even though the plastic crate worked well they really didn’t fit in with the home decor.

And they kind of became a catch-all leaving the whole room feeling cluttered. Yikes! Not a pretty site! Plus it’s a little embarrassing.

So, I started brain storming on how I could make the perfect dog kennel that wouldn’t be such an eye sore in my hearth room with an adjoining kitchen.

The Design

The dog kennel I designed is for all three of my small dogs; a 20 pound Dachshund, a 20 pound Lhasa Apso and a Yorkshire Terrier that weighs 5 pounds.

I wanted each of my babe’s to have their own space so I tried to keep the design similar to the size of the three plastic kennels.

This design has three separate kennels with hinged doors that stay closed with the help of magnets. Brilliant huh!? That way it will keep the dogs contained in the kennel but if they need to get out they can give it a strong push and the door will open.

My original design was going to have a cover closure that would slide over the corner of the door to keep the doors closed but we decided having the magnetic closure was a much safer option for all.

Above each kennel is a drawer for storing things out of sight like dog toys, bath towels, or leashes.

Instead of being a complete enclosed cabinet I designed it so there will be adequate airflow in all three compartments.

Another feature is the cabinet is on wheels that lock. I really like having the wheels because that too adds additional airflow if needed.

Optional: inside each kennel we included peg holes for shelves if needed or desired for later use.

DIY Dog Crate Kennel Dimensions

For the cabinet to fit behind my couch and be about the same size as the three plastic kennels, I made a draft design for the cabinet to be 60 inches wide, 30 inches tall and 29 inches deep.

I gave these dimensions to my carpenter and he studied it and made a few tweaks.

Some people may frown on the fact of keeping dogs in a kennel or crate but when used properly the crate actually becomes a safe haven for the dogs. At least that has been my experience.

The Estimate Cost

Once I gave the carpenter my plan he shot me a price of $500.00. Now, was this the actual cost? I’m not sure but I thought it was a very reasonable price.

Please note: the price I paid for this kennel was $500.oo in February of 2019. I was totally shocked that this could be made for such a low price considering I had seen other kennels being made for much higher prices.

The DIY Dog Crate Kennel Project

The below photos are from my carpenter showing the progress of making the dog crate kennel. He started with the foundation.

Please note: measurements are pretty actual but adjustments may be needed during the building process.

The Foundation:

The base is rectangle and has two 2×4 boards, one on the front and one on the back, that each measures 5 feet long. Each base side board is also made from 2×4’s and they are 16 5/16 inches long. Each side end of the kennel measures 2 feet wide.

The Kennel Boxes:

The inside kennel on the left measures 18 inches wide. The middle kennel measures 16 1/2 inches wide and the right kennel measures 18 inches wide. Each kennel is 21 inches tall and 22 inches deep.

Note: You may question why is the kennel not 24 inches deep. That is because there is one inch trim on the inner and outer panels on the back sides of each kennel to support the corrugated backing and the mesh panel backing.

The front boards dividing the middle kennel includes four 2×4’s that are 20 15/16 inches long and the sides have four 2×4 boards that are 16 15/16 inch long. These side board have holes drilled in the 2″ side to hold balusters in place.

We used 16 26″ square balusters to divide the kennels. That way there is still airflow throughout the kennel and no-one gets hot.

On the back of each kennel is four 1 1/2 inch x 22 inch boards in each corner with a base of 1×14 3/4

The Ends

For the two outside ends of the kennel we used the plastic coated wire panel to allow airflow and two corrugated paneling for decoration. These additions are supported by four 1×1 inch boards.

The Drawer Frame:

The drawer frame is made of two 1×6 inch boards that are 56 inches long and has four 4″ dividers. Each drawer is 17 1/2 inches wide and 3 7/8 inches high. The drawer opening is 17 5/8 x 4 inches.

Outside Back:

On the back side of the two end kennels we used corrugated steel panels held in place with two 1×18 1/4 inch trim pieces on top/bottom and two 1×23 1/2 inch pieces on the sides.

On the back side of the middle kennel we used two 1×2 1/2 inch boards that are 24 7/8 inches long on each side and two 1×2 inch board that are 11 5/16 inches to hold the metal panel in place.

Inside Back:

To keep adequate airflow we installed 3 wire coated panels; one on each end and one in the center kennel on the back side.

Not going to use as a dog crate kennel?

I got to thinking what if down the road I no longer want or need to use this cabinet as a dog kennel. With that in mind I made an adjustment to add peg holes for shelving.

Right now I store the shelves under the kennel.

Top Board

The top of the kennel has eight 5 foot 2×4’s glued together. This then should measure out to 2 1/2 feet wide.

Final Touches:

Be sure to stain the counter top prior to placing on top of the kennel. To get a shiny finish add a coat of clear polyurethane once the top is secured.

Don’t forget the hardware for hinges and handles, magnetic closures and casters.

The dogs love their new DIY dog crate kennel!

The best part about this new kennel; The Dogs love it!

Most times I leave the doors ajar and it’s not unusual to find my babes relaxing in their kennel. They love it! And so do I!

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE VIEWING JETT’S DIY DOG CRATE KENNEL DESIGN. HOPEFULLY, THIS CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR DECOR AND THE COMFORT OF YOUR POOCH OR POOCH’S. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOURS TURNS OUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO BUILD IT!

***Please come back and share your comments and tell my readers how you like this recipe.***

Some Products Used To Make This Kennel