Exercise dog pens can be made out of steel posts and wire fencing but PVC pipe and plastic mesh works well too.
Both you and your dog benefit from using an exercise pen. It helps you confine your dog, train them in a controlled area and when traveling it provides a quick pen that transports and sets up easily. A portable pen allows your dog to exercise in a safe, secure environment and provides a familiar and comfortable place to rest. Many vendors offer portable dog runs for purchase, but can cost more than you want to spend. Luckily, for not much money you can build one yourself.
Instructions
Considerations and Cutting
1. Consider the size of your dog and how large an exercise pen he might require to move around comfortably. As drsfostersmith.com suggests, "measure your dog's height, especially when he stands on his hind feet". Then, choose a pen slightly taller than your dog. This will deter the dog who wants to jump out. The exercise pen built in this article is for a dog of average size, ranging between 10 inches and 17 inches high at the shoulders.
2. Using your chosen PVC cutting device, cut 24 identical 36-inch pieces of PVC pipe (or cut the PVC pipe to the desired height) for your exercise pen. Set them aside.
3. Cut 36 12-inch pieces of PVC pipe. Put them aside. Please note, regardless of your pen's final height these 12-inch sections remain fixed length in order to ensure stability of the panels.
Lay-out and Assembly
4. You will construct 6 rectangular panels. Lay out your PVC pipe sections to include for each panel: 4 elbow PVC joints, 4 PVC T joints, 6 12-inch pieces, and 4 36-inch pieces.
5. Assemble each panel one at a time to determine that all the parts fit snugly together. Start by inserting an elbow joint to the top and bottom of two 36-inch sections of PVC pipe. Next put T joints at the top and bottom of the two remaining 36-inch pipes. The T joint must be perpendicular to the 36-inch pipe on both ends. Now connect the elbow joints to the T joints using the 12-inch pipe, creating a frame on top and bottom of the rectangle panel. To complete the panel, connect the two T joints together on top and bottom with the 12-inch pipe. If all the parts do not fit snugly you may have to sand or re-cut your ends. Repeat these steps for the remaining 5 panels.
6. Clean up to 1 inch of each end of every one of the PVC pipes. Also clean the inside surfaces of each T and elbow joint couplings.
7. Using PVC glue, which dries in approximately 20 seconds, attach the panel pieces together starting with the 36-inch pieces this time. Make sure all elbow and T pieces face the correct way, then attach the 12-inch pieces to complete the panel. Make 5 more panels using this technique.
Applying Fishnets or Mesh and Final Set-up
8. Lay your completed panels over fishnet or mesh and cut the mesh to the proper size.
9. Tie a cord to the frame and weave it through the edges of the fishnet or mesh and over the frame, stretching and attaching the net.
10. Connect each of the panels to the next using three plastic cable ties (or garbage ties) for each connection. Do not connect the last panel. By leaving it open you create a door. Attaching a few cords to the last connection enables you to secure the door in the field.
11. Put the exercise pen in the shape you desire. Use tent stakes to hold it to the ground, or sand bags on a hard surface.
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