How to Build a Makeshift Ramp for My Dog

Building a makeshift ramp for your dog is the work of a few minutes. It is an inexpensive, easy project that will make it easy for your dog to get up and down stairs they cannot otherwise manage. Whether your dog has been injured or is suffering from arthritis, making a ramp to ease your dog's travel inside or outside your house will help it move more easily.

Measure the distance from the top of the stairs to the bottom. Multiply this length by 16. Add on a few extra inches and purchase a piece of 1/4-inch thick plywood that fits your measurements. Purchase a thicker kind of wood if you have a larger dog.

Attach carpet to the wood with tacks or nails. Buy carpet that is weather resistant if your ramp is going to be used outdoors.

Nail the wooden lathes to your ramp at regular intervals, beginning at the bottom. The lathes will act as footholds for your dog, which is helpful for older and injured dogs.

Align the ramp with one side of your stairs and secure it using a hammer and nails. If you are attaching the ramp to concrete, use specially designed concrete nails to attach the ramp.

For indoor ramps, purchase a pair of three or four inch two-by-fours and nail them to the underside of your ramp approximately four inches from the top. This will keep the ramp from sliding off of your stairs and protect your carpet or floor.

Items You Will Need

  • Plywood
  • Measuring tape
  • Carpet
  • One-inch nails
  • Tacks
  • Hammer
  • Four to six wooden lathes