Puppy Love: DIY Dog Ramp for Bedroom!
4 Materials
$120
5 Hours
Medium
Miniature Dachsunds are L O N G!!!
After building the steps for my puppies, I realized that while they are better than nothing, steps aren’t ideal for the breed. Unless you have a large space next to your bed, so you can make the stairs spaced far apart, climbing up and down has some dangers... it’s awkward for their little legs, combined with their large bodies! So I decided to try making a ramp.
Bentley struggling, going down the steps
I wanted this ramp to not only be functional, but to look like a nice piece of furniture. I also wanted it to be solid. So I went off to Home Depot and purchased some oak. Up until this project, I had only used oak to build tables, but I knew going in, my plan needed to be perfect. Not only is oak expensive, but it’s such a hard wood, that once it’s glued and screwed (or nailed) it’s not moving!!! This is not material that’s ok to waste!! Pine can be pushed, made to fit, etc and it’s much less money!! If you have never built anything, I would highly recommend doing this project with either Ceder or pine. They are much easier to work with and should still be plenty strong!
Measured length
I purchased 1x12 for the main part of my ramp. I meaured from the top down, to where I wanted the ramp to end, on a angle. I put the top of the wood on my nightstand, since this was the approx height I wanted and measured all the way down to the foot of my bed. I wasn’t sure at this point, if I would put this on the side of my bed, or the front. Either way, this would run along the entire length of the bed.
I used two 2x2 boards and cut at a 20 degree angle.
70 degree angle for the floor
Next I laid out two 1x3 boards to run along the floor, to attach to the 2x2s. If you use oak, or another hard wood, make sure you drill pilot holes before attaching!! There is no way you are driving a screw into oak, without these!!
Glued and screwed.
If you have read my latest posts, you know I love my Brad nailer! I wasn’t comfortable using this for the support. Oak is HEAVY! Since this was the main support, I chose to drill pilot holes. Then I glued and screwed the pieces together.
Attached the ramp
For this part, it was fine to use the brad nailer! After drilling and screwing a couple of times, I was done!! I always forget how strong this glue is!!! This was the point I decided to get a little more complcated and took a trip back to Lowes, for more wood. I wanted a platform at the top and wanted some kind of railing on the side away from the bed. I didn’t want to risk my puppies being to scared to climb the ramp: once I decided to add the platform, I had to level out the 20 degree cuts on the 2x2s, making 1 inch of the top flat, so I could join the platform to them:
For the platform, I used 1x3s
I added my 1x3s in all four corners and around the bottom. I found some decorative pieces that I glued into place around the bottom. I also used my Brad nailed to secure. Next I added my leftover carpet from the steps I made.
All done!! Ready for trial run!
Now It was time to see how this worked!! I had my friend Cassy help me move this into my room. It is HEAVY!!
They loved it!!
ALL OF THEM... including Cat, love the ramp!! Even little Sadie!!! (She’s scared of everything!!)
They love their new ramp!
Overall, this was pretty simple. Had I known going in that i would end up building the platform, I would have saved a trip to Lowes and would have made a few cuts different before they were attached.
I‘m pleased with the ramp and so are the puppies! It’s easy for them to go up and down. I put this at the foot of my bed, because after putting it on the side, I realized the landing was right by my head!! Now they can run up and down freely and they hop onto the foot of the bed! It’s perfect!!
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Comments
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2 of 34 comments
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This is a great ramp for your doggos. Great job.
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Wonderful, I need this! I have six pups & four kitties (all inside only). I have to lift all six pups on & off. And I'm getting old, so it's hard for me.
Frequently asked questions
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How do you get out of bed without tripping over it?
FABULOUS idea, and tutorial is very well done! Side bars are genius idea for safety and secure feeling. Would you please describe in detail the changes you would make if you had planned for a landing from the first? We have toy breeds, one dog being afraid of everything, like your Sadie, and ours is a reproduction plantation bed so high that it requires supplied stairs for PEOPLE to get in. I know we will have to alter your plans to provide the extra height required. If it were you, would you increase the slope, or instead, create a wraparound section so the long ramp could parallel the foot of our queen bed, turn the corner, and end with a matress-level landing near the foot?
where did you find the rail?