May 20, 2023, 3:51 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Animals love to retreat into caves or cave-like hideouts. This is true for many dogs as well. Their natural instinct tells them that they are safest there. After all, they only have to guard one entrance, and their sensitive body parts are protected. Even though there is usually no danger in the home, many dogs retain this instinct. Especially anxious dogs feel comfortable in a dog bed with a cave-like shelter. How to build both a bed and a tipi (as a cave) with just a few materials is shown by myHOMEBOOK and PETBOK together with Susanne from “ikarusdoodle” in the new episode of the series “DIY for Animals.” How it works and what you need for it can be found in this article. A step-by-step guide is available in the video above.

Build a Dog Bed Yourself – What You Need

If you don’t have all the tools, you can usually borrow a cordless screwdriver or a jigsaw from a hardware store. To build the dog bed, it doesn’t hurt to have some craftsmanship skills. However, even inexperienced DIYers can succeed with this project.

Material

• A pallet
• Stain
• Spray paint and letter stencils
• Sandpaper
• Long screws

Tools

• Jigsaw
• Ruler or a yardstick
• Pencil
• Block for sandpaper
• Cordless drill

Related: How to Set the Torque on a Cordless Screwdriver

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Build a Dog Bed Yourself – Here’s How!

To build a dog bed from a pallet, you first need to determine the size. For a medium-sized dog, you should halve the pallet; for a small dog, a quarter of the pallet is sufficient. For large dog breeds, you may need two pallets. Here’s how to build the DIY dog bed with a tipi:

1. First, use a jigsaw to cut the pallet to the correct size.
2. To create side and back panels for the bed, cut boards from the leftover pallet pieces. Make sure the side panels are slightly longer than the back panel, which should be cut to fit the body of the dog bed.
3. Next, measure the appropriate size for the boards and cut them accordingly.
4. Then securely attach the boards to the bed with the cordless drill and long screws. Our tip: It’s easier if you pre-drill the holes.
5. Finally, check the dog bed for rough edges or wood splinters. Sand these down with sandpaper and a suitable block. Alternatively, you can use a sanding machine for faster results.

Afterward, you can make the dog bed more visually appealing and durable with a stain. Choose stains that do not contain toxic substances. After applying the stain, let the bed air out well before the dog uses it. To make the bed really cozy, place a dog cushion or blanket inside the body of the dog bed.

Personalize the Dog Bed

If you want to give the dog bed a personal touch, you can decorate it with spray paint and letter stencils. The name of the pet or a fitting phrase is a great choice. From “My Spot” to “Leave Me, I Need Rest”–the possibilities are endless.

To decorate the bed, place the letters in the desired order on one of the sides or the back panel of the bed. Masking tape or other common adhesive tapes are suitable for this. The paint used should, of course, be pet-friendly and saliva-resistant. But the DIY dog bed is not complete yet; the tipi is still missing.

More on the topic

Guide and Tips How to Build a Bed from Pallets in 4 Steps

Perfect for Growing Vegetables How to Build a Raised Garden Bed from Pallets

DIY and Home Projects, Week 2 5 Unique Wall Shelves for the Bedroom

Build a Tipi for the Dog Bed

To transform the DIY dog bed into a cozy cave, you can additionally build a tipi. This is not only suitable for self-made resting places. To build a tipi, you only need a few materials:

• String or cord
• Four thin tree trunks or branches, e.g., birch
• An old sheet or blanket
• Hammer
• Nails

The frame for the dog tipi consists of four trunks or thicker branches. They are tied tightly together at the top with a cord or thick string. You can then set up the frame. Next, drape the fabric over the frame. An old bedsheet or blanket is suitable for this. To secure the fabric, you can attach it to the trunks with nails and a hammer, but it cannot be removed for cleaning and should be replaced if it gets dirty.

You can see the detailed step-by-step instructions in the video above!

Find everything about DIY on petbook.de.

Here are more episodes of the series “DIY for Animals”:

• Build a Birdhouse in a Few Steps
• Easily Make a Snuffle Mat for Dogs and Cats
• Make Healthy Dog Treats Without Baking
• How to Make Bird Food with Few Ingredients
• Build a Cat Scratching Post with Just 3 Materials
• Easily Make a Concrete Feeding Bowl
• Quickly and Easily Make a Puzzle Board for Cats
• Easily Make Fabric Toys for Dogs
• Nicely Hide a Litter Box with a Tiled Cabinet