Activities For A Carpenter With Dogs
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
If you are a carpenter by trade or just someone who enjoys carpentry, you may frequently find yourself thinking of ways to incorporate your carpentry skills into your life with your dog. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to combine these two loves of your life! While a dog may not be able to use a power drill, there are plenty of other carpentry related activities to do together. Get ready to have some fun with your pup in ways only a carpenter can!
Dog House
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
3 - 4 hrs
Items needed
Roof Tiles
Saw
Nails
Hammer
Measuring Tape
Wood
Activity description
One of the best things you, as a carpenter, can give to your dog is a homemade dog house. Not only will you enjoy making the dog house but your pup will greatly benefit as it will give them a cozy, safe place to rest when outside. Dog houses can be big or small, fancy or simple and you can customize your dog house to suit your dog (maybe they'd like a built-in water bowl on the sidewall!). If you build the dog house inside, this can be done no matter what the weather is outside. The price can vary depending on the materials you use but that also means it is perfect for all budgets!
Step
1
Find a plan
There are plenty of free dog house plans online that you can find, download and print. There are even videos for you to watch for a visual idea of how to build a dog house. Pick the house that you think your dog would like and that fits your carpentry skills. Also, make sure you will have a spot for the size of house you construct once you are done putting it together.
Step
2
Materials
Buy everything you need for your dog house and purchase the best quality materials you can afford. A cedar dog house may be a little pricier to construct but it will withstand the elements better as the wood is more resistant to rotting when compared to pine or hemlock. It is also advised to get some nice roofing shingles to make your dog house completely waterproof - you don't want your pup getting wet when in their house!
Step
3
Build
Follow your plan and put your dog house together. Take your time, ensuring the dog house is perfect for your pup. When you take the time to construct the house well, it will last a long time meaning you'll have one happy dog. Once complete, show your dog the house. Let them sniff around and go inside when they are ready (some dogs are more cautious and may need a few treats tossed inside in order to get them to venture in!). Some blankets will make your newly built dog house even cozier!
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Dog Playground
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
5 hrs
Items needed
Dog Treats
Power Tools
Quality Wood
Activity description
If you enjoy going to the dog park with your pup, why not build one for your dog right in your backyard? As a carpenter, you definitely have the skills to make one of the best dog parks around. Build a big dog park or a small one with just a few fun obstacles for your dog to enjoy. The best part about being able to construct your own dog park is that it is completely customizable. Work in your wood shop during any weather and install and play on your dog park when the weather is nice out. Fit the dog park to your budget, building one or two pieces at first for a cheaper start and expanding when you have funds.
Step
1
Pieces
Pick which pieces of a dog playground you want to build for your dog. You could choose to make a wooden agility seesaw, a sandbox or a few simple hurdles for your dog to run and jump over. Choose the items you think your dog will like best and the ones your pup plays with the most at your local dog park. Also, think about what will fit best in your yard (you can only build what you have space for!).
Step
2
Build
Get the materials you will need to build the obstacles in your dog playground. Opt for high quality, weather resistant woods as the dog playground will be outside year round. Also, the higher quality materials will increase the lifespan of your play area - you don't want to be building it again every year! Construct and install your it on your own timeline but try not to keep your anxious pup waiting!
Step
3
Play
Once construction is complete, introduce your dog to their new playground! Show your dog each obstacle and use treats to encourage them to use everything you built (a treat or two may be needed to help your dog confidently walk up and over a seesaw!). See which things your dog enjoys the most and then be sure to play in your homemade dog park frequently.
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Treat Dispensing Toy
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
Small Dog Treats
Three Plastic Bottles
Screws
Wood
Wooden Dowel
Activity description
If you ever have to leave your dog at home, you know how bored they can get by themselves. Why not build your dog a toy that will keep them entertained when home alone? This treat dispensing toy is something you can easily make and will provide your dog with hours of entertainment. Toys that exercise your dog's mind have also been proven to help curb bad behavior in dogs. So not only will you have a great carpentry project to do but your dog will be entertained, happy and less destructive! Sounds perfect! Since this can be made and played with inside, weather will not affect this activity and it is also very cheap to make - all you need are a few bottles and some scraps of wood!
Step
1
Supplies
Find a plan for a DIY dog treat dispensing toy online. If you cannot find one, all you need to get are a two foot wooden dowel about one inch in diameter, and enough wood to cut out a rectangle about 1 1/2 feet by 8 inches and two triangles about 8 inches by 1 1/2 feet. A few screws or nails will be needed to put everything together and three plastic soda bottles as well.
Step
2
Construct
Build the treat dispensing toy by placing the rectangle down on the ground and affixing the two triangles to the end, standing up. Essentially, you are building an upright "U" shape with the points of the triangle pointing upward and the rectangle as the base. Drill a few holes in the bottles and then thread the bottles onto the dowel. The tops of the bottles should be facing up and they should easily twist and spin around the dowel. Now, attach the dowel to the two points of the triangle.
Step
3
Play
Fill each bottle with dog treats and let your dog play! They will need to push the bottles with their nose, spinning them around the dowel until they are upside down and the treats fall out. It may take your dog a few tries before they learn how to flip the bottles and get to the treats but the effort your pup puts in is part of the fun! Fill the bottles up with treats anytime you need to leave your dog alone so you know they will be entertained in your absence.
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More Fun Ideas...
Bone Box
Your dog surely loves dog bones or has a favorite kind of dog treat. Build your dog a special, counter-worthy bone box to store your dogs treats. When always out on the counter in a decorative box, your dog is likely to get treats more frequently making them a happy pup!
Tennis Ball Catapult
If you have a dog who enjoys a game of fetch, why not use your carpentry skills to build a tennis ball catapult. A catapult will throw your dog's ball farther than you could and it will be as fun for you to make as it will be for your dog to play with.
Conclusion
There are so many amazing things you can build for your dog with your carpentry skills. In fact, the possibilities are endless. After building the toys in this guide for your dog, see what they enjoy the best and add to it. Maybe that dog house needs and extension or your homemade dog park could use an extra obstacle. Thanks to your abilities as a carpenter, you can keep building and make life for your pup more and more fun.