Instructions on How to Make a Hammock for a Dog

Make a hammock for your dog in a weekend.

A dog hammock can provide your dog with a cool place to rest off the ground in the summer months. Making a dog hammock is an easy weekend project for most do-it-yourselfers and uses inexpensive materials available at most home improvement stores.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Hacksaw
• 3/4-inch PVC pipes
• 4 PVC corner connectors
• Scissors
• Fabric
• Sewing machine
• Pin
• Marker
• 4 PVC end caps

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the hammock by measuring a rectangle around your dog while it is lying down. Add six inches to both the width and length to provide adequate leg room. Use the hacksaw to cut the PVC pipes to size.

2. Connect the cut pipes and form the frame with the PVC corners.

3. Cut fabric to the length of the frame and twice the width of the frame with a 1/2-inch hem allowance on all sides. Hem the cut sides.

4. Fold the fabric over the frame with the right side in. Where the two ends of the fabric meet, pull tight and place a pin horizontally through the fabric close to the PVC pipe.

5. Slide the frame out of the fabric and place it on top, aligning the PVC pipe with the pin. Draw a straight line on the fabric using the PVC pipe as a guide. Sew over the line.

6. Turn the fabric right-side out.

7. Remove one of the PVC pipes from across the width of the frame. Slip fabric onto the frame and replace pipe.

8. Saw four leg pieces of PVC pipe to a height that your dog can easily and comfortably step up on. Connect the legs to the corners and attach the end caps onto the leg bottoms.

Tips & Warnings

• When sewing the seam shut, go over it twice for extra durability and strength.

• If you are unable to find 3/4-inch PVC connectors, you can get whatever size is available along with 3/4-inch adapters.

References

• Critter Geek: Make a PVC Hammock Bed for Your Pet