How to Build Stairs for a Dog

Help an old dog or a injured dog reach a sofa or a bed by building a step unit.

Certain breeds of dogs and dogs of advanced age sometimes need help getting up and down from heights like a bed or a sofa. Breeds such as dachshunds and basset hounds, for example, often suffer from chronic back and hip weaknesses and for them, a sturdy dog stair case with a non-slip surface can help ward off serious injuries.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Carpenter's square
• Circular saw
• Saber saw (alternative)
• 3/4 inch plywood
• 1/2 inch tempered hardboard
• Hammer
• Finishing nails
• 2 inch by 4 inch dimensional lumber
• Screws
• Carpeting or paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Calculate the number of steps you will need to transition the dog from the floor to the bed (or sofa). If the top of your bed is 22 inches from the floor, and your riser height is 4 inches, divide 22 by 4 = 5.5. You will need five steps, each 4 inches high, to transition from the floor to the bed. (The leftover 2 inches will be accommodated by the last "step" provided by the edge of the bed itself.) The tread width will be 5 inches; a 4-inch riser combined with a 5-inch tread will form a comfortable "stair gait" for a dog.

2. Draw your run of stairs, from a side-on view, on a sheet of ¾ inch plywood using a carpenter's square. Draw five steps, each riser 3.25 inches tall (to account for the ¾ inch thickness of the plywood tread or 3.25 + .75 = 4) and 5 inches deep from the front edge of the stair step to the back. Your stair "run" should be 25 inches long (5 x 5 =25) and 16.25 inches high (3.25 x 5= 16.25). Repeat to create a total of three stair-step panels.

3. Cut out the stair steps with a circular saw or a saber saw. When you're done, all three of these stair stringer panels should be identical when you stack them together.

4. Cut five 5-by-24 inch stair treads from 3/4-inch plywood.

5. Balance the end of one of these tread boards on the middle stair support of one of the stair stringer panels. Make sure the tread is flush with the outside edge of the stringer. Drive three screws down through the tread to connect the tread to the edge of the stringer.

6. Connect the other end of the tread to another stringer, placed at the other side of the staircase, using wood screws.

7. Mount the remaining tread boards to the stair stringers in similar fashion.

8. Slide the third stringer panel inside the staircase, in the middle of the stair unit. Make sure this middle stringer is square with the steps and the other side stringers. Drive screws down through the treads, in the middle of the treads, to connect this center support stringer to the treads.

9. Cut five 3.25-by-24 inch panels of 1/2-inch tempered hardboard. Take one of these riser fascia boards and place it above a step, placing it against the three exposed edges of the stair stringers. Nail the riser fascia board to the stringers to seal up the open spaces between the steps. Repeat with the other riser fascia boards.

10. Cut two 2-by-4 wall studs 10.5 inches wide each. Insert one of these cross brace boards inside the open back of the staircase, about two inches up from the floor. Connect this cross brace between a side panel and the center support panel, using screws. Align the second cross brace in a similar fashion on the other side of the center support panel, offset slightly so you can drive a screw to connect it to the center support panel.

11. Cover the stair treads and risers with carpeting. Paint or stain the sides of the staircase.

Tips & Warnings

• Individual stick-on carpet tiles are an option for covering your staircase.

References

• "Building Stairs"; Andy Engel; 2007
• "Basic Stairbuilding"; Scott Schuttner; 1998

Resources

• Hands And Paws: Products For Older Dogs
• 1-800 Pet Meds: Pre-Built Dog Steps