Homemade X-Pen
 

Ok, got to remember I'm from Alabama and southern AL, lol. This thing was a pia to make too! I wound up finishing in my kitchen, cause its still too hot outside. I will probably do more on it cause the thing still has curves from where the mesh was rolled up. Maybe I'll put more 2x4's on the bottom of it, to make it more square.

I put a pee pee pad in there, and the first thing she did with it was start to chew it up. OMG, that was most of the idea for making this thing.

But at least she's now not confined to her crate when we're not in and out of the house, and at night when I got to sleep.

I used 2 rolls of 24" high, 10 foot long, galvanized "hardware cloth" found in hardware stores by the fences (8.95 roll). I used 1 small box of "double point" tacks (they are like a u shaped nail, 99 Cents a box), and some cutters to cut the wire, which I already had here. And 4-24inch tall 2x4's (untreated lumber) which I already had here. Just a bucket of sweat, and one cut on me, lol.

No, not as pretty as a 50 buck x-pen, but looks so far to be effective, and cheap! And the good thing, I think she really likes it, cause she's no longer whining to get out of her crate all the time!

Now to get her to quit chewing on the peepee pads!

You did great. The only thing I would worry about is the 2x4's falling on her if she jumped up on the wire. I think it would be good to brace the 2x4's from one to the other to prevent that. That's the only thing I thought about.:)

thats a good idea! how much did u end up spending?

Great job!!

Necessity is the mother of invention!
 

Way to go@:) :number1ri :cool88: :interesti :clapsmile :good job: :good job:

Great job, stuff like that makes you so proud isn't it? Maybe if you can connect the logs with long boards running on the top, it'll be more stable?.... just an idea...

When are you coming to NY? Great bob! I also need my yard fenced in!

Great ideas to stablize it! Thanks, any help is much appreciated! I'll need to get a little more wood to do that.

It sure didn't turn out as great as I'd hoped. I've done a lot of projects around my home, that have turned really good. My Dad was a carpenter, and I watched a lot, and when ex's did something, I was the "gofer" (you know, go fer this, go fer that?). You can learn a lot from watching, and fetching tools.

I kinda designed this as I was checking out Lowe's to see what they had, and what I could do for x amont of dollars. I spent about 20 bucks on the whole thing, minus the 2x4's I already had here at the house (which were $2.25 each there).

I just couldn't see spending $50 bucks on an x-pen that she wouldn't be using as she got older and trained. Something else for the attic! Now the crate is another story, I know she'll use it forever, so didn't mind spending on that.

Thanks for the ideas on stabilizing! I'm sure I'll be doing that too.

http://www.wizdog.com/ look at theis site might help with the chewing on the pads. cool ex pin.:)

I just don't want to see her get smashed.

You know how to brace it, don't you? From the top of one board to the bottom of another board...I still think you did great!:D

yea but you may want to brace from the outside so she don't climb out.:)

Well, seems she quit chewing on the pee pee pad. Now she wants to sleep on it, lol. Maybe there is hope after all.

Suppose I'll see in the morning, if she peed in her bed in the crate, or pee pee pad! It always happens overnight!

I LOVE that you did it YOURSELF!:thumbup: :thumbup:
It is a nice size too. After you brace it, here is one more thing you may want to do.....rub clear deoderant on the bottome 12" of the 2x4s so she won't chew on them and get a splinter stuck in her mouth, throat or stomach. You can use the deoderant on other items (like bottoms of kitchen chairs) that you don't want her to chew on either. HAVE fun with your new baby!!!

Thanks for the clear deoderant idea Julz! Looks like I need enough to put all over the pen now.

She climbed out this morning after I went back to sleep! Yea maybe stabilize that thing today, and get a CASE of clear deoderant. :D I wonder if I put it on the pen itself, if that will keep her from climbing?

But did make a lot of progress on the pee pee pad part. She used it for #1 and #2! Now we're on our second pee pee pad!

Progress in very small steps here, and learing from mistakes.

Good for her using the pads! They are little climbers. That's for sure!:D