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DIY dog feeding station

D.I.Y. dog feeding station

John
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Project Overview

A great way to clean up your outdoor area is by creating a feeding station for your dog. This one will keep your pet food and water neat and tidy and it’s really easy to make. Then when it’s not in use, it slides away under the dog bed to keep the bowls and mess out of your way.

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dent free finish
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How to get a dent-free finish when hammering

If you need to hammer a nail into wood, here’s a simple way to avoid leaving ugly dents in the woodwork. First hammer the nail until it’s almost in, then place a thin piece of cardboard on top of the nail and keep hammering. That way the nail goes in easily and there are no ugly dents.

Step by Step Instructions

1 Measure and mark the centre of the ply
2 Find the centre point of the bowls
3 Drill holes for the router
4 Measure the distance for the router arm
5 Cut out the circles
6 Start making the frame
7 Measure, mark and cut the other timber
8 Cut out the handles
9 Secure the frame
10 Putty and sand the feeding station
11 Your feeding station is finished

  • Step 1. Measure and mark the centre of the ply

    First, cut the sheet of plywood into a piece that measures 320mm x 585 mm. Next, find the centre of the 320mm x 585mm form ply. Measure 160mm down the length to mark the centre. Then use a piece of timber as a straight edge to draw a centre line across the width of the board.

    Previous Step Next Step
    man marking board with a pencil

  • Step 2. Find the centre point of the bowls

    Place the dog bowls where you’d like them on the centre line. Put a combination square on the edge of the ply under the bowl. Then mark the centre point for each bowl on the centre line by lifting the bowl.

    Previous Step Next Step
    measuring position for the bowl with a combination square

  • Step 3. Drill holes for the router

    With your 5mm drill bit, drill out part of the centre points that you have marked on the board. Then drill two additional holes either side of that. Use chipboard screws to fix the ply off in these two places, ensuring that they are out of the way of the router. This will secure the board while you use the router.

    Previous Step Next Step
    drilling holes in plywood with a cordless drill

  • Step 4. Measure the distance for the router arm

    Our large bowl is 242mm in diameter, so subtract the width of the lip measurement, ours was 10mm and then halve the total. We will set the router arm to this measurement of 117mm. Our smaller bowl measured 203mm in diameter, so subtracting the lip measurement and halving it meant the remaining measurement was 97mm.

    Previous Step Next Step
    using a measuring tape to mark the dog bowl’s position

  • Step 5. Cut out the circles

    With the router in position, set the depth so it just goes through the board. We’ve placed a scrap piece of timber under the benchtop so that the router doesn’t cut into our workbench. Cut the hole for the large bowl with your router. We used a trimmer to cut for the smaller bowl.

    Previous Step Next Step
    man cutting plywood with a plunge router

  • Step 6. Start making the frame

    Set the drop saw to cut at a 45-degree angle and mitre one end of each length of Tasmanian oak.

    Previous Step Next Step
    person using a drop saw to cut a mitre

  • Step 7. Measure, mark and cut the other timber

    For your second cuts, measure, mark and mitre the other ends of the four lengths of timber. A good tip when cutting your second mitre is to keep your pencil line visible so that you can allow for error.

    Previous Step Next Step
    checking mitred edges

  • Step 8. Cut out the handles

    Square a line across the centre of the two faces of timber for the side panels. Clamp the timber to the workbench and drill two holes in each face with the 32mm spade bit about 100mm from the ends. Draw a pencil line across the tops and the bottoms of these circles. Then use a jigsaw to cut along the lines to create your handles. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    drilling a hole with a spade bit

  • Step 9. Secure the frame

    Lay out the frame, making sure the side panels match with the ply top and square off nicely. Once you have them in position, apply PVA glue and fix them all off using the nail gun. Then fix off the top panel to the frame using a nail gun.

    Previous Step Next Step
    person assembling timber feeding station frame

  • Step 10. Putty and sand the feeding station

    Putty over the nail holes and edges to fill any gaps. Then give it a light sand with an orbital sander or with 120-grit sandpaper. If the feeding station is going to be outside or have water in it, it’s a good idea to seal the wood with a varnish.

    Previous Step Next Step
    covering holes with putty

  • Step 11. Your feeding station is finished

    Now it’s time to find a good spot for your feeding station. Fill up the bowl with your dog’s favourite food and water and they’ll be happy. Once they’ve finished eating you can slide the feeding station under the bed, neat and tidy and out of the way
    Previous Step Next Step
    diy dog feeding station

Tools and Materials

Tools

  • 25mm chisel
  • Circular jig
  • Clamps x 2
  • Cordless drill
  • 32mm spade bit
  • Combination square
  • Drop saw
  • Earmuffs
  • Fixing gun
  • Hammer
  • Jigsaw
  • Measuring tape
  • Nail gun and brads
  • Orbital sander
  • Pencil
  • Plunge router
  • Putty knife
  • Safety glasses
  • Work gloves

Materials

  • 360mm x 630mm x 17mm formply x 1
  • 630mm x 110mm x 19mm Tasmanian oak x 2
  • 360mm x 110mm x 19mm Tasmanian oak x 2
  • 8g 35mm chipboard screws x 4
  • Pot plant trays x 2
  • Putty
  • PVA or wood glue
  • 120 grit sandpaper discs

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