How to Make a Dog Organization Station

You will need 1/2-inch sanded plywood to create the 24-inch x 8-inch unit and its 24-inch x 5-inch shelf. Get plenty of wood dowels to cut into different lengths. You will also need wood glue, a sanding sponge, paint, three cabinet pulls and 2 D-rings with screws.

Safety Tip: Wear eye protection when operating power tools.

You can use a miter saw or a miter box with a hand saw to cut the wood pieces. If you’re using a miter saw, clamp a straight board in place as a guide.
Measure and cut a 24-inch x 8-inch piece of plywood. This will be the back of the organization wall unit. Measure and cut a 24-inch x 5-inch piece of plywood. This will be the attached shelf. Sand pieces lightly to smooth any rough edges.

The decorative pattern for this DIY wall unit is made using different lengths of wood dowels. Cut several dowels into 4 3/4-inch pieces, 3 1/4-inch pieces and 1 1/5-inch pieces for the main pattern. Measure and cut three longer dowels to frame the unit.

Sand the ends of each dowel. Lay the dowels out and play with the pattern you want. Once you decide on a pattern, apply wood glue to the plywood. Set the dowels in place. These dowels fit pretty well, but there may be a few places where you need to trim or cut longer individual dowels to close up any gaps. Let the glue dry for 2 to 3 hours before installing the shelf.

Set the shelf about 3 1/2 inches from the top of the unit. It should fit snug against the last row of decorative dowels under it. Carefully measure and mark the pilot holes for the screws. These pilot holes will be on both the back of the unit and at the end of the shelf. Make sure to predrill straight into the shelf.

Use 2-inch finish screws to securely attach the shelf to the back piece of the unit. Glue the shelf to the unit first to make the shelf a bit stronger.

Tip: The shelf on this DIY dog organizer will be plenty strong enough for lighter items. Opt for a few boxes of small treats or dog toys. Heavier items are not recommended.

Once the shelf is in place, glue the dowel pattern in above the shelf. Use the 3 1/4-inch dowels pieces. Finish the unit by gluing the dowel across the top. Measure the top edge and cut a dowel to fit. Hold it in place with painter's tape until it dries.

You can choose almost any cabinet drawer pull to hang leashes or keys on. The hooks in this example are actually drawer pulls painted blue. Use an acrylic paint for durability.

To attach the hooks, carefully predrill through the back of the plywood with a countersink drill bit. Hold the hooks in place and secure with cabinet screws through the back of the plywood.

Measure, pre-drill and screw in two D-rings into the back of the finished organizer. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the area you’ve chosen to place your wall unit. Draw a level line on the wall, marking where your finishing nails or anchor nails will go. Hang your unit.