How To Build A Bailey Chair? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
10 min read

As dog owners, we would do anything to alleviate their discomfort. You can learn the steps for constructing a bailey chair for your faithful companion by reading the article.

The purpose of the Bailey chair is to make eating easier for dogs with megaesophagus. This chair will allow them to sit up straight while eating, which will improve their digestion. By easing the passage of food and liquids down the esophagus, this device can help keep the patient from throwing up.

This little DIY will have a huge effect on your dog’s quality of life! Let’s get to work on that structure and improve things for our animal buddies. Do that and teach them to utilize it properly.

First, Let’s Prepare

Here are the equipment and supplies you’ll need to construct your bailey chair.

  • Wood
  • Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Reduced-angle saw
  • Jigsaw for making holes in things
  • Router
  • What is wood glue?
  • Hinges
  • Screws for a pocket hole measuring 1-1/4″
  • Cushion

Building A Bailey Chair

Let’s get to work on the structure now that we’ve finished setting it up.

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First and foremost, you need to make sure your dog will fit comfortably in the chair you’re going to build for him. Take all of the relevant dimensions of the project and write them down.

  1. Dimension 1: the distance across the broadest part of the shoulder. One way to do this is to use the distance between the two extremes of your shoulders as a measuring stick.
  2. M2 = from the shoulder to the hips. Sit your dog down so you can take its measurements from the ground up to the top of its shoulders.
  3. M3: Turn your back and punch yourself in the chest. Dog breadth is measured from the back to the front of the chest while the dog is sitting.

It is crucial that your measurements are precise. If it’s too little, the dog will be squashed; if it’s too huge, the dog will slide down.

To begin Step 2, locate M1 (the width of the back support) and M2 (the height of the back support) on the sheet of paper on which you recorded your dog’s dimensions. Make some sort of back rest to fit those proportions.

For M2, add 4 inches, and for M1, add 3 inches. Follow the combined dimensions to determine the length of a piece of wood. Two pocket holes measuring three quarters of an inch should be drilled into the interior bottom of one end.

Create a curved appearance on the top of the back support by tracing around the edges with a jigsaw.

Third, we can go on to the side braces. To get the height and width, use the dimensions M2 and M3. Depending on how much padding you prefer, you can extend M3 by an additional two to three inches.

Using the provided dimensions, saw two identical wooden pieces from the plank. Drill two pocket holes, measuring 34″ each and facing inward along the bottom border of each panel with a jigsaw.

Fourth, put it together! Attach the side panels to the back support using wood glue, a jigsaw, and 1″-114″ pocket screws.

Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly square. After we attach the other part, the pocket screws won’t need to be readjusted.

The fifth stage is to install the foundation. A smaller base will not support a large dog. The stability of the device is crucial since it will be supporting your dog’s weight.

To M1, add 4′′-6′′, and to M3, add 1′′. You can use these dimensions as a starting point for building your foundation.

Wood glue and 1″-114″ pocket screws are used to fasten the ripped wood to the rear support. You can now attach the side panels to make it square.

Installing a door is Step #6. Compare the distance between two adjacent panels to get the overall width. Consider your dog’s size and build before settling on a height for him.

It’s important to have room for your dog’s feet to hang if he or she is on the larger side. It’s important to give your dog adequate head and neck clearance when feeding him or her in the upper section.

Mistake! Step 7 Make sure the tray is there! Create a board that is 3 inches wider all the way around than the frame.

Use your dog’s bowl as a template to cut a hole in the center. Make the corners rounded for a more elegant appearance. On the flat side, make pocket holes measuring 34 of an inch.

The tray can be fastened to the door with pocket screws that measure 114”. As much tightness as possible should be applied to the screw. The meal has been prepared and is ready for serving.

Step 8: Now for the cushiest part: filling those pillows. Putting some cushions in there will make a huge difference for your pet’s comfort.

You can use these to add extra padding to the base, as well as the back and side supports. When it comes to food, your dog will have a blast.

The 5 Best Bailey Chairs for Dogs

1.Comfy and Fun Bailey Chair from lazyguydiy.com

The dark wood paneling and colorful, patterned cushions make this Baily chair both stylish and comfortable. The instructions have pictures and diagrams to make them simpler to follow. Detailed instructions and witty asides are both provided by The Lazy Guy.

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Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

  • Plywood
  • Hinges
  • Screws for Your Pocket
  • Adhesive for Wood

Tools

  • Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Revolving Saw
  • Jig for Inserting Into a Pocket
  • Router
  • A Square of Rapidity
  • Sander

The cushions aren’t required, but they’re an excellent option if your dog is boney from megaesophagus. They’ll be a welcome addition to mealtime coziness!

2.Adjustable Bailey Chair from Cuteness.com

Each canine has its own unique characteristics, breed, and size. This idea for an adjustable Bailey chair takes that into account, with clear and straightforward directions for building a chair that can be customized to fit any size dog.

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials

  • Plywood
  • Nails
  • Pillow

Tools

  • Measuring Tape
  • Saw
  • Hammer

Tip: Make sure you accurately measure your dog during the first steps of this plan. It would be awful to come to the end of this project and realize you got the measurements wrong!

3.Cute and Simple Bailey Chair for Dogs from Ashleygrenon.com

Tip: Make sure you accurately measure your dog during the first steps of this plan. It would be awful to come to the end of this project and realize you got the measurements wrong!

Skill Level: Intermediate

It is recommended that you take precise measurements of your dog during the initial stages of this process. Getting the measures wrong at the conclusion of the project would be disastrous.

  • Plywood
  • Bowl Made of Stainless Steel
  • Screws for Use in Pocket Holes
  • Hinge Hardware
  • Ground Covering Made of EVA Foam
  • Spray Can, Clear Gloss Finish
  • Cards made of dark paper
  • Adhesive Spray

Tools

  • Sawing using a Table Top Model
  • Router
  • Jigsaw
  • Disk Sander with Orbital Action
  • Jig for Inserting Into a Pocket
  • Drill

If you can’t find a silhouette portrait to use, try adding your name in paint or engraving instead.

4.Quick, Easy Bailey Chair Plan from Issuu.com

Quick and Easy Bailey Chair Plan has two pictures to help you along the way and scalable building instructions to accommodate dogs of varied sizes. The directions are clear and concise, making them ideal for more experienced woodworkers but leaving novices wanting more guidance.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

  • Plywood
  • Cushioning Foam
  • Adhesive for Wood
  • Hinges
  • Latch Sets with Hooks and Eyes
  • Brad Nails with a Flat Head

Tools

  • Drill
  • Saw
  • Pencil
  • Hammer
  • Scrubbing Board
  • Device for tightening screws

Since these are extremely basic instructions, feel free to embellish as you see fit with things like paint or throw cushions.

5.Bailey Chair Plan with Peg Board and Zip Ties from Keith Kalfas

If you’re just starting out in woodworking and don’t have a huge tool collection, this Bailey Chair with Peg Board and Zip Ties plan is for you. It’s a simple scheme, and the materials are inexpensive.

Bailey Chairs for dogs, canine megaesophagus, megaesop | ORDER NOW | Bailey chair for dogs, Bailey chairs, Dog chair

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials

  • Pin Board
  • Fasteners with Zippers
  • Saw
  • Foam
  • Blanket
  • Bracket

Tools

  • Ruler
  • Razor

Develop a sizable support system. If your dog has trouble maintaining its equilibrium, it is preferable that the harness be too large. Alterations can be made with the addition of foam.

Conclusion

The end of the discussion! You have just completed a custom dog chair. If you want to do more, you may take bailey chairs to shelters for dogs in similar situations.

You may help your furry buddies and other cute dogs who are having trouble eating by learning how to construct a bailey chair. You can save the life of a pet with just a few hours of your time spent on the project.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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