How Can I Make a Rooftop Patio Safe for a Dog?

Remove any loose shingles, stray nails or sharp objects from the roof. Your dog may want to run and play on the patio, so cleaning it thoroughly is necessary to prevent injuries.

Cover vent holes or gaps in the roof with fine wire mesh. Lay the mesh over the hole, and secure the edges to the roof with a staple gun. Trim away excess mesh with wire cutters.

Erect a wall around the perimeter of the roof with chain link kennel panels. Lay the panels end to end, and connect each panel with a fence connector. Tighten the bolts on the connector with a wrench, and stand the panels up to enclose the patio.

Place a sand bag on the ground inside the fence panels, at the junction between each panel. Wrap a 48-inch long zip tie horizontally around the bottom of the left and right side of the panels, and pass the smooth end of the zip tie under the bag. Pull the end of the tie up to the top of the bag, threading it through the square locking tab on the opposite end of the zip tie and pull tight to secure. The heavy sand bags prevent the panel fence from blowing over or shifting if the dog pushes on it.

Lay a dog bed on the patio, along with a filled water dish and plenty of toys. Set the bed in an area out of direct sunlight to prevent heat exhaustion, and keep the water bowl filled with clean water to ward off dehydration.