The instructions don’t mention gluing in the dowels, so get some titebond wood glue, and a small paint brush to coat the wood dowels (not too much though!) do this as you put each one in the hole. Do not cover the whole dowel at once! Just each tip as you put them in. Makes it waaaaay more sturdy. The screws will act as clamps until glue sets (about an hour).
Use wood glue!
The instructions don’t mention gluing in the dowels, so get some titebond wood glue, and a small paint brush to coat the wood dowels (not too much though!) do this as you put each one in the hole. Do not cover the whole dowel at once! Just each tip as you put them in. Makes it waaaaay more sturdy. The screws will act as clamps until glue sets (about an hour).