it doesn't like that dmake fails to exist

You'll need dmake, as that's the key to getting stuff installed correctly - even then you might not achieve what you want. (I can't get my installation of Active Perl-5.28.1 to install anything.)

Download https://cpan.metacpan.org/authors/id/S/SH/SHAY/dmake-4.12.2.2.zip to some location. ( I've placed it in C:\d )
Then create and cd to a new folder in which you wish to install dmake. ( For me that meant mkdir \foo then cd \foo )
Then unzip the distro you downloaded. ( For me unzip \d\dmake-4.12.2.2.zip )
Then add the dmake directory to the PATH. ( For me set PATH=C:\foo\dmake;%PATH% )
Then check that dmake is available:

For me:
C:\>dmake -V
dmake - Version 4.12.2.2 (Windows / MS Visual C++)
Copyright (c) 1990,...,1997 by WTI Corp.

Default Configuration:
        MAXLINELENGTH := 32766
        MAXPROCESSLIMIT := 64
        .IMPORT .IGNORE: DMAKEROOT
        .MAKEFILES : makefile.mk makefile
        .SOURCE    : .NULL
        DMAKEROOT *= $(ABSMAKECMD:d)startup
        MAKESTARTUP := $(DMAKEROOT)\startup.mk

Please read the NEWS file for the latest release notes.

C:\>
[download]

All is done.
Then re-run your cpan installation command(s) and cross your fingers.

One of the nice things about Strawberry Perl is that it comes with the make utility already installed.
Older versions of Strawberry Perl shipped with (and used) 'dmake', but newer versions ship with (and use) 'gmake'.

Cheers,
Rob