We have written before about how you can save money on dog expenses in a multitude of ways. Go read that. Now let’s specifically look at DIY dog toys.
Dog toys can get really pricey and your dog won’t know the difference between store bought and homemade. They aren’t looking for the “right” label or logo on their toys. (Though too many dog parents are… sigh…)
Don’t worry: We’re not asking you to use power tools (though you can!) or have great sewing skills (but that would be fun!) or know too much math ((definitely not that…ha)). Pretty much anyone can create fun toys and experiences for their dogs. And you can usually find stuff lying around the house to do so.
Let’s break it up into categories: DIY dog toys for dispensing treats, chewing, agility training, problem solving, and sniffing.
Dispensing Treats
You can stuff treats into all kinds of things from around the house. Cut holes in whatever you’re using for the treat dispenser and watch as they work to get the treats out. This can keep a dog occupied for some time. (So if you have a zoom meeting at home for work, things like this could be really helpful.)
Try any of the following: emptied water bottles, small boxes, paper towel tubes.
Chewing Toys
If you’re a tennis player, you’re in luck. Use those tennis balls that are no longer bouncy and wrap them with a rope, knot it off, and throw.
You could take an old wash cloth and soak it in bone broth and freeze it. This is a great DIY dog toy for the summer. Give it to them in your yard and you’ll avoid the mess.
Any old clothing could be cut up and braided to create pull and chew toys. Or you could use old blankets and towels.
Agility Training
If you have a backyard, it would be nice to create a course out there for your dog. You can use a ladder on the ground, buckets, handles from old brooms between a couple of chairs (for jumping). Get creative.
And look around. Any of the following items could be used: hula hoops, cinder blocks or yoga blocks or bricks, pool noodles, yardsticks, PVC pipe, pieces of woods (for ramping), and also go dig through your kids’ toys and see what could be repurposed.
Problem Solving
Any way we can present our dogs with problems to solve will not only be great for their brains but create quality of life and add to healthy longevity.
Another DIY dog toy you could create outside: Make a maze and put a treat at the center!
Sniffing
Muffin tins are a great DIY dog toy base. You can put treats in some of the spots, cover them all with a ball or lid of some sort, and let them sniff and find.
Take a box that is appropriately sized for your dog and put treats in it but also fill it with crumpled paper or balls so they, again, have to sniff and search.
Or get a baby pool, fill it with small plastic balls, and put treats in there. So much fun!
For a bunch more ideas with instructions, check this out.