DIY Dog toys:
Dog toys can get expensive if your pooch is too enthusiastic about his favourite toys. Sure, you can get a whole range of durable, colourful and fun dog toys online, but if you want to save some cash and do your bit for the environment, then consider making your own DIY dog toys!
DIY dog toys may be a little cheaper than shop-bought toys, but one of the benefits of making your own is that you can customise the toys exactly to your dog’s size and level of activity. We’ve included some toys for helping dogs improve their problem-solving skills. Hmmm… maybe your dogs are already too clever for their own good!
Rope Toy
Give your dog a durable and interactive toy he’ll love. These colourful and easy to make rope toys are great for any size dog. Just scale the diameter of the rope up or down to suit your dog.
What you need
- 1 x old t-shirt
- A pair of sharp scissors.
- Optional: tennis ball
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut the old t-shirt into strips of roughly 50 cm long and about 7 cm wide. If you want to create a thicker or thinner rope, then adjust the width of the strips.
- Step 2: Gather all the strips and tie them firmly together on one end.
- Step 3: After tying the knot, divide the strips into three sections and make a basic braid (or plait) and tie another strong knot at the end to hold it all together.
- Optional: If you want to add a bit more fun to the toy, you can always take an old tennis ball, cut two holes on opposite ends, and thread the rope through the ball.
Kibble Dispenser
Recycle your old plastic bottles and keep your dog busy with your own DIY kibble dispenser. Easy to make and your dog will love it! This toy is sure to keep your dog stimulated and busy all day long.
What you need
- Suitable plastic bottles or empty water bottles that have been washed and dried
- Small to medium size kibble to fill the bottles
- Cream cheese, anchovy spread (fish paste) or peanut butter
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill the bottle with small to medium size kibble. Quantity will depend on how many bottles you are using and how you have measured out your dog’s food intake for the day.
- Step 2: Use a teaspoon of your dog’s favourite out of the three spreads (cream cheese, fish paste or peanut butter). Slather the spread over the top part of the bottle (do not close the bottle top as the kibble still needs to fall out easily).
- Step 3: Scatter the bottles in the yard and watch as your dog enjoys sniffing them out, licking off the delicious paste, and then playing with it until every single bit of kibble spills out for their eating pleasure!
Keep an eye on your dog’s activity so he doesn’t hurt himself if he happens to chew through the bottle!
Ball Toy
What you need
- 1 x old squeaky ball
- 1 x old t-shirt
- Some ribbon (at least 1 m in length)
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut the fabric of the old t-shirt lengthways into two long strips.
- Step 2: Fold the fabric strips in half and wrap them around the ball (placing the ball in the centre of the folds).
- Step 3: Tie the ribbon as tightly as you can around the base of the ball after wrapping it around several times (see image).
- Step 4: Cut the tail of the fabric into several strips (using three strips at a time) and braid them into sections. Try to make your braids as tight as possible (making it harder for little teeth to rip them apart). Using the excess fabric at the end of your braid, tie several knots to keep the braids in place.
And voila! A brand new doggy toy for your best friend, in minutes!
Treat Dispenser
What you need
- A large empty peanut butter jar with lid
- A long cardboard kitchen paper tube, or two to three empty toilet rolls
- A handful of small treats or kibbles
Instructions:
- Step 1: Mark the tube to where it will fit into the peanut butter jar.
- Step 2: Cut the tube into three sections (it does not have to be the same size).
- Step 3: Insert all three sections into the empty jar.
- Step 4: Cut a hole in the lid that’s big enough for a treat to fall through, (roughly the size of a 20c or 50c coin, depending on the size of your treats). Cut the hole off-centre. You can also cut a hole or two into the sides of the plastic jar.
- Step 5: Fill the jar with treats or kibbles and then screw on the lid.
- Here is a step-by-step video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ6a4K8HXJ4
Watch your dog play for hours trying to get the treats out!
