Have you been to the pet store lately? If so you probably noticed that dog toys aren’t cheap. Luckily there are lots of simple DIY dog toys you can make at home.
Not all do it yourself projects are complicated, and these simple DIY dog toys are some good examples of projects anyone can handle. Here’s a list of 10 easy to make DIY dog toys.
1. Make Your Own DIY Flirt Pole
Most dogs love to chase, which is why flirt poles are a great choice — especially for high drive dogs. A quick 5 minute game with a flirt pole will provide your dog with plenty of physical exercise.
If you have some PVC pipe lying around use that as the rod. If not you can be like me and make a one with a long stick you find in the yard. You’re also going to need some bungee cord or rope, sold at hardwood stores. You could use rope but be very careful – you don’t want to jerk your dogs neck when they catch the toy. The ‘prey’ can be anything from a stuffed toy to an empty water bottle, as long as you can tie it to the rope you should be fine.
Thread your bungee or rope material through the PVC or if you’re cheap like me tie it to the end of the stick. You want the rod to be a decent distance away from you, 3-5 feet should be fine. If you’re using the PVC knot it at one end so it won’t come lose when it’s being flailed about.
The only thing that’s left is tying the ‘prey’ to the other end of the line. Now you’ve got a fun DIY toy to play with. Caution – don’t play this game with growing puppies, it’s very tough on the joints.
2. Create a DIY Plastic Bottle Dog Toy
Dogs just love crunchy stuff — and plastic bottles make some pretty satisfying crunches. If your dog is a tough chewer remember to supervise them well with this toy. To make your own DIY plastic bottle toy just take a plastic bottle and wrap it in a sock or fabric of your choosing.
3. Make Your Own Rope and Tennis Ball Toy.
I love playing tug with my dog. Minute for minute it’s one of the most physically & mentally exhausting games there is. And the good news is if you don’t have a tug toy at home you can easily make your own with a piece of rope and tennis ball.
For this easy to make DIY dog toy you’ll need a piece of rope and a tennis ball. To make the toy just cut or drill a hole on each side of the ball; just large enough to thread the rope through. Fit the ball onto the center of the rope, tie some knots to keep it in place.
If you want to make it into a great tug toy tie some knots at the end as well. If your dog is a tough chewer you can use old braided fabric for the rope to toughen it up a little.
4. Make a Tennis Ball Muffin Tin Puzzle
Looking for a really simple way to entertain your dog? Make him a simple tennis ball muffin tin puzzle. Dog puzzles (and food dispensing toys in general) are a great way to give your dog some extra mental stimulation. And the best part is this muffin tin puzzle is really easy to make.
All you need to do is place some treats in the muffin tin and hide them by placing the tennis balls over them. And there you have it — you’ve got your very own homemade dog puzzle.
6. Create a DIY Braided T-Shirt Dog Toy
This toy is great for playing fetch or tug and it’s really simple to make. You’ll just need a couple of t-shirts and a pair of scissors.