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There are so many toys available on the market today and most are less than ideal. On the flip side you can find high quality products but the price tag makes it hard to rationalize.
This is especially true for those of you with destructive chewers that destroy everything. So what if you could make some homemade dog toys yourself out of materials you have at home already?
Well, in this post we will cover 11 easy homemade dog toys you can make today with things you may already have at home!
Table of Contents
11 Easy Homemade Dog Toys
Your dog doesn’t know the difference between fancy toys and those that are homemade – all you really need is something new and that alone can get most dogs excited.
These 11 homemade toys are easy to make and your dog will love them!
Important Note: Some homemade toys you can make will use socks and jeans. If these are items you have previously worn, be careful. Your dog may associate your scent with chewing and playing. That means anytime your foot is dangling near them, or you have clothes on the ground, they may think those are fair game! Change the scent before using these items or buy some fresh ones online (you can get them really cheap).
1.) The Classic Sock n’ Ball
Items Needed:
- 1 sock
- 1 tennis ball.
The build:
Pop the ball right down inside the sock and then tie a knot just above the ball. Definitely the cheapest, easiest, and handiest DIY homemade dog toy you can make!
Extra fun idea: cut a hole in the tennis ball and stuff treats inside before you place the tennis ball in the sock. This will make your pup work really hard to get to the ball.
2.) The Homemade Dog Rope Toy
Items Needed:
- 1 kitchen towel
- 3 kitchen towels – for big dogs
The build:
Take an old kitchen towel and cut two lines along the length of a towel to make 3 equally thick strips but stop cutting about an inch from the top. Then braid or plait the towel as you would hair. Tie the loose ends and you have a simple rope toy!
For big dogs – Braid three kitchen towels together and tie the ends (or sew them). As an alternative you can use old jeans to make an ever stronger rope toy.
Further readings: Are Rope Toys Safe For Dogs?
3.) The Homemade Interactive Treat Dispensing Sock Toy
Items Needed:
- 2 socks
- Some delicious dog treats
The build:
Pretty simple here – pop the treats inside one sock and then ball it up ( same way you put socks away). Then pop it inside another sock and tie a knot in the sock to seal it. Your dog will love trying to get them out.
4.) The Homemade Ball On A Rope Toy
Items Needed:
- Piece of rope
- Tennis ball
The Build:
Drill or cut a hole in either side of the ball. Pop your rope through it and tie knots on either side of the ball. You can tie knots at the ends of the rope for extra grip & to reduce fraying.
Quick tip if you don’t have rope: You can use a homemade rope (as shown in #3) for the piece of rope to put through the tennis ball
5.) The Homemade Cereal Box Puzzle Dog Toy
Items Needed:
- Empty cereal box
- Dog treats
- Tape (duct tape for tough chewers)
The Build:
Pop your dog treats inside the old box and tape it up. You can also try cutting some small holes in It and smearing some peanut butter inside.
If your dog loves this toy they may also like the Outward Hounds Dog Brick Treat Puzzle. It’s a level 2 puzzle and one of the highest rated online (and one of my favorites to use for stimulating and entertaining enzo while I’m busy).
6.) The Treat Dispensing Tennis Ball
Items Needed:
- Tennis Ball
- Dog treats
The Build:
Cut a slit into the side of the tennis ball and stuff some treats inside. Fido will love trying to get them out!
If your dog loves this treat dispensing toy you can upgrade them to the star marks bob a lot (it’s extremely durable, only $20 and my dog enzo’s favorite).
7.) The Big Knotted Ball
Items Needed:
- Long strip of fabric (t-shirt, old bed linens, etc.)
The build:
Tie knots in the center of the material over and over again. Rinse & repeat until you have one giant knot. The size of your knot will depend on how big the piece of fabric you started with was.
Cut off the excess from the ends to prevent excess fraying and give it to your pooch for hours of chewing fun.
Tip for added fun: soak the knot in chicken or beef broth and pop it in the freezer.
8.) The Empty Milk Treat Dispenser
Items Needed:
- Empty milk or juice container
- Dog treats
The build:
Simple, take off the bottle top and squeeze some treats inside. Leave the cap off and give it to your pooch.
9.) The Homemade Flying Hose Hoops
Items Needed:
- Old garden hose
- Stick
The build:
The hardest part of this one is finding the right size stick. Cut a section of hose and squeeze an ~8cm long stick in one end – it must fit snugly to work. Bend the hose around and pop the open end over the other end of the stick. You now have a great throwing hoop!
10.) The Cracklin Plush Toy Sock
Items Needed:
- Empty plastic bottle
- A sock
The build:
Take the cap off your plastic bottle, it’s a choking hazard. Squeeze all of the air out and pop it inside an old sock! Now tie a knot at the end to keep it in place. The sound of the crackling plastic will be something your canine will go nuts for and you made it yourself!
If your dog loves this cracklin toy you can upgrade them to the Crackle Heads Crackle Ball (it’s more durable & only ~$2 at the time of this writing).
11.) The Cardboard Tube Rattler
Items Needed:
- Cardboard tube (get these from paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls)
- Dog treats
- Duck tape
The build:
Flatten an end of the tube and seal it with duct tape. Pop some treats inside. Flatten the other end and seal it up. Wrap the entire tube in duct tape for added strength & durability.
The rattling sound will make it quite enjoyable for your pup.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a List of easy to follow DIY homemade dog toys. The homemade dog toys on this list are kept simple and use items most people have in their home.