It’s possible to make anything from rope toys to dog puzzle toys with items you already have at home. To show you how, we crafted and test some of the best DIY dog toys around.
Playing with toys can help to keep a dog stimulated and out of trouble. “Idle paws often lead to unwanted behavior—getting into the trash, counter surfing, excessive digging,” certified trainer and behaviorist Colleen Demling says.
Toys and games also curb bad behavior. Playing tug of war for 5 minutes or giving your dog a puzzle toy can help alleviate boredom. These DIY toys will help.
DIY Dog Snuffle Mat
Despite its ridiculous name, snuffle mats are a smart and simple way to keep dogs entertained. This homemade toy, made from fleece and a plastic mat, allows for your dog to sniff around, looking for the bite-sized treats hidden in it.
If you don’t have pieces of fleece at home, you could also make this with other fabrics. Try using old t-shirts!
Supplies
- Scraps of fleece fabric, roughly ½ yard.
- Plastic square sink mat
- Dog treats or kibble
Snuffle Mat Instructions
- Cut fleece into small 2” x 1” strips
- Tie the fleece strips onto each hole of a square sink mat
- Tie knots until all openings have been covered
- Sprinkle dog food or treats on the mat
- Ruffle the fleece to make sure the treats stay inside
DIY Tug Toy
Who doesn’t love playing tug of war? A light game of who-will-let-go first will tire your dog out and probably you too!
This dog tug toy is made with scraps of fleece fabric, but if you don’t have fleece on hand, you can also use old t-shirts. The braid method makes for a tougher toy for longer play.
Supplies
- Scraps of fleece fabric, roughly ½ yard.
Tug Toy Instructions
- Cut 6, 2” wide fleece strips to the length of your choice, but at least 12” long
- Knot all strips together at one end
- Braid with 2 strips per piece until the end of the fabric, then knot
Water Bottle Dog Toy
Give that plastic water bottle a second use with this water bottle toy. Put a few treats or pieces of kibble into an empty water bottle and wrap it with fleece, tying it at the ends. You can always use other fabric in lieu of fleece, but Amber is crafty and opts for the fleece version.
Your dog will hear the treats inside and love the slight crunching sound the water bottle makes when they bite down.
Supplies
- Empty plastic water bottle
- Fleece fabric
- Dog treats or kibble
DIY Water Bottle Toy Instructions
- Roll the empty plastic water bottle with fleece two times
- Cut off extra fleece and set aside
- Cut off excess fabric on the top and bottom of the water bottle leaving 4-6” from the end of the bottle, to the end of the fabric
- Unroll fabric, and cut 1” strips on the top and bottom
- Put treats or kibble inside the water bottle and seal
- Roll the fleece around the water bottle again, and randomly knot the strips on the top and bottom
Tennis Ball and Rag Toss Toy
If you have a tennis ball and clean rag lying around, the two combined will make for a great toss toy.
Whether you’re letting this soar through the air or playing tug of war, it’s a simple way to excite your pup.
Supplies
- Dish towel
- Tennis ball
Toss Toy Instructions:
- Cut two large X’s in the tennis ball using a sharp knife. They should be on opposite sides of the tennis ball
- Cut the dish towel into 3 even strips
- Knot the dish towels at one end
- Thread the tennis ball through the X’s on one strip of dish towel
- Begin making double knots using the strips of dish towel until you reach the end
Tennis Ball Dog Puzzle Toy
Tennis balls are already fun, but adding a hole to hide treats makes for a game that will mentally stimulate your dog.
Supplies
- Tennis ball
- Small treats or kibble
Puzzle Toy Instructions:
- Hold the tennis ball firmly in your hands, and cut a large X using a knife
- Once you have the X, squeeze the tennis ball to expand the opening you made
- Drop a few treats or bits of kibble inside
Dog Pupsicle
This dog pupsicle, made by freezing broth into ice cube trays, provides a longer-lasting treat experience. If you want to get fancy with it, you can buy shaped molds.
Supplies
- Broth of your choice (we used broth powder)
- Large ice cube tray
Pupsicle Instructions
- Fill the ice cube tray with the broth of your choice
- If using store-bought broth, you can pour it right into the mold, or mix half water, half broth to make the broth go further
- If using powdered broth, follow instructions on the container for measurements
- Freeze until frozen: if you’re using a silicone mold, using a small cookie sheet will contain any spills
- Serve in a dog bowl
Doggy Ice Lick
To give your dog a treat and prolong the enjoyment, try this ice lick idea. Freeze treats and even a small toy of theirs in broth and let them lick away.
If Amber’s pug Shirley could speak, she’d probably say this was her favorite. Slurp.
Supplies
- Small or medium bowl
- Rubber toys
- Dog Treats
- Strawberries
Instructions
- Get creative with ingredients! We started with strawberries
- Next, fill the center with a large rubber toy or ball
- Fill the space on the side with treats, chews, or any other snacks your dog may like
- Fill with water and freeze
- When frozen, remove from the freezer and let it sit in a bowl of warm water for roughly 30 seconds, or just long enough to release the ice from its bowl
- Flip upside down in a dog dish
Muffin Tin Dog Puzzle
Physical stimulation is great, but keeping your dog mentally stimulated is equally important. While there are ample puzzle toys out there, this DIY solution is super-easy and fun.
Watch your dog attempt to get the treats below the tennis ball. It’s harder than it seems! If you don’t have many tennis balls, you can make this with just one, only filling one muffin spot.
Supplies
- 6 or 12-count muffin tin
- 6 or 12 tennis balls
- Dog treats or kibble
Instructions
- Fill tin with treats or kibble
- Place a tennis ball in each spot over the treats or kibble
Denim Knot
Denim is a strong material, and when knotted, even stronger. It’s an ideal toy for tough chewers. Plus, it’s thrifty. Repurpose a pair of old jeans for this DIY dog toy and save a trip to Goodwill.
Supplies
- Scissors
- Jeans
Instructions:
- Cut the pant legs off of the jeans at the hip
- Depending on how large you’d like the toy to be, you can then cut the pant leg in half, or use the full length
- Knot the pant leg as many times as you’d like—tying a knot on each end makes for a great tug toy
Knotted Bath Towel
Have an old hand towel that’s no longer white? Or perhaps a bath towel that’s starting to fall apart? These household items make for great DIY dog toys.
Supplies
- One towel: we used a hand towel
Instructions
- Take the towel and make a large knot in the center
- If you’re using a large bath towel, after you make the knot you can either trim the ends to make it shorter, or leave it long
- Try adding multiple knots for more durability
More DIY Goodness
DIY Homemade 5-Ingredient Dog Treats
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