So the CraftGossip head office is now the proud owner or a Labradoodle puppy Aloo_the_labradoodle and that has, of course, lead us on the DIY for your pet’s path. We have come across so many different ideas for DIY activities for making activities to stimulate your puppy or dog. We have learned very quickly that a bored puppy leads to a naughty puppy. There are lots of DOG IQ style toys
on the market but being frugal and a DIY’er I knew we had to try and make our own too.
This DIY Dog toy roundup even has a tennis ball style dog kong
that you can make yourself at home with a basic tennis ball.
Recycled TShirt – Dogs Tugga Toy — CraftBits.com
DIY: Make Your Dog (or Cat) a Snuffle Mat
DIY Snuffle Mat – Enrichment Games for Dogs – Rescue is the best breed!
6 super simple DIY dog toys to keep your hound happy
Easy & Cheap Dog Toy : 3 Steps
Dog Toys for Heavy Chewers : 25 Steps (with Pictures)
https://www.instructables.com/id/RING-DOG-TOY/
Homemade Foxtail-type Toy : 5 Steps (with Pictures)
food toys and brain games for dogs DIY
DIY Brain Games for Dogs! Homemade food puzzle toys
Here is a really basic brain training toy we made for our dog using simple treats tucked away in a rolled-up towel.
Looking for more things to hand-make and DIY for your dog? Check out some of our favorite things to make for dogs. Owning a dog can be very expensive and not only does making your own dog beds, coats and toys seem like fun, it is also a great way to save money on pet supplies too. One of our puppy’s favorite homemade dog toy is a soda bottle ½ filled with rice. It is noisy, it flips and spins and has a spout for him to grab.
Looking for more sewing patterns for your fur baby doggies? Check out these sewing patterns over on Etsy.
No Sew Easy Dog Bed – Quick and easy to make, you will want this soft and fluffy dog bed for every room, if you are looking for more DIY dog beds check out these articles for making your own dog beds.
DIY Dog Shampoo for sensitive skin – Even doggies have allergies and this recipe is for dogs with sensitive skin.
Recycled TShirt – Dogs Tugga Toy This project was featured in Moderndog magazine and was so fun to make, the best part was ripping up all the old t-shirts. Such a great way to recycle.
Recycled Dog Collar – Pickup old shirts from thrift stores and make fun collars in different colors and sizes. Make sure to measure your dog’s neck before heading out so you know what size to shirt to buy.
Check out this article on 15 dog toys you can make at home.
No Sew Dog Wrap – Made from old human track pants, very affordable to make.
Peppermint Dog Soap – Stinky dogs are gone, peppermint is soothing and antibacterial too.
Dry Pet Shampoo – Sometimes they haven’t even dried from their bath before they are dirty again, this shampoo helps to brush out the grime.
Dog Cakes – Perfect for dog parties and doggie friend playdates
Dog Biscuits– 16 yummy dog treats you can make yourself at home in the kitchen.
Looking for pet supplies, toys, food, or gift ideas? Check these out.
If your dog is gentle with its toys then it’s probably fairly easy to buy for them. All you have to do is find out whether they prefer balls, squeakers, or tug toys and you’re pretty much set. However, if you have the type of dog that enjoys destroying its toys then it can be rather frustrating to find something that will not only last but still keep your dog entertained. Well, after testing toys in a yard full of fifteen or more dogs a day for seven years I’ve embraced a pretty good understanding of what toys will last with a tougher crowd.
I’ll start with a toy that most people in the dog community have at least heard of if they don’t already own one-two or of them – the Kong
. For those of you unfamiliar with the toy, a Kong is a thick rubber toy that usually has a hole in one or both ends that you can fill with dog treats or something gooier like peanut butter. The Kong company has made several variations of their original toy but they’re all based around the same premises. They’re made to keep your dog busy for long periods of time and to withstand several hours of being chewed on. However, if your dog is a heavy chewer it can eventually rip small chunks of rubber off the Kong and, if left unsupervised for too long, they can destroy the toy entirely with enough determination.
Another tougher-built toy is something called a Wubba Wubba
. I know, I thought the same thing when I first heard of it: What?! Allow me to explain – the toy is basically shaped like an octopus. It has a hard rubber ball on top, a larger rubber ball directly beneath that one containing a squeaker, and both balls are wrapped in a layer of extremely thick cloth that ties under the larger ball and spreads out into what looks like legs. By being held together with fabric the toy is actually much tougher than it seems and dogs that like to play tug games generally love it. The squeaker ball is exceptionally loud, however, so if you don’t like a lot of noise then this toy probably isn’t the best for you.
By far the most successful toy as far as durability goes has to be the Hurley made by a company called West Paw
. It’s basically a kind of barbell-shaped, colorful stick that’s made from a rubber-type material. Now, when I first experimented with this toy I thought for sure that it would pull apart in the center of the stick where it thins out the most. However, even the dogs that have previously chewed through every other toy I’ve tried in the yard couldn’t manage to destroy this thing. The dogs literally will tug on both ends with all their might, throw it up in the air, lay down, and gnaw on it as if it were a bone, and the toy still doesn’t even have tooth marks on it! The very same Hurley I first threw out into the yard over a year ago is still the one that the dogs play with today and it doesn’t look like it’s going to break down anytime soon. In fact, the company stands behind its toy’s durability so much that they’ve issued a warranty on the back of the packaging stating that if the toy ever gets destroyed then they’ll send you a new one. Also, the company will recycle the Hurley so if for whatever reason you decide you don’t want it anymore just help improve the environment a little and send the toy back! The West Paw company also has balls and flying discs available made from the same material as the Hurley, so be sure to check those out as well.
On a side note, be sure that whatever toy you decide to buy for your dog, make sure you supervise your dog if they have toys that can be easily chewed up or swallowed. Sometimes dogs think they can swallow things that are too large for them and end up choking so be mindful of that. Stick with the harder, larger toys to leave with your dog if you can’t supervise them. Other than that, just make sure that you pick a toy that’s safe and fun for your dog!
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