Make Your Own Homemade Dog Toys

Always Be Careful!

Toys should only be used under appropriate supervision. Always be cautious. Strings can come off of rope toys and dogs might swallow them, buttons can come off to get choked on, dogs can easily chew off pieces of millions of things. Always use common sense, know your dog, and remember, if your dog can get himself in trouble, she will.

Making Fetch Toys

Make a Ball Toy

This toy is super easy to make and is nice for non-chewing small dogs, but probably isn't safe for large dogs or ones that chew up their toys. Wad up newspaper into a ball, then cover the outside of the ball with duct tape, making sure not to leave any sticky sides facing out. You can use other items for the stuffing, including rags or other paper. Make sure you make the ball big enough that your dog can't swallow it.

Making Tug Toys

A Fun Fleece Braid

If you have some leftover fleece from another project or have an old blanket ready to be used for rags, this toy is quick and easy to make, and is especially good for kids to make. Cut fleece into three strips, tie the ends into a knot, then braid the fleece pieces together. Tie off the other ends, and you have a fast and fun dog toy.

Rope Dog Toy

Odd sections of rope make wonderful dog toys and can be as simple or as complex as you want to make them.

The simplest version is to simply take about a foot of rope, then tie a knot in the middle. I like to really secure the knot in the rope by having two people each hold a pair of pliers and use them to pull on each end of the rope to get that knot as tight as can be. A second knot on top of the first makes for a sturdier toy and gives your dog a good place to grip it.

A knot on each end of a length of rope makes a fun tug toy, and you can make these out of different lengths to give your dog variety.

You can also take a longer length of rope, about 2 feet, and tie the ends together to make a loop. This is fun for dogs who like to play tug, and especially works great if you have a couple dogs since you can play tug with more than one at a time.

A much more complex knotted rope toy is explained here: Make a Dog Rope Toy

Be very careful with all rope toys since if any strands pull loose your dog could swallow them and long, stringy things can cause a lot of damage to your dog's digestive system.

Making Fleece and Stuffed Toys

Add Sound to Toys

To make a toy that makes sounds, but is a bit safer than squeakers, put some dry beans in a clean prescription bottle with a child-proof lid. Place the bottle inside homemade stuffed toys or in an old, clean sock for a fun toy that will attract those dogs who like a bit of noise out of their prey.

Making Treat and Foraging Toys

Create a Cardboard Box Dog Toy

Any smallish and clean cardboard box can be used as a dog toy. Old cereal boxes, boxes from Hamburger Helper, or just about anything about that size or smaller will work.. Cut a few, one-inch holes (depending on the size of your dog) in the box, then spread a bit of peanut butter inside and tape close the open end of the box. Your dog will spend lots of time trying to lick out the peanut butter, pushing the box all over the room to do so. Just watch carefully to ensure your dog doesn't get her tongue stuck inside any of the holes. She may also rip apart the cardboard to try and get at the peanut butter, so it's best to use this dog toy in an easy to clean up area.

Making Chew Toys

Carrot and Sock Dog Toy

A quick and easy dog toy is to take an old, washed sock, snap a plump carrot in half, then put the carrot pieces into the sock. Tie the top of the sock in a knot and let your puppy play with it. Dogs love to chew on these and best of all these toys are nearly free and very environmentally friendly.

Make a Bottle Dog Toy

An empty, plastic bottle can be turned into a dog toy. Simply choose a bottle of the appropriate size for your dog, small dogs should get smaller, water-type bottles while large dogs should get 2-litter bottles. Remove the lid, rings, and any labels from the bottle, then smash it flat. Take a jean pant leg or other piece of fabric, put the bottle inside and sew the fabric up around it. This makes a hardy chew toy for your puppy that will keep her occupied for quite a while.

Make a Tire Toy for Strong Dogs

Dogs with extremely strong jaws need toys that will stand up to a lot of abuse. One of these is a toy made out of an old tire. Tires have been used by horse owners for years, but dogs need one a bit smaller than the vehicle tires used for horses. Either get a wheelbarrel tire or some other small yet not narrow tire from the hardware store or use an old one from around the house. Tie a rope through the tire, then hang it from a tree at the dog's head level. Once your dog gets used to playing with the tire you may want to raise it a bit to make it even more fun. Make sure your dog does not chew pieces off of the tire, if she ingests them it could make her sick.

Making Other Dog Toys

Make a Dog Playhouse

A large box with a couple of holes cut into it to use for doorways makes a nice toy for smaller dogs. Though people don't realize it, many dogs like to play hide and seek in boxes just like cats do, and a playhouse can be lots of fun for them.