There’s nothing like the excitement of getting a new dog. It’s always a special time going to the pet store to buy a new collar, leash, bed, food bowls, and other supplies for the little bundle of joy. As much fun as it can be, the prices can add up pretty fast. That’s why there is no need to spend extra hard earned money on dog toys when you can easily make them at home for a fraction of the cost. Here are a few ideas that will slash your pet store total while still keeping them totally entertained.
Paper Towel Holder Treat Toy
Supplies:
- Treats
- Cardboard Tube (paper towel or toilet paper roll)
- Tape
How to do it:
Smash down one end of the cardboard and tape it shut. Then pour some treats inside of the tube and seal that side with tape as well. Your new puppy will have a field day trying to get the treats off of it! You can even make it a little easier for them by cutting a few treat sized holes on one side so that the treats fall out easily for younger puppies.
The Crunchy Bottle Sock Dog Toy
Supplies:
- Old sock
- Rocks (optional)
- Empty water bottle
How to do it:
Slide the sock over the water bottle and tie the sock firmly at the end. Puppies love the way this feels and sounds when they chew or pounce on it. If they tire easily of the crunch feeling then add some pebbles, beans, or pennies to change the sound. If you don’t have extra water bottle laying around, get the cheapest one you can find at the store. They often have less plastic which makes it easier to crunch and pop.
Kitchen-Towel Chew
- Supplies
- Old kitchen or hand towel
- Scissors
How to do it:
Cut the towel into thirds by making two slits at equal distance along the length of the towel. STOP cutting about an inch from the top of the towel. Braid the strips, then knot the loose end and voila! You have a great braided chew toy for your puppy! As they get older you can use longer towels and add a cut tennis ball to the middle, or use jeans or three separate towels together to make it bigger and stronger.
Do you have a cool DIY dog toy idea? We’d love to hear about it, share with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page!