11 Homemade Dog Toys Your Pet Will Love 

Want the perfect toy for your dog? Instead of spending lots of money on toys your dog will tear apart, get dirty, or lose in no time, consider making one. Many toys are easy enough to make. They’re also often much cheaper. These 11 homemade dog toys are sure to be favorites amongst your pet or pets.

1. Wrapped Plastic Bottle

Do you end up tossing out a lot of plastic bottles? Water bottles, soda bottles, and even Gatorade bottles are all great toys for your pet. Many of them like the crinkling sound and the crunch it makes in their mouth as they chew.

However, when your dog punctures the toy, they risk injuring themselves with sharp plastic. To prevent this, you just need to cover the bottle with something else.

A thick sock is easiest. Just take a sock and wrap it around the bottle. It’s also a good idea to remove the cap from the bottle before turning it into a toy, as it’s a choking hazard.

2. Pupsicles

Pupsicles are a great enrichment opportunity for your dog. Simply fill up a popsicle mold or an ice-cube tray with a few healthy treats and some water (or low-sodium broth!) and let it freeze. If that’s too much work, you can also just cut up carrots into slightly larger than bite-sized chunks and freeze them.

These frozen treats keep your dog focused, work its brain, and cater to its senses. They get to play, smell, taste, and touch popsicles. They take a long time to get through as well, and a dog is often tired at the end due to all the healthy mental and physical stimulation.

Some ingredients to put in a pupsicle besides a standard dog treat include:

• Banana
• Unsweetened apple sauce
• Plain greek yogurt
• Carrots
• Pumpkin
• Peanut butter

3. Flirt Pole

Flirt poles are often associated with cats, but they also work great with dogs. If you make one at home, you can make it much sturdier. Use a plastic pole, a walking stick, or even a short rod, a rope, and something dangling from the end. Many people simply attach another toy to the end, or knot a few strips of cloth so it flutters around.

It’s a great toy that allows you to interact and play with your dog. It also triggers their natural prey drive, so it’s a great option for more prey-driven dogs like Jack Russel terriers. Plus, it’s a good teaching moment as you can teach your dogs to wait, sit, and when they are allowed to chase.

4. Snuffle Mat

If your dog is often bored and full of energy, a snuffle mat is a great way to keep it entertained for a long time. These mats are usually some sort of cloth or material with treats and good smells wrapped up inside.

There are dozens of ways to make snuffle mats. If you’re creative, getting a bunch of felt and cutting it into strips is the best option. Then, you can tie them together.

However, a more simple option is to take a towel, throw in treats, and knot the toy in some places. If you want to make it even more difficult, you can dampen the towel with water or chicken broth, and then freeze it. Be sure not to tie the knots too tight so your dog has a chance of pulling them open.

5. Braided T-Shirt Toy

Braided toys are also easy to make. They are sometimes safer as well. For dogs that like to chew through toys, the strings in traditional rope toys can get stuck in their teeth or their intestines. For most dogs, it isn’t much of a problem, but some dogs make a game out of pulling out individual strings.

Homemade braided toys aren’t quite as durable, but there’s less chance of your dog chowing down on the individual pieces. Plus, it gives you a chance to use old items lying around. You can use any material to make the braided rope toy.

Sweaters, shirts, towels, jeans, and old sheets are all great examples. Just get at least three strips of roughly equal length and thickness. Then, braid them together. Tie off both ends, leaving a bit of unbraided fabric on both sides, and the toy is ready. Unlike the snuffle mat, you want to make the knots on either end as tight as possible to prevent your dog from taking the toy apart.

6. Tennis Ball Puzzle

A simple, but effective toy to keep your dog entertained is a simple tennis ball and some treats. All you have to do is cut a little hole in the tennis ball, and stuff treats inside.

Your dog will be entertained for hours as they try to get the treats out. And, if tennis balls don’t work for your dog, you can use any ball that’s difficult to chew through and is hollow so you can put treats inside.

For dogs already obsessed with balls, this probably isn’t a necessary step. However, it can be very helpful for those dogs that are easily bored or need something more to stimulate them than just a simple tennis ball.

7. Muffin Tin Puzzle

If you have a muffin tin and a lot of tennis balls around, this is a slightly more difficult version of the tennis ball puzzle above. However, you don’t have to cut anything open, so it’s a little easier on you.

Get enough tennis balls to fit into every hole of the muffin tin, which is generally 6-12. Sprinkle a few treats into the bottom of every hole, and place the balls on top.

Ideally, you want the ball to perfectly fit into the muffin tin so it’s not easy for your dog to get it out, but it’s also not going to get stuck.

Because the balls spin around and are difficult to get out of the holes, it’s a great option to keep smaller dogs entertained. Larger dogs, however, may soon find that they can just flip the tray, so it’s not the best toy for every dog.

8. Snuffle Box

Another easy option for a snuffle toy is to make it in a box. Usually, a big, but skinny box is best. It stops your dog from getting the treats too easily while ensuring they can reach everything. For smaller dogs, even a cereal box is fine. However, if you have a lot of boxes lying around from online orders, put them to use with a snuffle box.

Sprinkle a couple of treats at the bottom of the box, and then add layers of packing paper or cloth. In between the layers, add a few more treats. You can make it more difficult by bunching up some areas more or tying a few loose knots.

If your dog has a preference for a certain type of treat over another, add those to the more difficult areas. That way, your dog feels enticed to tackle the puzzles.

9. Cardboard Tubes

Some dogs just like having something new. Take cardboard tubes from toilet paper, wrapping paper, or paper towels and give them to your dogs. Some more gentle dogs will just carry them around. If your dog likes to take things apart, though, you may want to watch them so they don’t end up eating pieces of cardboard.

You can also add to the cardboard tube so it lasts a little longer. Throw some treats or something that rattles in the center and then wrap the tube in cloth or an old sock. This stops them from tearing it apart so easily, while also providing entertainment.

10. Stuffed Objects

If you’re even somewhat good at sewing, you can make your own stuffed toys. They don’t have to be anything fancy, like a toy in the shape of a bone or a bear. You just need two similar pieces of fabric, some stuffing, and a needle and thread.

If you have a sewing machine, that’s even better. You can make sure the stitches are tight and even double- or triple-stitch the toy to make it harder for your dog to rip it apart. Start by stitching about three-quarters of the toy up, and then fill it with as much stuffing as you want. Stitch it the rest of the way shut, and you’ve got a toy.

Thicker and more durable fabrics tend to last longer, but even an old shirt will do. If you want to make the toy a little extra fancy, consider adding in something that crinkles, like a plastic bottle, or a squeaker. With your scent all over it, your dog is sure to enjoy the new toy.

11. Ball on a Rope

Another simple toy to make is a ball on a rope. All you need is a rope and a tennis ball. Then, take a knife and cut a hole just big enough for the rope to slide through on either side of the ball. Push the rope through, and you’ve got a rope toy.

They might not be as colorful as the rope toys you can buy at the store, but it’s a lot cheaper, and you may be able to use materials you already have lying around.

Summary Table of the Best Homemade Toys for Your Dog