Ask An OC Expert: Best DIY Dog Toy Ideas

Have you ever spent countless dollars on dog toys? Do they only last a few days? Does your dog get bored with the toys that you find in a store? How can you save money and watch your dog have fun? Below are some DIY dog toy ideas from Amy Ausman that will make your pooch jump for joy.

Ausman is the owner of Furry Belly Deli and makes natural, organic and raw treats for cats and dogs. She even makes special treats for cats and dogs who have food sensitivities and allergies. It started a few years back when her own cat could not enjoy treats like other cats could. Amy diligently researched what kinds of ingredients that her cat would be able to enjoy without causing an allergic reaction. With Furry Belly Deli, she is able to share her specialty foods and keep cats and dogs healthy. All of the materials for these five toys cost about $8, and it only took her a day to make them all.

Rope Tugging Toy

The first thing to do is to choose your rope - nylon or one made of natural fibers like cotton. Knotting the ropes gives your dog areas to grip and grab the rope. Ausman used a monkey’s fist knot to create a bulbous, ball-like shape. This knot type was once used as a heavy line knot of old sailing ships. She then added a loop, which can be used for tug of war where one dog grabs the knot and the other grabs the loop for hours of fun.

Felt Tugging Toy

Instead of rope, braided felt knots can be used to make a tugging toy. It's much softer than rope and easier to handle for smaller dogs. It also has a stretching quality which gives the dog resistance when pulled against each other. With felt, you also have the option to mix and match colors. You can find a lot of these braiding patterns on Pinterest.

Water Bottle Toy

Dogs love the sounds of crinkling water bottles when they play or chew on them. But, instead of just giving them a plain water bottle, why not dress it up? Ausman encased the water bottle within an old sock. Using decorative ribbon, she tied off the top of the bottle to secure the sock. She then frayed the opening of the sock to make it look like tendrils.

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Water Bottle Tugging Toy

Ausman took a durable piece of patterned fabric and knotted one of the ends. She then placed a crushed water bottle inside the fabric and used another knot to hold the bottle in place. She added two more bottles and knots to keep them separate. The bottles cause the crinkling noise when chewed. The knots can serve as grips if two dogs decide to play tug-of-war.

Felt T-Toy

This toy is soft and perfect for when there are more than two dogs. Trifecta tug-of-war! There are many braided knot designs to choose from on the internet. While this one looks very intricate, it only took Ausman 15 minutes to make. This is another toy where you can change up the colors for neat pattern combinations.

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