DIY TOY IDEAS FOR YOUR PET
A t-shirt-wrapped water bottle is the perfect toy for a pup or kitten that likes crinkley sounds. You can also do this with a tennis ball and t-shirt, making a toss toy
If you’ve had pets, you know that the shelf life of their toys depletes in a blink of an eye - that expensive toy you just splurged on doesn’t last one day. Worse still, all the money spent ends up going to waste because your pet didn’t like the toy at all and barely even looked at it. That’s why it’s pretty economical to try your hand at DIY toys for your pets. Because if they don’t like it, at least you didn’t spend through your nose for it, right? Best of all, some of these DIY toys are super easy to make - yes, even for those who are handwork challenged. So without further ado, here are some DIY toy ideas you could try out.
T Shirt & Towel Wraps
A t-shirt-wrapped water bottle is the perfect toy for a pup or kitten that likes crinkley sounds. You can also do this with a tennis ball and t-shirt, making a toss toy. Toss it, tug it, whatever your pet wants!
Braid & Knot
A toss-able toy can be made from braided old t-shirts and it’s an easy way to recycle old t-shirts. You can also make a pup toy with a knotted towel and an indestructible chew toy made from rope and dried sweet potatoes. This is an awesome option for the dog that loves to chew, nibble, tear apart or generally destroy their toys. The dried sweet potato, when threaded onto the rope, is super tough for even the most destructive of dogs to dismantle
Denim knot
Sometimes the making of a great dog toy requires… some old jeans you have lying around! This has got to be the cheapest DIY out there, and requires no sewing whatsoever. You could even knot a treat inside to give your pooch extra incentive to solve this “puzzle”. Alternatively, make a big knot for throwing around, playing fetch, playing tug-of-war or for contemplative chewing.
DIY Agility Jump
This comparatively requires a bit more handy work that the rest of the toys listed, but it’s totally worth your time and effort. This easy-to-make agility jump can be set up in your garden or even indoors, if you have space or your pet is not likely to destroy anything nearby. Build the agility jump using furniture grade PVC pipe and different kinds of furniture grade PVC fitting. The important thing here is having a PVC pipe cutter and carefully cutting each piece as instructed (the long white pipes, which will be the ground bar, need to measure 47 inches long). Follow the directions provided and you’ll have leftovers for future projects.
Tennis Ball
Your dog will love the ball on a string since it can fetch the ball then tug on it with you. First, cut a small hole on either side of a tennis ball, then feed a sturdy rope or nylon cord through it. Remember, the rope you use should feel comfortable in your hand since you’ll be on the other end of the toy. Make a knot on the “bottom” side of the toy (this is where your dog will be grabbing on, so make it a strong knot), then make a knotted loop for the handle side where you’ll hold on with all your might, and get tugging with your pup.
Cardboard Galore
Boxes, paper towel rolls, and toilet paper rolls make for an endless array of cardboard fun. Cats love the lightweight nature of toilet paper rolls and the comfort of squeezing into the “just too small” opening of a paper towel roll. Large dogs will go nuts breaking down cardboard boxes all over the living room.