DIY dog toys

Dogs are energetic and active animals that need not only regular walks but also interaction with their owners. You don't need to go to a pet store and buy expensive items to achieve this; making your own dog toys is very easy.

Rope for active games

One of the most popular games is tug-of-war. You can weave a rope for a small dog from old T-shirts, a terrycloth robe, or any other fabric. To make the toy more appealing, use materials in different colors.

For weaving you will need:

• fabric of your choice;
• scissors.

First, cut the clothing into four equal strips, approximately 10 cm wide and 1 m long. Then, stretch the strips in different directions until they become narrower, longer, and slightly curled. Be careful not to overstretch them, as this can tear them. Also, avoid using easily torn materials for making the toy. It's better to choose something more flexible.

Then tie the strips into a knot, leaving 7-10 cm from the end to make the cord comfortable to hold. Using photo 4 as a guide, lay the fabric out in the shape of a cross. You can do this either at home at your desk or outdoors, holding the knot between your knees.

The next step is to fold the right strip to the left and the left strip to the right, over the yellow fabric. This creates an "S" shape. Then, thread the bottom rope through the top-left loop, and the top rope through the bottom-right loop. You should end up with the same letter, only sideways.

After this, carefully tighten the loops, adjusting them to form a neat square in the center. Then, repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 until the toy reaches the desired length.

In total, this project takes 10-15 minutes. This weaving technique creates a beautiful diagonal stripe. It's worth noting that there are many different patterns, and each dog has its own weaving method. For a large dog toy, it's recommended to use a rope, as fabric will tear very quickly. That's all there is to it. Now it's time to invite your pet to play.

Read also about how to do appliques with dogs, and also modular origami dog on our website.

Candy-shaped toy

The following master class will help you make a toy for your dog so it can play independently when its owner doesn't have the time or opportunity to give it the attention it deserves.

To create such a cute candy you will need:

• any fabric (in this case, a shirt is used);
• plastic bottle;
• several large beads;
• any rope or rubber bands;
• scissors.

First, fill the bottle with beads and screw the lid on. You can substitute small stones or dry food. The latter will impart a scent your dog will love. Avoid filling the bottle with too many beads, as it will make a loud noise and distract your companions from their work.

Next, measure out the amount of fabric needed to wrap the bottle and trim off any excess. You can make 2-3 candies from one shirt and give one to each pet, if you have more than one.

After this, the bottle is wrapped in a piece of fabric and the ends are tied into a bow, firmly securing it inside.

It's not recommended to make large bows, as the dog may chew them and ruin the toy. Long ends can be easily trimmed with scissors. This candy is ideal for small and medium-sized dogs. Once holes appear in the bottle, it will quickly lose its shape and should be replaced. This concludes the tutorial.

Bone-shaped toy

Another option worth considering is creating a toy from a plastic bottle in a case in the shape of an appetizing bone.

To create you will need:

• any fabric (in this case fleece);
• empty plastic bottle;
• sewing accessories.

First, you need to sew the cover. It can be sewn by machine or by hand. Before you begin, you need to prepare templates. You can draw them by hand on cardboard or print one from the internet. Photo 17 shows the parts of the cover.

Once the dog toy pattern is ready, it's recommended to pin the pieces together. The finished product will be neater if the fabric doesn't shift. The fold line for one of the pieces is marked on the template. Fold it up to this line and pin it in place, as shown in photo 18.

Then the pieces are machine stitched and carefully turned inside out. It's important to maintain the rounded shape of the bone when sewing and never sew down the center, as this is where the bottle will be placed later.

First, tuck it into a deep pocket, then hide the base of the bottle under a small one. Optionally, fill the corners of the bone with scraps of fleece or synthetic padding, and sprinkle food inside for scent. The toy is ready.

Octopus

A homemade octopus toy can be an alternative to a rope. Your dog can play with it both independently and with its owner. Furthermore, several animals can compete in a tug-of-war.

To create you will need:

• old t-shirt;
• scissors;
• any ball.

It is recommended to use a squeaky rubber ball, as dogs love squeaky things, but a tennis ball or other similarly sized ball will also work.

First, you should cut the T-shirt into strips of equal width, based on photo 23.

The pieces of fabric are then laid crosswise, with the ball in the center. The resulting strips are wrapped around the ball and tied in a knot at the very base.

Next, cut each of the four pieces into three equal parts. All that's left is to braid the hairs, and the octopus is ready. If desired, you can use more fabric to make 6 or 8 tentacles.

The toy is suitable for small dogs and medium-sized pets.

Options for large dogs

For a large pet, you can make dog toys like those in photos 29 and 30. They are very similar, but constructed differently. In the first case, you'll need to weave a rope out of strong rope. To do this, follow the tips from the first tutorial in this article. Then, take a tennis ball, carefully poke a hole in it on both ends with a knife, and thread it onto the rope, tying a knot in it first.

In the second case, use a wide rope. Weave a small ball from it. You can trim off any excess rope, or leave the ball attached to a small section of rope. The next master class will show you how to make a ball from rope.

To create you will need:

• a thick rope about a meter long;
• hot glue or super glue to secure the ends;
• treat if desired.

First, the rope must be wound around your hand as shown in photo 31. It is important that the resulting loops are identical.

Then, carefully remove the loops from your hand, holding the rope to maintain its shape. Next, wrap the long end of the rope around the ball 3-4 times, forming the ball.

After this, the end of the rope is passed through the upper loops, thereby fixing them, and then pulled through the lower ones again.

Finally, the loops are carefully tightened, forming a ball. The end of the rope is tucked inside and secured with glue. Now the dog toy is ready.

Fleece bone for puppies

Not only adult dogs, but also puppies love to play. For a little one, you can make a cute fleece bone, decorating it with various patches or your pet's initials.

For sewing you will need:

• fleece in two or three shades as desired;
• synthetic padding as a filler;
• sewing accessories.

The first step is to create a pattern for the soft dog toy. You can find and download a bone-shaped template online or draw it by hand on a piece of cardboard, then attach it to the base material and carefully cut it out. You'll need two pieces.

Then, using a sewing machine, various elements are sewn onto the blanks. These can be geometric shapes, initials, or any other patterns. If you don't have a machine, you can sew them on by hand or apply hot glue to the very edges of the elements. You can also use fabric with a pre-made pattern.

Avoid leaving too many stitches behind the edges of the figures. Ridged edges will give the toy an untidy appearance. To make the stitching less noticeable, choose a thread that matches the fleece. When hand stitching, it's important to make small stitches and avoid leaving too many stitches behind.

After this, the pieces are placed together, decorated sides facing inward, and machine stitched. It's important to leave a hole approximately 3-4 cm wide in the center of the bone so that it can be turned inside out and stuffed with padding.

It's not recommended to fill the bone with cotton wool, as it will quickly form lumps. However, a toy stuffed with synthetic padding can be washed without any problems. However, don't stuff the toy too tightly. It should retain its airy texture.

Once all the work is completed, you can give the puppy the gift. He'll be delighted and will be able to not only play but also sleep on this comfortable bone. It's important not to leave him unattended for long periods of time, as he may tear the toy, and eating its filling is highly discouraged.

While you can buy a variety of wonderful toys at a pet store, your pet will appreciate having at least one made by its owner, as they put their heart and soul into it and took into account all of the dog's preferences.

Read also:

• DIY Dog Harness
• DIY dog bed
• How to build a dog house with your own hands?