If you have an active dog at home, you know that they can get bored just like the rest of us! Thankfully, with these clever dog toy DIYs from the folks at Rover.com, you’ll have the ideas you need to keep your dog entertained any day of the week. Keep them handy for your dog’s next rainy day indoors, long family road trip, or anytime you’d like to cut down on your toy budget and try the homemade route instead.
Boredom-Busting Braid
For this one, you can use just about any material you have around the house, like an old t-shirt, jeans, or kitchen towel. Cut your material into three long strips, knot off one end, then braid the strands together and tie off the other end. You can even soak the braid in chicken stock and pop it in the freezer to create an even tastier (and tougher) chewing session. Have 2+ dogs? Tie a few braids together to create a tug toy everyone can enjoy.
Sock It to Me
If your dog goes crazy for crinkly sounds, they’ll love this one—and it’s a great way to use a lonesome sock that’s lost its pair. Throw some kibble into an empty plastic water bottle, then put the water bottle inside the sock, tie a knot at the top and watch the crunchy enjoyment commence. Be sure to watch your dog carefully with this one, and switch out the toy before the sock or plastic bottle get too destroyed and leads to small plastic parts or sharp edges.
Muffin Tin Puzzler
This puzzle challenges your dog to work around obstacles and get rewarded. Place a muffin tin upside down on the floor. Sprinkle treats between the muffin cups, then watch as your dog works from every angle to get to the treats. For a twist, flip the tin over and place treats in a few of the muffin cups. Cover up some or all of the cups with tennis balls or toys, and then let your dog engage in an entertaining game of treat hide-and-seek.
Tennis Treat Ball
All you need for this one is a tennis ball, a sharp knife and some of your dog’s favorite treats—the smellier and crunchier, the better! Cut a slit in the rubber of the ball, slip a few treats inside and hand it over to your dog and watch them go to work!