Keeping your dog physically and mentally stimulated is great for their health. Dog toys play a big part in keeping your dog active and occupied.
If your dog tends to chew through toys in record time you may want to learn how to make your own to save yourself some money.
So many people have some great hacks and do-it-yourself projects for keeping their dog’s amused.
We wanted to round up a list of the best DIY dog toys we have found from around the web.
Many of these toys can be made by recycling stuff from around your house. Some are easy to make with very few supplies needed.
Others will take a bit of work and some specialized tools. We have tried to list the necessary supplies for each project so you can decide whether to click through to the instructions.
It is important to remember that with all toys, purchased or homemade, you should supervise your dog as much as possible for your dog’s safety.
If they start to break apart into small harmful pieces you should take them away from your dog.
Easy DIY Dog Toys
Looking for something quick and easy to make for your energetic dog? Try these easy DIY dog toys that won’t cost you a lot of time or money.
Easy DIY Dog Toy: The Braid by DogVacay Turn an old T-shirt or two into a braided rope you and your dog can use to play tug-o-war or fetch. What you need: A couple of old cotton shirts, Scissors, and a tape measure.
DIY ball & tug dog toy by SheKnows Combine the tennis ball and the braid and you get this great dog toy that can be used for fetch or tug games with your dog. What you need: an old T-shirt, a Tennis ball, and scissors.
Tennis Ball Toy by SimplyShellie This is a great combination of the braid and tennis ball that makes a great fetch or tug toy. What you need: an old T-shirt braid and a tennis ball.
Water bottle in a sock by PetGuide: Put an empty water bottle in a sock and tie the top closed. It makes a crinkle noise your dog will love. What you need: empty water bottle and a sock.
Squeaky Doggie Bone by Laura Griffin This one requires a bit of sewing but your dog will love the squeaky sound it makes when squeezed. What you need: PDF pattern (provided on site), 1/4 yd heavy-weight fabric with coordinating thread, sewing machine, cotton scraps for chew ties, embroidery floss, and a needle.
$2 Dog Toy “Fishing Pole” by Instructables An easy to make interactive toy that is fun to play with your dog. What you need: about 2ft 1/2″ (or smaller) PVC pipe, about 6 ft nylon paracord, a doy toy, scissors, and a drill.
Homemade Dog Chew Toys for Aggressive Chewers
Many puppies and dogs can be aggressive chewers and destroy their toys in seconds. It can end up costing you a small fortune if you have to keep buying your dog a new toy every week. These homemade dog toys are simple but sturdy and should last your dog a bit longer than plastic toys.
Simple DIY No-Sew Denim Dog Toy by Country Living. As advertised, this is a very simple dog toy that is just denim tied in a knot. It makes a pretty sturdy chew toy for your dog. What you need: old denim jeans and scissors.
Rope Toys for Heavy Chewers by Instructables These rope toys don’t need much to make but will last longer than some of the commercial rope toys you can buy. What you need: rope and zip ties.
Ring Dog Toy by Instructables This is similar to the one above but in a ring shape.
DIY Dog Mental Stimulation Toys
Mentally stimulating your dog can seem like a challenge if you don’t want to buy expensive puzzle toys and games. Here are a few games and toys that you can make yourself with stuff from around the house.
Muffin Tin Treat Game by YesMissy A great game for mental stimulation and to train your dog’s sense of smell. What you need: a muffin tin, some dog treats, and 12 Tennis balls.
DIY Tennis Ball and Treats Dog Toy by BorrowMyDoggy Cut a slit in a tennis ball, pop a couple of treats in, and give it to your dog to figure out how to get the treats out. What you need: tennis balls, a cutting tool, and treats.
Rope Ball Surprise Dog Toy by HandsOccupied This is a puzzle style toy that hides a treat inside layers of rope tied in knots. Your dog needs to figure out how to get to the treat. What you need: 105 inches (8.75 yd) of 1 inch-thick cotton rope, scissors or knife, dog treats, and 2 twist ties.
Interactive Dog Toy From Old Containers by Kikopup (video) This is an easy to make toy made from recycled containers. What you need: old plastic container with lid and treats.
Interactive Spin Bottle Toy by Instructables This one takes putting treats into plastic bottles to a new level and can keep your dog amused for hours. What you need: old plastic bottles, scrap wood, a dowel rod, screws, a drill, a tape measure, and treats to put inside.
Dog Toy Catapult by Instructables If your arms tend to get sore playing catch with your dog then you need to make this catapult to get the job done. A bit more challenging for some but give it a go. What you need: a 10 by 7 inch wood board, two 2 by 6 inch wooden boards, some screws, a drill, one giant long nail, a handful of rubber bands (preferably medium to big sized), a clear box’s lid (smallish), a giant spoon or scooper, and a dog toy.
Recommended Reading: How to Tell if Your Dog Needs More Mental Stimulation
DIY Physical Exercise Toys
Does your dog need some extra incentive to get more physical exercise? Or you may be looking for a way to get in the exercise without leaving the house or yard. These homemade projects may take a bit more effort on your part but your dog will love them.
The Flirt Pole by NotesFromADogWalker A great physical and mental challenge for your dog. This gives your dog a good workout with little effort from you. What you need: a 4-6 foot long 3/4″ PVC pipe, 10-15 feet of rope, and a dog toy (this can be one of the easy DIY dog toys like the braid or tennis ball sock).
The Launchable Dog Slingshot Ball by Instructables This slingshot can launch a ball over 300 feet for a great game of fetch with your dog. What you need: 2 feet of surgical tubing, a rubber ball, a coathanger or wire, and a drill.
DIY Agility Jump by Gone to the Snow Dogs There is a little more work involved in this one, but if you have the skills and time it will pay off. The first step towards making your own agility course is a good jump. What you need for this one is some PVC pipe and fittings, jump cup strips, a pipe cutter, marker, and measuring tape.
Recommended Reading: The Best Ways to Exercise Your Dog
DIY Indestructible Dog Toys
While it is impossible to say that any toy (or anything else for that matter) is completely indestructible to dogs, these DIY projects are designed for rough play.
Interactive Feeder Toy by Dogtipper This feeder toy made from PVC pipe looks like it is pretty indestructible. A few holes and some treats and it will keep your dog entertained for a while. What you need: a 3-foot length of 1-1/4-inch PVC pipe, 8 1-1/4-inch PVC caps, PVC cement (optional), tools – a drill, a 1/2-inch drill bit, sandpaper, a rat-tail file (or you could wrap sandpaper around a screwdriver), and a vise (optional).
“Indestructible” Dog Chew Toy by Instructables While possibly not completely indestructible for really heavy chewers, this rope and dried sweet potato chew toy should last longer than many others. What you need: Hemp or jute rope, sweet potatoes or yams, sheet pan and parchment or foil, a sharp knife, a round cookie cutter a bit larger than the diameter of your rope, a vegetable peeler (optional).
DIY Dog Toy Box for Storage
Now that you have all these toys for your dog, you need somewhere to store them. Here are a couple of ideas for a homemade dog toy box to keep everything tidy. You can even teach your dog to put away his own toys. Find out how in our epic list of dog commands.
DIY Dog Toy Box by DogMomDays uses a recycled wooden crate to make a cute toy box for your dog’s things. What you need: wooden crate, decorative wooden emblems, paint brushes and paint, wood glue, plastic cups, newspaper, and sandpaper.
Super Easy Dog Toy Bin by A Home to Grow Old In is another variation on the recycled wooden crate. Put your own spin on it to personalize it for your dog. What you need: wood crate, sandpaper, wood filler, paint, drawer pulls (similar), and vinyl letters or decals.
Wood Bone-Shaped Dog Toy Box by Pinspiration Mommy This one is for the woodworker in the family and has a bit of character. What you need: wood and woodworking tools required.
Or, if all this seems too hard, you could just buy yourself a cheap canvas box and decorate it yourself.
Recommended Reading: The Best Interactive Dog Toys to Keep Your Dog Entertained
Get creative and make your own dog toys to keep your pup entertained and save yourself some money.
