Dog Toys

Dog toys have become a very lucrative industry for pet suppliers. There are some that are very reasonably priced while others can cost up to $15. And it is a little known fact that those cute little bears for Bowser will actually teach him that all bears are fair game…much to the chagrin of your children, should you have any.

Dogs don’t care what the toy looks like, just as long as it is chewable, throwable and destroyable. So why spend “mucho dinero” on commercial dog toys when you can make just as fun ones at home? Shaker A common arts and crafts project in junior school, this toy will provide a great many hours (or minutes depending on your dogs penchant for destruction) of fun.

Take a toilet paper or paper towel roll, fill it up with dried peas, seal both ends with masking tape and hand it over to the hound. The dog will go crazy for the sound it makes and her curiosity will be piqued by what’s making the sound. Of course, once the dog manages to chew through the roll there may be some disappointment when your dog discovers that her fun shaker toy is filled with dried peas instead of yummy treats.

However, if you dog likes vegetables, she may be considerate enough to clean the mess up for you or, alternatively, you can fill the shaker with some kibble to ensure the mess is kept to a minimum.

Frisbee

Traditional hard plastic Frisbees are very hard on a dog’s mouth and for this reason alone, you should look for a Frisbee made from alternative material for your dog to play catch with. But if you go to the pet store you may be shocked to see that rope Frisbees are over $10. This is a bit ridiculous considering you can make one for less than $2. How? Take a trip to the hardware store and buy a foot of thick braided cotton rope. When you get it home, attach the two ends with either a couple of stitches or a dab of hot glue. And there you have it - a rope Frisbee at less than half the price of a store bought one.

Tug of War

Another use for your hardware cotton rope is to use it for tug of war. Again, when you go to look for this type of toy in the pet stores, you will find that they are a bit pricey. But by buying at the hardware store, you can save big. Anyway, once you have your foot or foot and a half length of rope home, tie a knot at both ends and get ready to use your muscles because your dog will be on the other end of that rope so fast you may not know what hit you.