Cheap or Affordable Dog Toys

The problem with most dog toys is that they don't last as long you want them to. Well, that doesn't have to be. I'm going to give you my ideas for dog toys. They're cheap to make or buy and don't take very long to make.

The first one I've found my two pups enjoy a lot. Make a trip to the dollar store and buy some Tennis balls and the hardware store to buy some soft cotton rope. Cut a hole in 2 sides of the tennis ball and thread the rope through. Tie on each side or tie in a loop.

You can also make a rope toy out of a milk jug. Glue the lid on the jug so the dogs don't chew get it off and choke on it. I've heard some people put pebbles in to attract their dogs to the toy - I don't. Now take a couple feet of rope, thread it through the handle and tie tightly. Tie a knot at the other end of the rope and give it to the dogs to play with, Your dogs will have a blast dragging this thing around the yard, tossing it in the air and playing fetch with you or playing tug-of-war with the other dogs.

Have extra rope? Take about 2 or 3 feet of rope and tie a hard double knot in the centre. As the dog plays with it the rope will unravel to the knot and be a fuzzy toy. You can take a longer strand of rope and tie a knot in each end for tug of war. My dogs love getting on each end and pulling back and forth.

I use smaller soft rope for my Bischon and larger soft rope for my husky.

After Christmas I go to stores like Walmart and pick the dog stocking up for 50% to 75% off. I keep stuffed dog toys I've purchased after Christmas for really cheap indoors for my little dog - she doesn't tear them apart and leave bits all over the yard like the husky does. I put the bones and rubber toys from the stockings outside for play outdoors. Other cheap ways to get toys for your dogs are garage sales, dollar stores, thrift stores. Its not a big deal if the toys are a bit worn or stained there going to be dog drool and tears in the fabric added fairly soon anyways. Be sure to remove any plastic eyes, buttons, ribbons and loose strings before giving the stuffed toys to your pet.

If you are extra cheap like myself and don't mind a bit of sewing you can take old clothing and make it into stuffed toys. I've made bone shaped toys and round stuffed Frisbees for my dogs. Its cheap and its recycling. I also take the time to sit with a needle and thread once in a while and sew up the seams and rips on toys my dogs really enjoy. I toss them in the washer and tuck them away. I keep about 4 "Sets" that I wash up and store and change the toys every two weeks. That way they stay interesting to the dogs.

I find that the rope toys last the longest. Jugs and Tennis balls always seem to end up in the field where the tractors run over them. Stuffed toys last a couple days at the most with my husky - weeks to months with my smaller dog. By getting the toys from sources other than pet stores I find I'm not cringing when they get wrecked - knowing that i didn't pay 20 dollars for that stuffed animal that was just torn to shreds. I hope these suggestions and ideas help out.