You Can Change the Cycle
If you have ever watched your dog light up over a new toy, racing around in joy, only to find the toy ripped to shreds a mere hour later, you understand the struggle! My puppy used to rip apart new toys in record time, leaving only a squeaker and bits of fabric as evidence. This issue is common among dog owners but it’s part of a much bigger issue: around 634 million dog toys end up in landfills every year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Luckily for us, dog toys are among the easiest things to DIY at home! They can be made from materials you already have or are planning to throw away, and dog toys don’t have to look perfect. I promise, your dog will not judge your maker abilities.
I got the idea to make dog toys at home after confiscating the hundredth squeaker that my puppy had ripped out of her new toy. Since it was still in perfect condition, I decided I would make a new toy to put the squeaker in using some old ripped jeans.
A Second Life for Any Piece
To create the toy, I used chalk to draw the shape of a toy bone on the cuff of the jean and cut two layers out. Then I sewed almost all the way around, leaving a small gap to add stuffing and a little tag with my pup’s (an unnecessary, but fun, step). I filled the fabric with fabric scraps and some stuffing and then finished sewing it closed. My puppy was overjoyed with her new toy!
If you want to try making a dog toy like this at home, there are a few things to do to make it last as long as possible. The first is choosing durable fabrics like jean or canvas. If you are worried you don’t have enough durable fabric lying around, you can layer fabrics to create a heartier toy. I would also recommend changing the stitch on your sewing machine. Depending on what machine you are working with, there can be 10 to 50 different stitches! Try using a stitch like the triple straight stitch, which reinforces each pass of the needle.
Sewing stuffed toys is just one of many ways to make dog toys at home. Another one that I have tried is the old T-Shirt method. I’m pretty sure everyone has a stash of old T-shirts from random events or volunteering. Now you can put them to good use! I usually cut the shirt into long skinny strips and braid them together. You can make a giant braid or a few small ones and then knot them together and you have a dog toy! You can use other materials to knot together like rope or fleece.
So next time you rip a pair of jeans or think about tossing an old T-shirt, consider giving it a second life as a dog toy. Your pup will love it, and you’ll feel good knowing you saved money and kept something out of the trash. It’s a win-win!