Want to create easy to make dog toys that your pooch will love? It's simple! With some materials that you can find around your house or buy in the craft store, you can make dog toys that will provide your furry friend with hours of entertainment – and you don't have to be Martha Stewart to do it.

We all want our dogs to have the best dog toys, but have you ever felt that those expensive pet store toys just don't hold up to your little Buddy's gnawing, tugging, biting and chewing?

What fun is it to buy your dog a toy, only to find scraps of fuzz and bits of plastic scattered around the house a couple of days later?

Fortunately, dogs don't care about the cost of a gift or whether it was bought at a chic doggy boutique. All they care about is whether they can have fun with it! With the easy-to-make dog toys below, you will definitely be a hero in your pooch's eyes!

Safety First

When making your own dog toys, be sure to follow these safety tips:

• Be sure the toy is durable enough to stand up to your dog's chewing strength and level of play.
• Be sure that any squeakers are safely concealed within the toy.
• Avoid squeakers and stuffing altogether if your dog likes to rip apart his toys.
• Steer clear of using any choking hazards in your toys, such as string, ribbons or buttons.
• Always supervise your dog to make sure he will not destroy the toy
• Be watchful for any torn, shredded or broken parts and remove the toy immediately if there are any.

"Sock Full 'o Balls"

1. Stuff 2 tennis balls into a large, clean gym sock.
2. Tie a knot in the sock just above the balls, so they are tightly secured in the foot of the sock.
3. For added amusement, use tennis balls with squeakers or bells inside.
4. Watch your dog have fun grabbing the sock and shaking the balls!

Simple Rope Toy

1. Begin with a sturdy piece of rope about 12" long.
2. Tie a knot at each end of the rope.
3. If you want to be eco-friendly, use hemp for the rope!

Simple and fun!

"Rope-a-Dope"

1. Choose a sturdy rope made of tightly braided material.
2. Wrap the rope around a tennis ball until the ball is fully encased in the rope, leaving a "tail" of about 16" of rope.
3. Loop the end of the rope and tie a sturdy not, creating a "handle" about 4" in diameter and leaving about 12" of rope between the tennis ball and the knot of the handle.

This makes a great tug toy!

Mama's Little Helper

1. Start with a nice, soft fabric, such as fleece, velour, crushed velvet or faux fur.
2. Choose the desired size of the toy, depending upon the size of your dog.
3. Cut the fabric into a two equal shapes (simple shapes such as a bone, heart or gingerbread man work well).
4. Sew the two shapes together, leaving an opening for stuffing.
5. Stuff with soft material and, if your dog will not rip the toy apart, include a squeaker.
6. Sew the remainder of the toy together.
7. If you know how, you can even embroider a message onto the toy, such as "love" or "fetch".

Voila! Your dog will have a soft, comforting toy to cuddle with when he's not cuddling with you!

You could also substitute a stronger fabric such as denim or canvas.

NOTE: This toy is not for strong chewers or dogs that like to rip their toys apart!

Tennis Ball Tug Toy

1. Drill a hole through a tennis ball.
2. Thread a rope about 12" long through the ball.
3. Tie the ends of the rope into a sturdy knot.

Great for "tug 'o war"!

If you want a great selection of fun fabrics for your easy to make dog toys, visit Fabric.com
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And if your dog loves more complex, "brain teaser" toys, be sure to check out our page on dog puzzle toys. We also have a list of special suggestions for site-impaired dogs on our toys for blind dogs page.

Source: The Happy Dog Spot