How to Make Doggie Bows

Dressing up your dog, especially small and toy breeds, is something many people choose to do as a way to express creativity and a doggie-style fashion sense. For breeds such as Shih Tzu and Yorkshire terrier, wearing a bow placed prominently at the top of the head helps showcase the fact the dog is a female. Making your own dog bows is one way to save on costs and create a style suitable for your needs.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber bands or barrettes
  • Ribbon
  • Glue and hot glue gun
  • Scissors
  • String
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the length of the dog's hair and decide if enough hair exists to wind a rubber band around or whether a barrette will work better. Use a rubber band holder for short hair and opt for a barrette if the dog has thin hair.

    • 2

      Create the bow by using 8 to 12 inches of ribbon. If you want a fuller looking bow, use ribbon with wire edges to help shape the bow. Lay the ribbon out flat. Place a dime size drop of hot glue on one end of the ribbon and fold over to form a circle. Pinch the circle in the center and add another dime size drop of glue to the inside of the center, press down. Repeat the process between all glue points to make a looped bow. Allow to dry. Alternatively, tie a simple bow with ribbon, in which case glue is not required.

    • 3

      Attach the bow to a rubber band by winding string around the center of the bow to secure the bow to the band. Finish by double knotting on the underside of the rubber band. To attach to a barrette, use a dime size drop of hot glue on the flat surface of the barrette and press the bow to the barrette. Allow the glue to dry.