How to Make Dog Clothes & Toys

As the economy changes and vet bills, dog food and dog toys become more expensive, the cost of owning a pet goes up each year. Save money and offer your dog the clothing and toys she needs by creating them at home. Suit dog clothes to the natural shape of your dog and cut them differently from human clothes. Dog toys should offer your dog a puzzle or something to chase or chew.

Things You'll Need

  • Thick rope
  • Old dog bone
  • Peanut butter
  • Old sock
  • Dog treats
  • Small jingle bells
  • Old tennis ball
  • Sewing needle and thread
  • Tape measure
  • Fabric of your choice
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Instructions

  1. Toys

    • 1

      Take a piece of rope and tie a knot in the middle. Add a knot on each end. Use this rope to play tug-of-war with your dog, allowing her to grab the toy and try to capture it from you.

    • 2

      Take your dog's old bones and fill the inside of the bone with peanut butter. Entertain your dog by allowing them to lick the tasty treat from the hard exterior and offer a puzzle as she decides how to best get at the peanut butter in the hollows of the bone.

    • 3

      Poke a very small hole in a tennis ball and put metal balls that jingle into the hole. Once they're inside, use a needle and thread to close the hole. Throw this ball for your dog and dazzle her with a new sound.

    • 4

      Sprinkle dog treats into an old sock and then either knot the end or sew it closed. After your dog realizes the treats are in the sock, let him figure out how to best retrieve the treats from the sealed sock.

    Dog Clothes

    • 5

      Measure your dog with a tape measure as you would measure a person. Pay special attention to the way their legs extend from their torso; human arms splay out to the sides, but dog legs go straight down. Measure the width of your dog (around her rib cage at its widest part) and your dog's length from her neck to the base of her tail.

    • 6

      Select a fabric of your choice, fleece for winter, for example, and a lightweight but durable fabric for warm months. Purchase as many yards of your fabric as necessary based on your measurements; for a small dog, a yard of fabric is enough.

    • 7

      Follow the instructions on a pattern; see Sweet Lucy's Boutique for patterns in "Resources." Create your own simple pattern if you don't find one you like.

    • 8

      Use a heavy thread and double-stitch seams. When your dog plays, she's likely to tear out the stitches if they aren't carefully placed and securely sewn.

    • 9

      Follow the instructions on the pattern to sew the garment. Start by creating the largest piece--the one that will cover the dog's torso, for example--then add on any sleeves or other large sections of the outfit. Once you're done, add bows or other decorations.

    • 10

      Try a piece of test clothing on your pet to see if it fits. If it doesn't, note on the pattern the size variation to compensate when making your next garment.