How to Make Dog Toys

Most dog owners know that dogs will play with just about anything. Dog toys are simply constructed and can be made out of household items. Take a newer sock and tie a knot in it, and you have a tug of war toy. For a more glamorous one, braid a rope of fleece material and tie both ends. Place an old tennis ball in a sock, tie a knot in it and your dog will chase the toy all day or punch a hole in a tennis ball and insert a small metal bell into it. For a more attractive homemade toy, a sweater bone takes about an hour to make.

Things You'll Need

  • Black marker
  • 2 pieces of paper
  • Pins
  • Old machine washable sweater
  • Scissors
  • Thread
  • Needle
  • Sewing matching (optional)
  • Pack of squeaks from your local pet store
  • Stuffing
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Draw a bone shape on a piece of paper with a black marker. Make the bone drawing twice as large as you want the toy to be. Cover the drawing with the second piece of paper and trace an identical bone shape on the second paper.

    • 2

      Cut off the sleeves of an old sweater at the shoulder. Cut all the way down the seam of the sleeves so the tubes are opened into flat pieces of material. Lay the fabric onto a flat surface.

    • 3

      Pin the dog bone papers to the sleeves so that the whole bone shape fits on the sleeve. Place your pins along the inside of the bone outline shape. Align the pins to almost be touching to ensure a clean cutout.

    • 4

      Cut out the bone pattern from the sweater. Remove the pins and the pattern paper.

    • 5

      Place the two sweater bone shapes one on top of the other. Align them perfectly with the right sides of the fabric touching. You want the previous insides of the sweater facing out.

    • 6

      Pin the fabric pieces together, placing your pins as far to the outer edge as possible. Leave one end of the bone unpinned. You have to stuff the bone from the open end of the bone.

    • 7

      Sew the fabric together using a sewing machine or stitch by hand. To stitch by hand, make one stitch through both pieces of fabric and let the end of the thread dangle by an inch. Put the needle back through the fabric and tie the thread securely. Making a knot at the end of the thread would simply go through the sweater fabric and not catch.

    • 8

      Use small stitches as you sew all along the insides of the pins on the bone shape. Leave 1/2 inch between stitches and the outside edges of the bone. Do not sew the open end of the bone, because you need this hole to stuff the bone.

    • 9

      Stitch the entire bone a second time to ensure the seam is secure. Stitch directly over the previous stitches filling in any gaps. Every time you use a new piece of thread, be sure to tie it securely.

    • 10

      Turn your bone right side out. Place a small amount of stuffing in the bottom. Place more stuffing on either side of one of the squeakers, and put this in the bottom end of the bone.

    • 11

      Stuff the length of the bone next. When you get to the other end of the bone, place stuffing on either side of another squeaker and place it inside the bone. Fill your bone with stuffing the rest of the way.

    • 12

      To stitch the bone closed, first fold the opened edges of the fabric inside the bone. Pin this end of the bone closed. Stitch the end closed as far to the outside edges of the fabric as possible.