DIY Dog Toy Knot Cube

A great way to keep a dog busy, and satisfy his urge to chew, is by giving it a knot cube. Knot cubes are safe knotted toys in which you stuff treats and the dog figures out how to get to them. You can make one yourself with just a few rubber doggie bones and a clothesline.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 rubber dog bones
  • 30 feet of clothesline
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut nine 30-inch strands from a clothesline. Line up three strands evenly from top to bottom. Take one end of the group and fold all three ends over together about 2 inches. Pinch the ends and the length together between your thumb and index finger. Pull about 2 inches of the loose length of the strands through the loop and pull the short ends to tighten.

    • 2

      Start braiding the rope from the loop you created for about 5 inches. Fold the loose ends over about 2 inches, twist to cross and pull about 2 inches of the length through to make another loop. Tug the braided end gently to tighten the knot. Continue braiding for another 5 inches, make another loop, braid 5 inches again, loop and tie a knot at the end. You should now have a braid with three loops and a knotted end.

    • 3

      Take your other two groups of three strands of rope and repeat Steps 1 and 2. Lay all three looped and braided ropes flat and make sure that they are all the same length and the loops line up evenly. Slide one rubber dog bone through the first loop on each braid. Continue connecting the braids with the remaining dog toys by pushing them through the loops.

    • 4

      Cut the leftover clothesline into three even strands. Knot all three strands together at one end. Braid the strands from the knotted end, through the length and knot again at the end. Bring each end of the looped braids -- with the dog toys -- together to close it. Poke the crochet hook through the knotted end of the top braid, and then through one end of the loose braid. Pull the loose braid all the way through.

    • 5

      Wrap the loose braid around the top of the dog bone twice. Poke the crochet hook back through the the top braid and pull the loose braid through it again. Repeat this step on the second and third rows until you have secured the braids and bones together. You should have a knotted box shape with two opposing open ends, and a tail of loose braid hanging from it.

    • 6

      Pull the loose braid across the an open end of the gradually forming cube. Poke the crochet needle through the top braid on the opposing end, hook it onto the loose braid and pull it through. Then pull the braid across again in the opposite direction and pull it through the opposite braid with the crochet hook. Continue this procedure several times around the entire cube ensuring that the loose braid always crosses the looped braids. Tie a knot in the loose braid when you have exhausted the length.