How to Make Your Own Nondestructive Interactive Dog Toys

Interactive dog toys fall into two categories -- toys that encourage dogs to play with their owners or other dogs, and toys that provide feedback or rewards when dogs play with them. Both help to burn off nervous energy and the latter are excellent toys for dogs with separation anxiety because they keep a dog's mind occupied. Unfortunately, many dog toys are destructive and encourage dogs to chew holes and leave large messes. With a few simple tools, though, you can make nondestructive interactive toys for a fraction of the price of store-bought toys.

Things You'll Need

  • Drill
  • Oversized tennis ball
  • Rope
  • Dog treats
  • Small plastic containers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place dog treats on the floor throughout your house and turn several small plastic containers upside down on top of them. This is an excellent game for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety because they will search for treats and work hard to turn the containers over all day. Do not use this toy with teething puppies or dogs who chew excessively.

    • 2

      Tie knots in a rope and use it as a tug of war toy. Try tying several ropes together for a more elaborate tug toy that allows several dogs to play at once. This is an excellent toy for dogs who tend to chew on traditional toys because they will be unlikely to chew apart rope.

    • 3

      Drill a hole in one side of a tennis ball. Larger tennis balls work best because they eliminate choking hazards. Place dog treats in the hole. Your dog will spend several hours rolling the ball around trying to get the toys out. Larger holes make the game easier, while smaller holes make the game more difficult. For a more interesting game, drill several small holes in the ball and place smaller pieces of treats in each hole.

    • 4

      Drill a hole all the way through a tennis ball, from one side to the other. Thread a rope through the tennis ball and tie the rope on either side of the tennis ball. This turns the rope into a tug of war toy that you can also use for games of fetch.