5 ways to recycle household items to make durable DIY dog toys
Skip wasting money on pet toys that won't last past a week with hard-chewing dogs
The polyurethane foam toys inside of the library box caught my attention as I walked by. I opened the little house’s door, picking up one of the squishy cupcakes and saw my dogs’ eyes fixate on it. I reached my hand in again and pulled out a large foam tooth. Then, my Hound mix’s eyes really lit up. Plush toys and dog toys made of soft rubber and gel don’t stand a chance against the teeth of my unemployed, four-legged roommate. And these toys were no different. The first two were torn into confetti within minutes of us arriving at home.
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I immediately scooped up the pieces and threw them in the trash. My dog, horrified that I messed up her dog bed decor, took her time with the third toy. She let it be for a few hours, waited until I walked into the kitchen to wash dishes, and I came back to see hot pink chickpea-sized pieces all over my laminate floor. I just shook my head and grabbed a dustpan, happy I didn’t pay for these foam toys.
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In our current economy where tariffs are making everyday items into bonkers pricing, I have very little interest in buying pet toys that aren’t durable and won’t last as long as the hard rubber toys already owns and hasn’t destroyed — yet. I’m especially proud of the two lime green batons that she struts around with like a majorette. (She got those when she was a puppy.)
And although she has a habit of rolling balls underneath my couches, she’s pretty good with durable rubber dog balls too.
Recommended Read: “Puppy playdate: 16 best dog balls ~ The pet shopping trip you didn't know you needed to take”
But would it be a better economical decision to see what’s already in your home in order to make do-it-yourself pet toys instead of buying new ones? For consumers who prefer sustainable living, knowing exactly what is in the dog toys not only can make a dog owner more comfortable with allowing their dogs to chew on the material but also make sure that junk plastic doesn’t end up in a landfill.
Need ideas for DIY dog toys? Here are five suggestions for sustainable DIY dog toys.
Got a plastic water bottle?
If you’re confused about what those numbers on the bottom of plastic containers mean and which ones are recyclable or not, here’s a better way to use that same soft water container that’ll keep your dog busy for hours (or days). (And if you’re like me and never buy plastic water bottles, ask your neighbors or family members who are pro-plastic to save theirs.)