Simple Snuffle-Mat: Grab an old towel and some treats. To begin, lay the towel on the floor and scatter some treats across it. Then, fold, roll, or knot the towel to contain the treats, creating a challenging puzzle that rewards them for their efforts. This also works well with their kibble to slow down dogs who inhale their meals. Check the internet for images of various towel-folding techniques to increase difficulty. Generally, the looser the roll, and the bigger the treats, the easier the game. To increase the challenge, use smaller treats and a tighter towel wrap. For the super motivated, you can even tie a cord or strip of cloth around the towel roll to add to the excitement. If you are crafty and have some extra time, you can make more elaborate snuffle mats using a rubber pad and a yard of fleece. See the Animal Humane Society web page for directions. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/how-make-snuffle-mat#:~:text=One%20yard%20of%20fleece%20fabric,at%20least%20two%20different%20colors.)
Squeaker Toys: If your dog loves squeaker toys, as my dog does, and you appreciate frugality, then I have four words for you. Dog Toy Squeaker Replacement. Over the years, I have spent unmentionable amounts of money on soft toys (stuffed and unstuffed) for my dogs to joyfully destroy. The torn carcass is usually collateral damage, resulting from the dog’s innate desire to dig out the squeakers while producing that hapless sound associated with a fading wild animal. At last check, one could purchase 50 squeakers online for less than ten dollars. These can be stitched back inside previously ravaged stuffed pet toys for pennies on the dollar. Another option is to throw a couple of squeakers into a partnerless sock and securely tie off the end. If your dog is anything like mine, they likely won’t notice or care that their new ‘squeaky toy’ is missing eyes and fur. If your furry pal prefers the stuffed version of the ‘squeaky toy’, you can purchase a bag of fluff at your local hobby or discount store.
Crinkly Toys: Create fun and entertaining toys using empty water bottles. Construct a “crinkly” toy using an empty water bottle in an old sock. Another use for discarded water bottles is to create a simple rolling treat dispenser. To craft this, remove the label from the water bottle and discard the cap. Place small treats or kibble inside, then let your pup roll it around the floor to release the treats. Using soft treats makes it easier to adjust their size by cutting them smaller as needed.
Tug Toy: Craft a quick and easy tug toy using an old T-shirt and a pair of scissors. Begin by cutting off the sleeves. Next, cut the material into strips and braid them together. Tie a knot at each end to prevent unraveling. Enjoy playing tug-of-war or fetch with your furry friend
Puzzle Toy: Fashion a puzzle using an old muffin tin and a few tennis balls. Place a few small treats in some of the muffin tin holders. Cover treat-filled and empty cup holders with tennis balls. Allow your pooch to sniff out the treats and remove the tennis balls to access a yummy snack. At the beginning, you may want to swap out the tennis balls for something lighter (like wadded-up paper balls) to cover the treats until your pup gets the hang of it.
