Just about every dog lover who has given their dog stuffed animals know just how much stuffing an animal holds...way more than you have the time or energy to pick up. Sure, not every dog will de-stuff their toys but the families of Destructo-Dogs out there know that the job of picking up stuffing is a tough one, especially when the toys are in the yard and the stuffing creates a snow-like effect, strewn over grass, snagged on the bark of trees, and blowing like white tumbleweeds.
(Dogs have a practical reason for unstuffing their toys; females need to be able to teach puppies the skill of ripping fur and pulling off meat. While you might not mind picking up after this practice session sometimes, at other times you might want to give your dog a toy and not have to plan for a cleanup time later.)
There's an easy solution, though: de-stuff the toys before you ever give them to your dog. We scour local thrift stores for inexpensive used toys (anywhere from 25 cents to $1). While we previously looked for very durable material that might prevent our dogs from ripping into the fabric for a while, with de-stuffed toys, we can opt for soft chenille bears like the one above.
First, cut out all plastic parts such as eyes and the nose. These can cause real problems if your dog pulls them out and swallows or chews them (most have sharp backs).
Using the opening you've creating when cutting out the eyes and nose, start reaching in and pulling out the stuffing. Turn the arms and legs inside out and grab all the stuffing. Pay special attention to make sure the toy doesn't have micro plastic beads (they're used to weigh down dolls so they'll "sit up." Toss them all.)
When you've pulled out all the stuffing, you can insert some replacement squeakers in the toy; these plastic squeaking bladders cost as little as 50 cents each. If you want to anchor the squeaker in an arm or leg of the toy, just sew a quick stitch above the squeaker. (We put squeakers in the "indoor toys" or ones we'll be supervising the dogs' use of; we leave out the squeakers for toys they'll play with on their own in the yard.)
Finally, sew up the opening you cut to remove the eyes then the stuffing. No need for anything fancy, just some quick stitches...and your done! Your dog has a new toy, you've got a pile of stuffing you can use for another project, and you've saved yourself a big pickup job!
Making a Dog Crinkle Toy from a Water Bottle, Golf Head Cover
Looking for a cheap dog toy using recycled materials? In just a few minutes, you can make your dog a crinkle chew toy from an empty water bottle and a golf club head cover. (No golf club covers in the house? We snagged some for $1 each at the local thrift store. Ours are made out of a heavy plush material that's perfect for chewing.)
To make your dog's crinkle toy, throw away the cap from the empty water bottle. Insert the water bottle into the golf head cover then sew up the top. That's it! (Don't worry about sewing perfectly; we whip-stitched the opening by hand. If you'd like to get fancy, you can sew in Velcro so you can change out the water bottle when it gets overchewed.)
Some other options besides golf head covers are heavy Christmas stockings, wine bottle fabric gift bags, and thick knee socks!
Does your dog go through toys within a matter of days? It seems like you just bought a new one last week, and already it's torn to shreds or buried somewhere in the yard. And dog toys are not cheap, especially the kind made from natural or organic materials. So why bother to buy those healthy, but expensive, dog toys when they're likely to only last a week or two?
The answer lies in just how your dog plays with that toy: with his mouth. Like a perpetual toddler, all of his toys go into his mouth at some point.
If he's a retriever type of dog, he'll carry the toy around for weeks or months, drooling all the way. If he's a terrier type of dog, you know he will chew on it and shake it around until it's ripped to shreds. And of course, part of it gets eaten along the way.
It's just that slobbering and chewing that makes the organic toy worth its price tag. After all, would you let your toddler chew on toxic toys? Of course not. Then it's time to look for dog toys made of safe materials as well.
For a retriever, organic cotton Frisbees or soft toys will be safe for him to carry around in his mouth for months.
For a chewer, buy organic cotton or hemp knotted rope toys. He'll play with it as long as it lasts and you'll have the peace of mind knowing that the toy in his mouth isn't made from toxic materials.
Dogs are tough on chew toys and some breeds, such as Labs, are notoriously rough on them. Rather than purchase inexpensive chew toys, it pays to invest in heavy duty chew toys that will last.
We like Kong toys which come in different durability levels and can be stuffed with treats to create a challenge for your dog (and keep him busy for a few hours). The red Kong toys are good for ordinary chewers and the black toys are for extreme chewers; there's even a puppy version available as well.
Although more expensive than lighter duty chew toys, these heavy duty toys will last months (or years) and, in the end, will be more economical...and ecological since you won't be tossing torn chew toys into landfills.
Stuffed dog toys have a pretty short lifespan around our house. If you are keeping an eye on the budget (and who isn't these days?!), check out your local thrift store for stuffed animals. You'll find a huge assortment at most stores and prices that start as low as 25 cents. Another good source of potential dog toys? Garage sales. In either case, make sure the toys have no parts (especially eyes) that your dog could chew off.
When you've pulled out all the stuffing, you can insert some replacement squeakers
in the toy; these plastic squeaking bladders cost as little as 50 cents each. If you want to anchor the squeaker in an arm or leg of the toy, just sew a quick stitch above the squeaker. (We put squeakers in the "indoor toys" or ones we'll be supervising the dogs' use of; we leave out the squeakers for toys they'll play with on their own in the yard.)
