Frugal Dog Toy Idea

1.       Find a used plastic container (this picture is of a plastic container of prunes) and wash thoroughly and dry.

2.    Cut rectangular openings in the container that are slightly larger than the size of your dog’s food. You can make more or less holes/bigger or smaller based on how difficult of a challenge you want your dog to have. Be careful not to make it too challenging, as some dogs may just give up, or stop knocking it around and start chewing it only.

3.       Put the dog food in the container and give to your dog.

Typically, his dog will spend about 45 minutes to an hour knocking the container around trying to get the food to fall out of the hole.  There are other benefits to this besides entertainment. This also helps dogs slow down while eating which may not be a problem for all dogs, but some tend to eat too fast, and upset their stomach.  Also, as his zookeeper wife informed us, when an animal has to work for their food, it is more rewarding to the animal. This is considered good enrichment for the animal, and stimulates them mentally and physically.

How much do you save doing this?

Before he started making these toys, he was spending $20 on a fancier heavy duty plastic version of this.  The plastic version is nice, but sometimes was too challenging, and his dog would just sit and chew it. He went through two of these toys in a year. So, he spent $40 in a year on plastic that ended up going in the garbage. Now, he makes these toys, and even if the does chew through them, they were going to be in the garbage anyways.

Other containers that make good toys:

·         Milk cartons (rinse thoroughly or it will smell in a few days)

·         Empty vegetable oil containers.

·         Anything plastic.

Thanks, Tony and Kristy, for your suggestions and tips!