Shopping for Dog Toys

on a Shoestring

You don’t need to spend a fortune on dog toys. You can give your dogs a great playtime while keeping within your budget by keeping in mind some important tricks and tips.

For example, the best place to buy stuffed toys for dogs who love playing rough is those thrift stores that sell used stuff. You can’t tell dogs to take care of their stuffed toys or to make them last. So the next best thing is to give them something that doesn’t cost too much and that you can easily replace once they are torn apart. You can also check garage sales for used stuffed toys. Don’t bother to find fancy and dainty ones because your dog is going to tear them apart anyway. Texture matters though, so look for toys that are soft and are not abrasive. Also make sure the toy you choose does not have anything on it that your dog could accidently swallow or anything that will come apart into string.

You can also try to invest in a few good dog toys that you can keep in the house. But to prolong their lifespan, you can mix them up with cheaper ones as well, better still looking into making your own dog toys. Homemade dog toys can save you money. Rotate your dog’s toys so your pooch won’t get tired or bored with his or her toys. After a week or so, or when it looks like your dog had grown tired of its toys, bring out a new toy for your dog to play with.

There are lots of innovative ways to keep your dogs entertained. What is more important than providing it with toys is to make time for playing with your dog? There is nothing more enjoyable to your dog than spending a fun time with you. Play with you pet dog.

Homemade Ideas for Dog Toys

Some of the best dog toys—those that give dogs so much fun—are those that are right at home. And they are the cheaper ones, too, because they mostly use recycled materials that you would have thrown away.

Here is a great but simple idea to make a toss ball toy

For this project, you will need nine feet of rope and three tennis balls, either used or new. To assemble the toy, secure one of the tennis balls in a vice grip or clamp. Fit a large drill bit into your drill, and proceed to drill a hole through the center of the ball. Repeat the process on the other side of the ball, so the holes meet at the center. Insert one end of the rope through the hole and pull it out so that the ball is at the middle of the rope length. Gather the two ends of the rope and make a simple knot to tie them together near the ball. Tie another simple know to close the loop at the end of the rope, and you have a simple toss boy tall for you and your pooch to play with.

Aside from actually making homemade dog toys, you can also resort to conceptualizing interesting activities for your dogs to spend their idle time on. For example, get a big pail and fill it up with water. Take a nice piece of apple or pear and drop this into the pail of water. Then have your dog play with the set up, and watch him play his own bobbing game.

Dog Toy Saving Tip

Go for Quality over Cost

When it comes to buying dog toys, a common misconception is that you can enjoy more savings when you opt to buy cheaper toys. While it may seem obvious that you spend less when paying for cheaper toys, don’t be like many pet owners and fail to see how far these cheaper toys go in terms of usability. When you look at it from the long-term perspective, you will see that by buying cheap toys, you end up buying more frequently because the toys you bring home don’t last.

Dogs, by nature, are rough players, although there are certain breeds that are rougher and more physical than others. But generally, they enjoy taking out their natural aggression on their toys. And because it is their nature, you can’t tell a dog to take it easy on the toys. It’s a fact that you have to live with. And it’s just a matter of when the toys will be lost or destroyed.

As such, one of your main considerations when shopping for dog toys should be durability. Consider how long is the expected lifespan of the toy you are buying, factoring in how rough your dog plays. Unfortunately, durability always comes with a hefty price tag. At the end of the day, your decision is between buying cheaper toys more frequently and shelling out a big chunk of money for a toy that lasts longer.  Or you can look into making your own dog toys.

If money is tight – homemade dog toys can be a saving

The bottom line is, you get more savings from investing in a good-quality toy rather than buying cheaper toys more frequently. It may seem heavy on the pocket but the benefits are felt in the long run.

For durability check out Kong Dog Toys.