13 DIY Fleece Dog Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
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Dog toys are expensive, and if your pup loves to obliterate their toys, you know just how pricey it can be to upkeep their supply. If you consider yourself to be a crafty person, however, you can make your own for just a fraction of the cost.
Fleece is a relatively durable material available at an affordable price point, so it’s great to use for your DIY dog toys. Read on to find 13 projects you can put together this afternoon to save some money on your dog’s monthly toy budget.
The 13 DIY Fleece Dog Toys
1. Square Knot Dog Tug Toy by Create Laugh Grow
Materials: | Fleece fabric |
Tools: | Scissors, fabric ruler |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
If you’re in the mood to tackle a DIY that doesn’t involve much thinking, add this square knot tug toy to your to-do list. Admittedly, it may take a few tries to get the hang of tying the knots, but once you have it down pat, you can go on autopilot and trudge away until the tug toy is complete. The creator goes into great detail about how to tie the square knots to make it easy on you.
2. Square Knot Loop Dog Tug Toy by Dalmatian DIY
Materials: | Fleece |
Tools: | Scissors |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This square knot loop tug toy is similar in style to the one from Create Laugh Grow, except instead of being a straight tug toy, it has a loop to make playing with your pup even easier. You’ll employ the same square knot-tying technique from the above DIY, except at the end, you will join your ends together to make the loop.
3. Stuffed Heart Fleece Dog Toy by Pretty Fluffy
Materials: | Fleece |
Tools: | Scissors, pen |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This stuffed heart-shaped fleece toy is an adorable and simple DIY. All you need to do is stack two layers of fleece together and use your pen to trace a heart on top. Cut a circle out around the heart and then make two slits on the edge of the heart, with each being as wide as your finger. You’ll then tie the two slits in a double knot and repeat those steps until most of your heart is tied. When there’s just a small hole remaining, fill it with your excess fleece. Continue making your slits and securing them until the heart is completely sealed.
4. Knotted Octopus Toy by The TipToe Fairy
Materials: | Fleece, tennis ball |
Tools: | Scissors |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This fleece toy is an easy one you can put together in no time at all. Lay an 18” x 18” piece of fleece flat and cut a rectangle from each corner. Cut the fabric into six-inch long by one-inch-wide strips all around. Place your ball into the middle of the fleece, gather it tightly in the material, and, using a piece of scrap fleece, tie a knot around the ball as tight as you can. Braid some hanging fabric strips and tie a knot at the end. Repeat this step until all the strips have been braided.
5. Slinky Dog Snuffle Toy by Hound Hugger
Materials: | Fleece, wood blend felt, shoelace, thread |
Tools: | Scissors, needle |
Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This slinky dog snuffle toy project is a bit more involved, but the result is a totally adorable toy your pup will get a lot of enrichment. The original creators have a helpful YouTube video and free printable to assist you in the process. Using their template, you’ll cut out as many circles as necessary to make your slinky dog the length you want it to be. You’ll string the felt circles through the shoelace until the dog is the proper length and then stitch the head and tail on.
6. Snuffle Ball by Other People’s Pets
Materials: | Fleece, zip ties, fabric clips |
Tools: | Scissors, fabric marker, measuring tape |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This fleece snuffle ball is a super easy-to-put-together project that you can do in minutes. You’ll start by folding two pieces of fleece in half. Measure 1.5 inches on either side of the middle and draw a line. This 3-inch area is a “no-cut” zone. Next, make three-inch slits lengthwise down one side, ensuring you’re stopping before that middle line. Repeat on the other side. Put your fabric in front of you vertically and begin rolling it as tightly as you can. Secure the ball in place with the zip tie, and then cut the end as close as you can. Tie two of the fleece strips in front of it to protect your dog from being scratched by the zip tie.
7. Snuffle Mat by The TipToe Fairy
Materials: | Fleece, plastic dish mat |
Tools: | Scissors, rotary cutter |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This snuffle mat is probably the easiest DIY on our list and one you can do in no time flat. First, cut your fleece into six-inch wide by one-inch-long strips. Knot each of the strips to your plastic dish mat until it is completely covered. That’s it!
8. Snuffle Ball by All for the Love of Dogs
Materials: | Fleece, cardboard, thick string or zip tie |
Tools: | Scissors, fabric pen, needle |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This snuffle ball is a little different in shape than the one from Other People’s Pets, so we felt it earned a spot in our list. You’ll start by making an eight-inch-wide cardboard cutout template. Using your template, trace 32 circles onto your fleece and cut them out. Fold each in half twice to make a ¼ pie slice shape. Set the forms on top of each other in stacks of eight. String them together at the folded corner using a strong string or zip tie. Repeat this step, stringing the string through the first bundle to attach the two. Continue this way until all of your circles have been bound together. Fluff up the ball by gently tugging at the fabric to slightly separate it.
9. Indestructible Stuffed Dog Toy by FuzzyElephants on Instructables
Materials: | Fabric, thread, pins (optional), squeakers (optional) |
Tools: | Sewing machine |
Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If your dog is a destroyer of toys, this indestructible stuffed fleece dog toy might be worth trying. Cut out eight pieces of macaroni-shaped fleece. Using your sewing machine, zig-zag stitch around the shape, leaving the ends open. Repeat this step so that every seam is double-stitched. Next, double up your fabric to begin working on the middle section. Using a zig-zag stitch again, go in a circle pattern and repeat. With a straight stitch, attach your macaroni-shaped components to the center piece. The key here is really stitching the heck out of your toy. The more stitches you sew, the more indestructible it will be.
10. Fleece Throw Toy by Thrifty Fun
Materials: | Fleece, fiberfill |
Tools: | Fabric scissors |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This fleece throw toy is pretty easy and quick to put together. Cut out two squares of fleece and place the back sides of the fabric together. Cut slits into the material inward 1.5 inches wide by three to four inches long around all four edges. Knot each slit to the same slit on the other piece, leaving three to four inches open on one side to allow you space to insert the batting. Stuff with your fiberfill or batting and knot the remaining fabric slits.
11. Fleece Ball Toy by Ammo the Dachshund
Materials: | Ball, ribbon, fleece |
Tools: | Scissors |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
This fleece ball toy comes together quickly and is a great way to use up scrap fabric and an old ball. Begin by cutting out two long strips of fabric. Then, place the ball in the middle of your laid-flat fleece and wrap it in your material. Fold your fabric strips around the ball and tie it as tightly as you can. Cut out two-inch wide strips throughout the tail of your fleece. Using three strips at a time, braid them into sections. Use the excess fabric at the end of the braid to tie knots to ensure the braids stay in place.
12. Destructible Pull-Apart Fleece Toy by Leopold’s Crate
Materials: | Dog ball toy with holes, fleece fabric |
Tools: | None |
Difficulty Level: | Beginner |
You’re probably tired of wasting your money on stuffed toys if your dog likes to disembowel them. While you should never leave your destructive pooch unattended with any toy you know they can destroy, this project is great for supervised play times. All you’ll do is take your pre-made ball toy with holes and stuff it with pre-cut strips of fleece fabric. Shove some treats in the ball, and your pup will be kept happy and busy for a while.
13. Squeaky Santa Stuffed Toy by Dalmatian DIY
Materials: | Fleece, red and beige fabric, stuffing, squeakers (optional), non-toxic makeup (optional), complimentary colored thread |
Tools: | Scissors, sewing machine |
Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
Though this is by far the most advanced DIY on our list, it’s a great project for people handy with sewing machines and fabric art. It is quite a bit more involved as the result is a pretty nice-looking squeaker Santa toy. It’s far too complicated of a DIY for us to sum up in a few words, but make sure you read the instructions thoroughly to get the best results.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a crafty dog owner looking for a way to make dog toys on a budget, the 13 projects above should keep you busy for a while. Since fleece is a relatively cheap material, you can whip together these DIYs much more affordably than you’d be paying to purchase new toys at your local store.
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Featured Image Credit: Kristyna Mrazkova, Shutterstock