Stop Buying New Dog Toys!
I know, it’s so much fun walking through the pet store and picking out all the fun squeaky dog toys… but they can cost you a fortune, $10 here, $30 there, $60 for dog food… and before you know it you just spent $100 at the pet store.
If you have a toy destroyer like our Bear, then you may need to buy new toys to replace the ones he shredded to pieces. I have quickly learned that we can not leave Bear alone for even 10 seconds with a new toy, because he can literally tear it to shreds in seconds!
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What Do you Do if Your Dog is Bored with Her Toys?
Simple, rotate your dog toy collection. It’s okay to buy a new toy once every couple of months, but there really is no need to spend so much money on new dog toys every week.
I picked up this trick when my kids were young. Grandma would go crazy with buying Christmas gifts for my boys… they received so many new toys they didn’t know what to play with first.
They would open one box, play with it for a few minutes, then move on to the next toy. Then a few days later they were bored… yes, bored after receiving dozens of new toys.
So I started putting away half of the toys in my closet before they opened the box. Then once a week they got to choose a new toy to play with. It was like Christmas all over again, for months!
The scuffle mat picture below is a great way to keep your dog busy for hours!
Doggy Christmas
The same idea works for your dog. If you bring out a toy they haven’t played with in months, it’s like having a brand new toy. But if you leave that toy in the dog toy box and he gets to play with it anytime he feels like it, then it loses its excitement.
We actually started not leaving any toys out to play with. I have a few bins around the house filled with dog toys and when it’s playtime, we pull out a new toy.
Our dog Bear gets excited anytime he sees a new toy… I mean really excited… he literally goes crazy bouncing off the floor!
If I leave the toys lying on the floor, even for a day, the dogs are nonchalant about playing with them.
My Favorite Challenging Dog Toys
Dog puzzles and interactive dog toys are another great way to keep your dog from getting bored with her toys. Some of my favorite dog puzzles are homemade.
In fact, make sure to read our 11 Fun and Easy Indoor Dog Games for more ways to keep your dog from getting bored.
There are also many great dog puzzles that you can purchase on Amazon:
Homemade Dog Toys
You can also make your own homemade dog toys! It’s easier than you think, in fact, we started making our own tug toys last year. If my 10-year-old daughter can make them, so can you! Check out her Craft Dogs 101 Etsy store to see her tug toys for a cause.
If you are a Pinterest user, then follow our DIY Dog Toy Project Board to find a ton of homemade dog toy ideas.
So does your dog have a favorite toy? Does she ever get bored with it? I love to hear your stories and tips if you have any to share, comment below…
