One of the pleasures of owning a dog is when you get to buy fun new toys to use when playing with them. The downside is that most toys are expensive and do not last very long but fear not as there are low cost options that will let you have lots of fun playing with your dog. You can easily make your own dog toys that will please your pooch and be just as much fun to play with as expensive store bought dog toys. Just remember that your dog does not know or care how much you spent on a dog toy, they just want to play with it.

Here are some simple ideas to help you save some money but still treat your dog well:

1. Buy a case of generic tennis balls. This classic homemade toy for dogs often gets forgotten about as more and more people buy expensive dog balls and toys. Companies that make dog toys work constantly to put a new spin on the old tennis ball theme time and time again. The truth is that there are very few better toys for a dog than a plain old tennis ball. You can purchase a case of them for just a few bucks from any local sporting goods retailer or discount chain store. Since they will be chewed up fairly quickly buy the cheapest ones you can buy. Remember we are trying to make our own dog toys, not play ay Wimbledon.

2. Get a piece of rope and wrestle with your dog. Dogs love wrestling around with their owners no matter what you use to wrestle with. Go to a hardware store where for a few dollars you can get a small length of rope. A thicker rope will let your dog get a better grip but if you own a small dog don’t get too thick of a piece as their mouth might not be able to handle it. Tie a large knot at both ends of the rope to give you something to hang on to and to prevent the rope from fraying. Let your dog grab the middle of the rope with his teeth and wrestle away.

3. For some reason dogs love chewing on shoes and since they can’t tell if the shoe is old or a brand new pair of designer shoes you might want to make sure your god shoes are put away and give your dog their own pair to chew on. Shoes are soft and chewy and allow your dog to grind their teeth into it without hurting them, but also tough enough that they can tug at it without feeling like it will come apart. Either use an old pair of gym shoes you were going to toss out or buy a cheap pair of sneakers from your local discount shoe store. Look for close out bins or ask someone at the store if they have any single shoes as sometimes pairs get separated and who wants to buy just one shoe? Maybe they will even give it to you for free if you ask nicely.

No matter if you purchase expensive dog toys or make your own dog toys one thing is for certain, your dog will be happy to have you play with him. You may want to go to a local Dog Park, they are becoming more and more popular for a great place to exercise your dog and enjoy the outdoors.