Saving Money On Dog Toys

Reuse Stuffed Animals As Dog Toys

My poodle "Fluffy" (now passed on) taught me that she loved "babies". She found a dirty little teddy bear and would not part with it. I got it away from her when she went to sleep and washed and dried it and put it back in bed with her.

After seeing she wouldn't get far away from that "baby", I started watching for new "babies" with no moving parts that could come loose or hurt her. I got them for 25 cents apiece at the end of the day at garage sales. After a couple of trips coming home with one on a Saturday, she knew which friend went with me. If we went out together, she'd wait for me and her new "baby".

In the last few years of her life, she never hurt one of her babies. She would hide them here and there, but if a thunderstorm or other bad weather came, everyone of those babies was in her bed under her!

Also if I brought her a new "baby" from the store, she'd ignore it! It had to have been pre-loved. Her favourite was a pink and purple elephant the same small size as her teddies. That day, the only thing I saw the right size was that elephant and I knew she'd be waiting.

So that's my tip, look for toys that are sold at the end of the day, just a small one for a small dog. Probably not a good tip for big dogs. I now have a Shitzu cross and she takes her babies all over with her too!

By Annie from Kitchener, B.C.

Buy Dog Toys at the Thrift Store

Pet supply chain stores offer some great stuffed toys for dogs, but so do thrift shops! Look to the stuffed toy section and find well made toys with sewn on material eyes. A modest cost and good cleaning by your own washer and dryer will bring your pet immense joy and satisfaction for you.

By Trisha from Ventura, CA

Homemade Pet Toys

Keep a box in the closet or elsewhere for worn out socks and tee shirts, old pillowcases, and various other items that you can use to create homemade pet toys. Here's a few ideas to get you started:

• Tie socks together to make a pull toy.
• Put a squeaky toy inside of a sock to make it last longer with dogs that otherwise might quickly destroy the toy.
• Dogs love the crinkling sound of an empty plastic water bottle stuffed inside of a sock.
• Put catnip inside of a sock.
• Use old tee shirts, pillows, pillow cases, and shams to make a dog or cat bed.
• Make a ball out of crumpled paper for your cat to chase.

Pet toys can be expensive. Making them yourself is frugal and fun.

By VeronicaHB from Asheboro, NC

Use Stuffed Animals As Dog Toys

I have two very playful dogs and two energetic cats who love to play with toys. In the past, I found myself spending a lot of money on toys to only have then destroyed a few minutes after giving them to my girls.

One day I noticed how whenever my niece would come over she was always missing her stuffed animals and we would always find it in someone's mouth! So I decided that children's toys were just as good for my girls as toys from the pet shop.

I save money by going to the thrift store or yard sales and buying plush toys sometimes for as little as 50 cents. I get less upset when I see the toys destroyed because I didn't pay a lot for them; just be sure to throw the toys in the wash before giving them to your pet.

Look for stuffed animals with stitching instead of buttons because they will pull those off first and may be a choking hazard. When you support your local thrift shop, you are not only saving money but helping your community so you can feel even better about saving money on your pet toys.

By angelarog from Queens, NY

Cheap Stuffed Animals For Dogs

Dogs love stuffed animals to play with and sleep with. Problem is, they are expensive and the ones from the dollar stores fall apart easily. I solve this by buying these from thrift stores for our dog. Even the big ones are only a few dollars, and I figure if they've survived children they can probably survive my dog. When I get them home I wash them in hot water and cleaner and throw them in the dryer. Max is happy and so is my budget!

By ladyjane

Buy Infant Toys For Dogs

I found the best toys for my little dog are the ones designed for infants. These are sturdy and they don't have little pieces that are easily detached. The local Walmart has end of season sales in their children's department and I found 3 different style squeaky toys for $1 each!

The style I liked best is a cylinder about 4 inches long with an animal head on top. It's designed for a very small child to grasp and probably stick in their mouth so it's perfect for a dog that weighs less than 10 pounds!

Source: Trial and error, most dog toys are bigger than my dog.

By LittleNana-3 from Sun City, CA

Homemade Dog Toy Ideas

Any pet owner knows that making toys from worn out clothing or repurposing various items around the house is an inexpensive way to create some interesting dog toys. However, in some cases, that idea is not ideal. Perhaps crafty doesn't describe you or maybe your puppy or dog plays so vigorously that a homemade sock toy would be reduced to threads in less time than it took to make it. When homemade toys aren't the answer, there are still some ways to save money on dog toys.

• Where you buy the toys makes a difference. You can often find some really cute toys at very low prices at dollar stores and the pet section or dollar aisle at discount grocery stores.
• Sometimes consignment shops and thrift stores will actually have a collection of nearly new pet toys. Always clean any used toys before giving it to your dog.
• There are times when you can save money by spending more on durable toys. If you have a large dog or very energetic puppy that quickly destroys inexpensive toys, you may find yourself continually replacing the toys. You can save money by spending more to purchase a rough and tough toy such as a Kong that will not have to be replaced a few days after buying it.
• Many pet stores, department stores, and garden centers have holiday themed pet toys. They also have these toys at substantially discounted prices after the holidays. Your dog won't mind playing with a squeaky snowman in July so go ahead and take advantage of the reduced prices to add to your dog's toy collection.

By VeronicaHB