How to: Make Dog Toys to Donate to an Animal Shelter

Now you can practice your arts and crafts while helping out man's best friend. Making these homemade tug toys for dogs is not only a great way to support a local shelter, but a handy trick to find something to do with worn-out, unused clothes.

1. Contact a shelter. Find a shelter in your area and ask what their needs are. It'd also be a good idea to double check that they can accept handmade toys.
2. Collect the supplies. Some good tug toys for dogs can be made using strips of fabric from an old fleece blanket or discarded clothes. Ask friends and family, or use your own closet, to find clothes or blankets that are too worn out to be used and could be transformed into a dog toy. Keep in mind that it should be a thick or durable fabric.
3. Tear up your old clothes. Cut three same-size strips out of old clothing. A longer strip equals a longer toy, as do a thicker strip makes a thicker toy. Different dogs need different size toys, so make any size strips you'd like.
4. Braid away. Tie the ends of all three strips into a single knot. Then braid the strips together tightly. If you don't know how to braid, no stress! It's very simple:

• Anchor the knot at the ends of the strips under something heavy so it doesn't twist or move as you braid.
• Make sure the strips are lying flat and untangled next to each other.
• Take the right strip, bring it over the middle strip and rest it between the left and middle pieces.
• Now take the left strip and bring it over what is now the middle piece without crossing the now-right strip.
• Repeat until you run out of fabric

Once you've mastered making tug toys for dogs, get more people involved. Try hosting a "Make a Dog Toy" event at your school or camp. More people = more animals helped, and that is arf-some!

Sources:

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