Oh My Dog!

Between Lucas’ playfulness and Emmett’s love of chewing, chewing, chewing, we go through a lot of toys around here. But with the cost of dog toys and the amount of waste we toss each time they destroy a toy, I started making easy toys that actually last. We call these homemade toys a “bug.” They are so easy to make and are an eco-friendly use of remnant fabrics. In this example, I used felt trimmings leftover from my nephew’s pumpkin Halloween costume.

Start with at least 3 pieces of a durable remnant fabric. Also, make sure you have a supervisor, like Emmett:

Next, tie one of the pieces across another piece to form a T. Again, it helps to have supervision.

Tie the third piece at the opposite end. If you have more than three pieces, continue to tie them on. Any random pattern is great. I do find it helpful to double knot the strands, though if they come apart, you can easily retie them.

Your supervisor might really, really want the bug before it’s complete…

But once you’ve tied all the pieces together, it’s ready for his quality assurance check.

Looks like it passed!

The best part about making a bug is that you can toss it in the washer and dryer when it gets dirty. If it comes apart during tug-of-war, you can easily tie the pieces back together. In addition to a thick felt, denim and canvas work great, too, along with any cotton fabric without elastic. If you’re using old t-shirts or sweatshirts, be sure to cut out cuffs and collars because they often have elastic threads, which can be harmful if swallowed.

Avoid: Socks and any fabric with elastic bands, anything silky, and anything with a stretchy or Lycra material.

Have you put together an eco-friendly or DIY dog toy? Any winners or losers?

Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet

Books are my weakness. I can’t walk into a bookstore without snatching up an armfull of books and magazines. In attempting to be both eco- and budget-friendly, though, I’ve been working out my library card lately, which has been awesome! However, when I saw this book when I stopped into a local bookstore (gah, I know, I know, I shouldn’t even go in one, but with my Barnes & Noble member card I get cheaper coffee… right??), I had to buy it. And it was totally worthwhile!

Chock full of useful information on how to identify and eliminate toxins, the book also has a ton of great DIY projects ranging from making dog toys to pet-safe household cleansers. I’ve already tried a couple of the treat recipes, which Emmett and Lucas loved. Rumor has it I’m getting a sewing machine for my birthday, and if so, I’m going to try the fabric fish! I’m not the most crafty of gals, but they include lots of step-by-step instructions along with color photographs, which is awesome!

I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking to reduce your pup’s carbon pawprint or just integrate safer, healthier practices in your home, or even if you’re looking for some fun DIY pet projects.

Any other eco-friendly pet books you would suggest? Or does anyone have a recommendation for a good (preferably organic) dog treat cookbook?

Disclaimer: This was not a paid review, though the link above goes to my Amazon Associate’s page.