Okay, here’s my blog post about making durable rope dog toys:
So, my dog, Max, he’s a chewer. Like, a serious chewer. Every toy I bought him lasted maybe a day, two if I was lucky. Fluffy toys? Gutted in minutes. Those “tough” rubber toys? Shredded. I was getting tired of constantly buying new toys, and honestly, I was worried about him swallowing bits of plastic and stuffing.
I started looking around online for “indestructible” dog toys, but everything seemed either super expensive or had mixed reviews. Then I stumbled upon this idea of making toys out of old rope. Figured I’d give it a shot – what did I have to lose?
My DIY Rope Toy Adventure
First, I needed rope. I didn’t want to use anything with chemicals or dyes, so I went for some plain old cotton rope from the hardware store. I think it was about 1 inch thick? You can probably use thinner rope for smaller dogs, but Max is a big boy.
Step 1: Cutting the Rope.
I measured out about six feet of rope. Honestly, I just eyeballed it. I figured I could always trim it later. I cut three pieces of that length.
Step 2: Making the Knots.
This was the trickiest part, but it’s not rocket science. I tied all three strands together in a big, sturdy knot at one end. Then, I started braiding the three strands. Just like braiding hair, you know? Keep it pretty tight.
- Take one strand and put in the middle of other two strands.
- Then put another strand and take place of the first one.
- Tight these strands.
Once I got to the end, I tied another big, fat knot to secure it. I made sure both knots were super tight – I really jammed them down. Max is a strong chewer, so I didn’t want him unraveling it in five minutes.
Step 3 (Optional): Making it Fancy.
Some people online suggested making different shapes, like rings or figure-eights. I tried to make a simple loop by tying the two knotted ends together, but honestly, it was a bit messy. I ended up just leaving it as a long braided rope. It worked!
The Result?
Max LOVES it. He chews on it, plays tug-of-war with it, and even carries it around like a prized possession. It’s been a few weeks now, and it’s still holding up strong! There’s some fraying, sure, but it’s nothing major. Way better than any of those store-bought toys.
Best part? It cost me, like, five bucks to make. And I have enough rope left over to make another one when this one finally bites the dust. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out, and Max is definitely a satisfied customer. Definitely recommend giving this a try if your dog is a power chewer!
