22 DIY Denim Dog Toys – Recycled From Old Jeans!

22 DIY denim dog toys – all made from old jeans! These recycled DIY denim dog toys are simple and fun to make, cheap and eco-friendly, and your dog will love them!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

Making your own dog toys is really easy, cheap and fun! So don’t throw away your old jeans, turn them into these cute, recycled DIY denim dog toys!

These 22 simple DIY dog toys are all Khaleesi-approved! Khaleesi is my 1-year old black GSD puppy! 😉 And all of these DIY recycled dog toys can easily be tossed into the washer when needed.

If you make one of these DIY denim dog toys, please tag @khaleesi_theblackgsd on instagram or add a photo on pinterest: I’d love to see your creations! 🙂

 

Khaleesi Is On Instagram!

-> Follow Khaleesi the black GSD on Instagram!

Khaleesi is a curious, cuddly puppy, a little crazy sometimes, a heavy chewer and big destroyer! She definitely thinks she’s queen of the world and sometimes she even thinks she’s a dragon! She loves running, swimming and playing tug-of-war.

The Easiest DIY Tug Toy - Your Dog Will Love It!
Playing tug with one of her favorite denim dog toys

 

What To Play With The DIY Denim Dog Toys?

You can use the DIY denim dog toys to play fetch, tug-of-war and hide & seek. I think you know how to play fetch and tug with your dog, but if your dog loves searching, like Khaleesi, you can also play a fun searching game with the toys. Searching for toys is more difficult than searching for treats – Khaleesi finds searching for treats boring but she loves searching for her toys! 😉

To play hide & seek with toys, tell your dog to sit (and stay). Then hide the toy in another room. Choose an easy spot at first, behind a couch or so. Then release your dog and ask her to “Find it!” Because the toy smells of your hands, your dog can smell the toy. When your dog found the toy, reward her with a quick game of tug-of-war or a treat. Because playing hide & seek with toys is really exhausting for your dog, hide the toy no more than 2 – 5 times.

 

Are The DIY Denim Dog Toys Indestructible?

The recycled DIY denim dog toys are durable but not indestructible! So supervise your dog during play time!

Because Khaleesi is a destroyer and heavy chewer, she chews right through them if she’s left alone with them! 😉 However, when we only use the toys for playing fetch, tug and hide & seek, the toys last months. But discard the toys when they start to break into pieces or are torn.

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys Recycled From Old Jeans
Khaleesi with one of the 22 DIY denim dog toys

 

These 22 DIY Denim Dog Toys Are …

  • durable (but not indestructible)

  • easy & fast to make

  • eco-friendly

  • recycled from old jeans

  • 15 of them are no-sew DIY dog toys

  • washable

  • great for playing tug, fetch and hide & seek

 

How To Prepare Jeans For The Braided & Knotted Dog Toys

Cut or rip the jeans legs into long strips.

Knotted Dog Toy – Measurements:

Four 2 x 26″ (5 x 65cm) long strips produce an approximately 1 1/2″ (3 1/2cm) thick and 4″ (11cm) long knotted dog toy.

 

Join Fabric Strips Without Sewing & Knots

If you realize halfway through your project that the denim strips are too short, just add another stip. There’s an easy way to join two fabric strips without sewing or knots.

DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

Cut a slit in each end of the two strips. Thread the “old strip” through the “new strip”, then thread the new strip through the old strip, like in the picture above, and pull tight.

 

What To Use As Stuffing For The DIY Denim Dog Toys?

Store-bought dog toys are often filled with stuffing which can be dangerous for dogs.

For the DIY denim dog toys, I don’t recommend using stuffing that is made of plastic, such as polyester fiber fill (Poly-Fil), plastic pellets, polystyrene foam beads and polyester fleece fabric.

I use natural fabric scraps as stuffing for my DIY dog toys, such as cotton, linen and wool fabric scraps: especially T-shirt and jeans scraps. While T-shirt scraps and other knit fabric scraps produce a softer dog toy, denim scraps and other woven cotton fabric scraps produce a harder dog toy.

Tip: I often use torn pieces of old dog toys as stuffing for new toys!

However, even if cotton fabric scraps are relatively safe as stuffing, you shouldn’t let your dog eat the stuffing!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

 

 

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys – Recycled From Old Jeans!

No-Sew Jeans Waistband Dog Toy

Khaleesi recommends this DIY no-sew jeans waistband tug toy! It’s the easiest to make and one of her favorites: She loves playing tug-of-war!

All you need for this DIY tug toy is the waistband of an old jeans!

The jeans waistband toy is great for playing tug with your pup!

DIY No-Sew Jeans Waistband Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans waistband

Cut off the waistband close to the seam. Then cut off the button. You can also cut off the belt loops, but that’s optional.

-> Full Tutorial: The Easiest DIY Tug Toy

 

Octopus Denim Dog Toy – Made From Jeans Pockets!

Wait! Don’t throw away those jeans pockets! Turn them into this cute jellyfish or octopus dog toy!

The denim octopus dog toy only requires basic sewing skills. You can either hand sew the toy together with running stitches or use a sewing maching. It’s a great sewing project for a sewing beginner: Your dog won’t mind if the seams are wonky! 😉

Use the octopus toy for playing fetch or hide & seek!

DIY Denim Octopus Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 2 jeans pockets
  • 3 jeans seams or hems
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)

With the wrong sides together, sew around the jeans pockets adding the three jeans seams at the bottom as “octopus tentacles”.

Leave a small opening at one side for stuffing the toy. Stuff the toy with fabric scraps. Then sew the opening closed.

-> Full Tutorial: DIY Octopus Dog Toy Out Of Old Jeans

 

Simple Jeans Pocket Dog Toy – No-Sew

This jeans pocket dog toy is a no-sew variation of the octopus dog toy above!

The jeans pocket dog toy is restuffable!

DIY No-Sew Jeans Pockets Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans pocket (still attached to the jeans)
  • about 6 short denim strips
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)

DIY No-Sew Jeans Pockets Dog Toy

Cut around the jeans pockets without cutting the seam. Cut about 6 slits into the top of the pocket and the denim layer behind it. Stuff the DIY jeans pocket dog toy with fabric scraps. Then close the opening by threading the denim strips through the slits and securing the strips with square knots.

 

Pom Pom Denim Dog Toy

This pom pom dog toy is easy to make but it’s best for less destructive dogs!

For playing hide & seek and fetch.

DIY Denim Pom Pom Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • about 15 denim strips – 2 x 6″ (5 x 15cm)
  • cotton twine

Cut the denim stips into roughly candy-shaped pieces (with two notches in the center). Tie the strips together with a piece of twine.

 

The Jeans Leg – Simple No-Sew Tug Toy

The jeans leg dog toy is great for playing tug-of-war! Khaleesi loves this toy! And if she rips the toy apart, I can just cut off another jeans leg and the play can continue!

A simple DIY tug toy!

20 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans leg

Cut off part of a jeans leg. That’s all! 😉

This jeans leg was leftover from my jeans to capri refashion. It’s about 14″ (35cm) long, but you can make it longer if you want.

 

Denim Jellyfish Dog Toy

The jellyfish dog toy is exactly like the first toy that I made for my puppy except that I used denim this time.

Great for playing tug and fetch!

DIY Denim Jellyfish Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 3 denim strips – 2 x 22″ (6 x 55cm)

Tie the 3 strips together with an overhand knot. You don’t have to use just 3 strips, you can also make the toy with 4 or 5 denim strips.

 

Braided Y-Shaped Tug Toy

Do you have more than one dog? Then make this Y-shaped tug toy!

A tug toy for 2 or 3 dogs!

DIY Braided Y-Shaped Denim Tug Toy

You’ll need:

  • 6 denim strips or seams – about 25″ (60cm) long

Tie together 4 denim strips with an overhand knot. Tightly braid the 4 strips together. If you don’t know how to do a 4-strand braid, there are many videos on youtube that teach you how to braid with 4 strands such as this one.

DIY Y Braid Denim Dog Toy

Stop when you reach the center of the strips. Add the remaining 2 strips and continue to braid 2 “new” and 2 “old” strips together. Secure the ends of the toy with overhand knots. Trim the ends if necessary.

 

Simple Braided Denim Dog Toy

This DIY braided denim dog toy is so simple to make. It’s the most often made DIY denim dog toy: people usually make this toy when they turn old jeans into a toy for their dog!

Great for playing tug, fetch and hide & seek!

Simple DIY Braided Denim Dog Toy - 22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

You’ll need:

  • 3 denim strips or seams – 2 x 30″ (5 x 75cm)

You can use denim strips or seams for the DIY dog toy. Jeans seams produce a more durable dog toy!

Braid the 3 strips together and secure the toy with an overhand knot on each end.

 

Denim “Rope” Dog Toy

The knotted denim dog toy has a nice weight.

Perfect for playing fetch!

DIY Denim Rope Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans leg cut into 4 long strips

Temporarily secure the 4 denim strips with an elastic. Then tie a series of crown knots. I used spiral crown knots but you can also use square knots: spiral crown knots create a round dog toy while square knots create a square dog toy.

Optional: To hide the tails, push needle-nose pliers through the knotted denim dog toy, grab the tail and pull it through the toy. Then cut off the ends.

-> Full Tutorial: Crown Knot Denim Dog Toy

 

Y-Shaped Denim “Rope” Dog Toy

A fun twist on the classic knotted dog toy: the Y-shaped dog toy looks complicated but it isn’t more difficult to make than the denim “rope” dog toy above!

Great as fetch and chew toy!

DIY Y-Shaped Denim Rope Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans leg cut into 6 long strips

Y-Shaped Denim Rope Dog Toy

Start like you did for the denim “rope” dog toy above: Secure 4 denim strips with an elastic and tie a series of crown or square knots until you reach the middle of the strips.

Y-Shaped Denim Rope Dog Toy

Add the remaining 2 denim strips. And continue to knot crown knots – knotting together 2 “old” strips and 2 “new” strips. Finish the Y-shaped denim dog toy like the denim “rope” dog toy.

 

Denim Bone Dog Toy

Store-bought dog toys are often bone-shaped – probably more to please the owners than their dogs. Nevertheless, Khaleesi loves stuffed bone-shaped toys too!

A cute bone-shaped fetch toy!

DIY Denim Bone Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • two 5 x 9″ (12 x 22cm) pieces of denim
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)
  • needle and thread

DIY Denim Bone Dog ToyPrint out the bone-shaped PDF pattern.

-> Free Bone Dog Toy Pattern

Then cut out two 2 “bones” adding 1/2″ (1cm) seam allowance. Sew the two fabric layers together on your sewing machine or with simple running stitches by hand. Leave a small opening. Stuff the bone-shaped dog toy with fabric scraps and sew the opening closed.

 

No-Sew Bone Dog Toy

If you want to make a bone-shaped toy for your dog but don’t want to sew one, make this no-sew DIY bone dog toy instead!

A fun twist on the classic bone dog toy above!

DIY No-Sew Bone Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • two 10 x 14″ (25 x 35cm) pieces of denim
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)

DIY No-Sew Knotted Bone Denim Dog Toy

Print out the bone-shaped PDF pattern.

-> Free Bone Dog Toy Pattern

Lay the bone-shaped pattern on top of the two denim pieces. Cut the fabric into strips without cutting into the bone-shaped pattern piece.

Then tie the opposite strips of the first and the second denim layer together with square knots. Leave a small opening to stuff the toy. After stuffing the toy, knot the remaining strips together.

 

Knotted Rope Bone Dog Toy

This knotted bone-shaped dog toy is a fun twist on the classic knotted rope dog toy! And it’s easier to make than other DIY bone-shaped rope dog toys because the ends of this toy are finished with overhand knots instead of diamond knots – so you don’t have to learn how to tie diamond knots to make this cute DIY bone dog toy!

Surprise your dog with this cute chew and fetch toy!

DIY No-Sew Knotted Bone Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 4 denim strips – 1 1/2 x 35″ (4 x 90cm)

DIY No-Sew Knotted Bone Dog Toy

Tie a series of crown knots until you reach the end of the strips. Then tie two of the strips on each end into an overhand knot.

 

Recycled Denim Baseball Dog Toy

I love this DIY denim baseball dog toy – isn’t it cute?

For your “fetching” dog!

Recycled Denim Baseball Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 2 pieces of denim
  • needle and thread
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)

DIY Recycled Denim Baseball Dog Toy

Print out the baseball PDF pattern (the figure-8 pattern piece).

-> Free Baseball Dog Toy Pattern

Then cut out 2 pieces adding 1/2″ (1cm) seam allowance. Pin the two denim pieces together as in the picture above.

Sew the pieces together using the baseball stitch. Leave a small opening and stuff the toy with fabric scraps. Then sew the opening closed.

-> Full Tutorial: Recycled Denim Baseball Dog Toy

 

Rope & Ball Bone Dog Toy

Another fun bone-shaped DIY denim dog toy. This bone dog toy is a bit more complicated to make.

For playing fetch!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

You’ll need:

  • 4 denim strips – 2 x 25″ (5 x 65cm)
  • 2 DIY denim baseballs – stuffed but with the openings still open
  • needle and thread

DIY Bone Shaped Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans

Tie the 4 denim strips into a series of crown knots until you reach the end of the strips. Stuff the ends into the DIY denim baseballs and sew the baseballs to the DIY bone dog toy with overhand stitches.

DIY Bone Shaped Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans

 

Pentagon Denim Ball Dog Toy

You need some sewing skills to make it but your dog will love this DIY ball dog toy!

Great for playing fetch!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Pentagon Denim Ball Tutorial

You’ll need:

  • 12 denim pentagons
  • fabric scraps
  • needle and thread

Print out the pentagon-shaped PDF pattern.

-> Free Pentagon Ball Dog Toy Pattern

Then cut out 12 pentagon-shaped denim pieces adding 1/2″ (1cm) seam allowance.

DIY Denim Ball Dog Toy

Arrange the pentagons like in the picture above. With right sides together, sew them together on your sewing machine or with running stitches by hand. Leave a small opening. Turn the DIY pentagon ball toy inside out. Then stuff the toy with fabric scraps. And sew the opening closed using the mattress stitch.

 

Knotted “Rope” Ring Dog Toy

Another fun twist on the DIY knotted rope toy – this knotted ring toy isn’t more difficult to make than a simple crown knot dog toy.

As tug, fetch and chew toy!

DIY Knotted Rope Ring Dog Toy - 22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

You’ll need:

  • 4 denim strips 2 x 70″ – (5 x 180cm)

Tie the 4 strips into a series of crown knots until you reach the end of the strips. Then bend the toy into a ring. To secure the ring-shape, tie all strips together with a square knot.

 

Denim Frisbee Dog Toy

You can even turn your old jeans into a denim flying disc dog toy!

For your disc dog!

DIY Denim Frisbee Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 4 denim discs – 7″ (18cm) in diameter

You need at least 4 layers or the DIY denim frisbee won’t fly!

Sew the 4 denim discs together on your sewing machine or with running stitches by hand.

 

Nautical Denim Donut Dog Toy

A nautical chewing or fetch dog toy! Doesn’t the donut-shaped dog toy look like a lifebuoy?

A nautical fetch toy!

Nautical DIY Reycled Denim Donut Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 jeans leg – about 15″ (40cm) long
  • 1 long denim or fabric strip

Roll the jeans leg into a donut shape like you would for a sock bun donut.

DIY Nautical Denim Donut Dog Toy

Wrap a denim strip or white fabric strip around the denim donut and tie the ends together with a square knot.

 

Simple Restuffable Denim Dog Toy

This candy-shaped denim dog toy is so simple to make and it’s restuffable!

DIY restuffable chew and fetch toy!

DIY Restuffable Denim Dog Toy

You’ll need:

  • 1 cut-off jeans leg
  • 2 denim strips or seams
  • fabric scraps (stuffing)

With the stuffing inside – I used a cut-off jeans leg as stuffing – roll the cut-off jeans leg into a candy shape. Then tie the ends together with denim strips.

-> Full Tutorial: DIY Candy Denim Dog Toy

 

Denim Rag Ball Dog Toy

Rag balls were popular toys in the Victorian era because they’re easy and cheap to make with fabric scraps. If you want to make a ball toy for your pup that doesn’t require sewing skills, make this easy denim rag ball!

A fun no-sew DIY ball dog toy!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - DIY Denim Rag Ball Tutorial

You’ll need:

  • 1 T-shirt
  • cotton twine
  • long, thin denim strips or seams

DIY Rag Ball With Old T-Shirts

Cut the T-shirt into one long, continous 1-inch (2 1/2cm) strip. Then roll the strip into a ball like you’d roll yarn into a ball. Tuck the end of the strip under one of the previous loops to secure it.

Wind twine around the ball forming nine sections. Then, using the Victorian ball stitch, weave the denim strips around the ball.

-> Full Tutorial: Victorian Rag Ball

 

DIY Denim Treat Dog Toy

This interactive DIY treat toy is so simple to make. If your dogs enjoy searching for treats (or like to destroy things), then they’ll love this toy!

Hide the treat-filled toy and let your dog search for it!

DIY Denim Treat Dog Toy - 22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

You’ll need:

  • 1 small denim rectangle

Simply put your dog’s favorite treats in, then tie the opposite corners together. That’s all!

 

Please Pin It!

22 DIY Denim Dog Toys - Recycled From Old Jeans!

2 thoughts on “22 DIY Denim Dog Toys – Recycled From Old Jeans!

  1. Hi! Do you have a video of how to make the Y-shaped denim toy? I am confused how to add the extra denim half way through to make the two additional ends/legs?

    Thanks!

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