Make no-sew recycled denim dog toys out of old jeans! It’s easy, fast and free! And your pup will love it!
Since May 1 there’s a whirlwind in my life: A black German shepherd puppy (more pictures of her on her instagram account @khaleesi_theblackgsd). She’s a little destroyer! 😉 In the last weeks, she destroyed part of the cork floor, some of her toys, Grandma’s midcentury chair – and even her harness! So her toys have to be sturdy and robust!
A while ago, I made her DIY dog toys with old T-shirts but since she’s such a destroyer (unlike my first dog) they don’t hold very long! 😉 She needs heavy duty dog toys. So this time instead of using T-shirts that rip easily I used old jeans! For all the no-sew recycled denim dog toys I used one jeans and the cut-off jeans legs that were leftover from my jeans to capri refashion. But you don’t have to use old jeans or jeans legs, you can also use old denim skirts or shorts, denim jackets, vests or coats – everything that is denim.
These no-sew recycled denim dog toys are great as chewing dog toys, to play fetch and tug-of-war.
My puppy Khaleesi loves the recycled denim dog toys. She chews on them, plays fetch and tug-of-war with us and so far they survived! On her instagram account @khaleesi_theblackgsd I share pictures of her playing with the DIY denim dog toys and how they hold up over time.
5 DIY No-Sew Recycled Denim Dog Toys
You’ll need:
- old denim clothes
- strong scissors
- elastic or hair tie
- pins
- needle-nose pliers
For the braided and the donut dog toy: Cut off the hems, then depending on the size of the jeans cut each jeans leg into 4 – 6 long strips. Fold the strips so that the raw edges are enclosed. You can use pins to temporarily hold the strips together. Remove the pins as you braid.
Easy Jeans Waistband Dog Toy
The jeans waistband dog toy is perfect for chewing and playing tug-of-war.
- 1 jeans waistband
Cut off the waistband. Then cut off the button. And that’s all!
Crown Knot Denim Dog Toy
The knotted denim dog toy has a nice weight – it’s perfect for playing fetch.
- 4 demin strips
Temporarily secure four denim strips with an elastic or hair tie.
Tie a series of crown knots. I used the spiral crown knot (also called round crown knot). But you can also use the square knot (also called box knot): the spiral crown knot creates a round dog toy while the box knot creates a square dog toy. Here‘s a video of how to tie a crown knot.
To hide the tails, push the needle-nose pliers through the knotted denim dog toy, grab the tail and pull it through the toy. Then trim the ends.
Y-Shaped Denim Dog Toy
The Y-shaped dog toy looks complicated but it isn’t more difficult to make than the knotted denim dog toy.
You’ll need:
- 6 denim strips
Start like you did for the crown knot (square knot) dog toy: Begin with four strips and tie a series of crown or square knots. When you reach the middle of the strips, add two more denim strips.
Now start knotting in two direction – knotting together two ‘old’ strips and two ‘new’ strips. Finish the Y-shaped dog toy like the rope braided dog toy.
Donut Denim Dog Toy
A nautical chewing or fetch dog toy! Doesn’t the donut-shaped dog toy look like a lifebuoy?
- 1 cut-off jeans leg (or sleeve)
- 1 denim strip
Roll the jeans leg into a donut shape like you would for a sock bun donut.
Wrap a long denim strip around the donut to secure the donut shape and tie the ends together with an overhand knot.
Candy Denim Dog Toy
The candy-shaped denim dog toy is so easy to make!
- 1 cut-off jeans leg
- 2 cut-off jeans hems
- another cut-off jeans leg, denim scraps, T-shirt or other fabric scraps for stuffing
With the stuffing inside, roll the cut-off jeans leg into a candy shape.
Tie the ends together with the cut-off jeans hems.
Share Your Creations!
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! 🙂
Please Pin It!
More DIY Dog Toys
These dog toys are genius, I’m definitely going to try them with my dog (who is a gorgeous black lab). I have teens so seem to have an endless supply of ripped jeans so this project is perfect!
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😀
These are a great idea. Great to use up old jeans and save the planet!
Thanks, Christine!
this is a great idea for all those old jeans laying around. Found you on the Bloggers Pit Stop Link Party
Thanks for stopping by, Candy!
It’s always grat to give products another life and these demin products are going to the dogs in the best way possible. 😉
Dropped by from #BloggersPitStop and glad I did. 🙂
Shared. 🙂
😀 Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Donna! 🙂
These denim dog toys are such a great upcycle project! I love crafting with denim. But I don’t have a dog! I’ll have to share this with my friend who has a doggy. I’m also going to pin this for later because I do eventually want to adopt a dog for my kiddos.
Thanks for pinning, T’onna!
Or make them and donate to a shelter!
So cool. I might try some of these.
Thank you!
Great repurposing craft! We just got a new dog and he’ll chew on anything, probably even old jeans.
Thanks, Victoria!
Such great ideas and perfect for my grandpups! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJs!
Thank you so much, Ann! I’m glad you like them!
I don’t have a dog. However, your ideas are awesome and I am sure a great help for those with old jeans and a dog. We will feature your good ideas on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop.
Kathleen
Thanks so much for featuring me, Kathleen! 😀
These are brilliant! What a good idea for re-purposing an old pair of jeans. Dog toys are ridiculously expensive; this is a great alternative to purchasing them.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
Thank you so much for featuring me, Richella! 😀
These are great! I used to buy some similar toy at my son’s school craft fairs that were made of fleece and always thought ,”I can make these!”. Never got around to it. For those that don’t have dogs, check with your local rescues and animal shelter they might be thrilled to get toys for pups awaiting new homes.
Thanks, Jamie! 😀 I’m glad you like them and great idea to donate them to animal shelters!
Thank you so much for this great idea!! I was just going to get rid of a bunch of my husbands old jeans. I also have a ten week old German Shepherd pup that is going to be the worst chewer ever. This will help take care of two things at once with no money out of my pocket. Thank you Thank you. 🙂
Thanks so much, Carol! I’m glad you find it helpful! 😀 Khaleesi was such a heavy chewer too! 😉
My new rescue has abandonment anxiety and has chewed through even the firehouse toys so I am definitely going to try these denim toys, if you don’t have any leftover jeans, hit the thrift stores, they need your support and will be so much cheaper than the store bought toys. I’m on my way
Thanks for stopping by, Fran! Let me know how your new rescue likes the toys! 😀
For the crown knot toy and Y toy how long do you recommend for the denim strips to be? I just realized the Jean’s I’m wearing have a hole in them and want to reuse them!
I used the whole length of the jeans legs. 🙂 And soon I’ll post a follow-up with more DIY denim dog toy tutorials – so stay tuned!
Our puppy is devouring her bought toys, so I am definitely going to make some of these. Thanks
Thank you! I’m glad it’s helpful! 😀
Hi,
What a great ideas do you have!
I’m trying to figure it out how to make the Y-Shaped Denim Dog Toy. But i don’t understand the step were i have to add 2 more stripes and then knot futher. Can you show me?
Thanks!
Thank you! 😀 After you’ve reached the center of the toy (the first spike of the “Y”), fold the 2 “new” strips in half and mark the center of the strips. Now knot together two of the “old” strips and two of the “new” strips, starting in the middle of the “new” strips (this is the second spike of the Y). Then knot the other half of the “new” strips together with the other 2 “old” strips (the third spike of the Y). Hope this helps! 🙂 And you can also have a look at the “Braided Y-Shaped Tug Toy” here because it is made similar except that it is braided instead of knotted.
Can you add a photo of what it looks like when you add the 2 additional strips to make the Y-shaped toy?
I’ll be adding more photos and a video soon. So stay tuned! 🙂
Thanks so much for these denim dog toys. I have a 5 month old Australian Cattle Dog and she is constantly chewing her way through toys or anything else that she get her teeth around. I am definitely going to make her some of these.
Lol, my pup Khaleesi was the same at 5 months! But she hasn’t been able to destroy these denim toys yet – she still has them and loves to play with them. Good luck with your puppy! 🙂
Can you use stretch denim?
Yes, you can use stretch denim but the dog toy won’t be as durable as a toy made of pure cotton denim.
Love these ideas! I don’t like buying toys since they’re almost exclusively made in China, so who knows how safe the products are for my girls to be chewing on them and one of my girls is a very strong chewer (English Setter). Thank you! I found your post on Pinterest
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you like it! 😀