Inexpensive doodle toys

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I thought this would be fun for Christmas.  Sort of like a cookie exchange, but an internet toy idea exchange.

My contribution:  1 ordinary muffin tin ( maybe a small muffin tin for mini's), 6-12 tennis balls - one to fill each muffin spot.  Small smelly treats to start, small less smelly treats once your doodle gets the idea.  Put a treat under each tennis ball out of your doodle's sight.  Set tin on floor and say okay, encourage sniffing and nosing.  Work down over time to just one or two treats in whole tray.

Roo and Tigger love this game,  they are pretty fast at it now, so just get one treat in the whole tray.

Roo just noses out all the balls, then eats the treat, Tigger uses his nose and usually finds the treat right away and then noses out the remaining balls - just in case.

Muffin tins and used tennis balls if not already in your home are cheaply available at most resale stores or 99cent/dollar stores.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Unfortunately, Cody can chew up a new tennis ball in about 20 minutes. The only toys that we have found that last more than a few hours are the nylabones, and the tuff balls. Cody and one of my dachshunds tear up anything else in a heartbeat. The other dogs would love to have a nice soft toy to play with - but that can't happen!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

great idea! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Love the game ideas.  Might have to bring those out when the snow starts to fly around here.  One thing that I would add to keep the cost down on toys is that I always thought big dogs, big toys.  Why else do toys come in Small Med and Large.  Well, I've discovered that Lucy and Annabelle's favorite toys are actually the small ones that we have.  I realized that they were still digging out toys from when they were puppies so I started buying small instead of large.  Saves a lot of money.