DIY Puzzles & Games

This has been a rough year for a lot of my clients here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Between the tariffs, skyrocketing grocery prices, and cutbacks at work, many of my clients are worrying about the holidays and gift giving even more than usual.  I'm a big fan of homemade gifts.  I think those lovely, one-of-a-kind items speak volumes about how much we care for the people in our lives receiving those handmade treasures. Even our pets appreciate homemade gifts and they really don't know the difference between an expensive toy, treat, or puzzle bought at the pet store, and one we made for them ourselves.  And this year?  Homemade pet gifts are the way to go.  Here are some of my favorites:

For the dog who loves a good puzzle:  Take an old beach towel, hand towel, or wash cloth (size of the towel depends on the size of the dog) and lay it out flat; add small treats or kibble and roll the towel up tightly.  Once you've got it rolled up, tie it in knots, creating a yummy smelling puzzle for your dog to untangle, roll out, and discover all the fun inside.

For the dog who likes to take stuff apart:  Collect four to six boxes of different sizes that you can nest inside each other.  Cut holes in the boxes of differing sizes to allow treats to drop out.  Place treats inside the boxes and then seal the seams of each box as you nest them one inside the other.  If you are giving this gift right away, you can make it even more fun to destroy by adding a small smear of nut butter to the outside to get your dog started. Yes, they will make a cardboard mess of all of this, so supervise them much as you would supervise a toddler opening gifts!

For the dog who always wants a snack:  Take sweet potatoes, carrots, or zucchini and thinly slice them (I use a mandoline), placing them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Make sure there is space between the pieces so that they'll cook evenly. Bake at the lowest possible over temperature (I do 170 degrees) or use a convection oven to reduce moisture efficiently and evenly. You want the vegetables completely dried and a bit crispy in texture which will take a few hours in a regular oven. I just periodically check on mine, testing for crispness. Once they are dry and crisp, remove from the oven and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container for your dog to snack on. Healthy treats you'll both love!

For the dog who loves soft toys: Look for flannel or fleece fabric remnants at the craft store or simply pick up some flannel sheets or large flannel shirts at the second hand store.  Cut the fabric into strips and tightly braid them together creating a homemade tug rope for your dog (see the photo below for an example).

And if you happen to drive past a yard sale, stop and see if they have any durable kids toys like backyard playhouses, slides, or tunnels.  These are fun for dogs as well, creating obstacles to go over, around, and through.  You can even hide treats in the playhouse or under the slide for your dog to find when they go exploring on their own.

I love making and receiving homemade gifts and I truly believe our dogs appreciate whatever we give them, so why not make their gifts yourself this year?

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me. 

Several years ago, this puppy did a week of boot camp at my house following his neuter surgery in December.  That was the year that my friend, Molly, made rope toys for my dogs for the holidays.  Well, this innocent looking puppy had the audacity to steal this toy from Ozzie and then growl when Ozzie tried to take it back!  Needless to say, that sheepish look on his face was for me when I took the toy away and asked him for a polite sit and stay.  It was boot camp after all!