3 DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas Using Tennis Balls
Did you know that you don’t have to spend a ton of money on your dog for them to have fun? Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s a ton of stuff that I love to do with my dog that does require money, but there’s also a ton of things I do that don’t.
One of my favorite things to do is to make DIY puzzle toys for dogs out of things I already have at home. It’s amazing how many dog enrichment activities you can make from a single item. In today’s post, I’m going to be sharing 3 DIY dog enrichment ideas using something almost every dog owner has in their home, tennis balls! I do want to mention for this post I am using 3 different size tennis balls to fit each activity, but again, depending on the size dog you have, you probably already have some of the sizes.
I’ll also be featuring one of my favorite organic dog treats brands, Ava’s Pet Palace! I am a HUGE fan of Ava’s Pet Palace and I love how much she has achieved at such a young age. I’ve got a whole blurb about her below so you can learn all about her amazing brand!
P.S. I featured Ava’s Pet Palace organic dog treats in another blog post sharing how to make your own DIY Snuffle Mat For Dogs. This DIY snuffle mat tutorial is incredibly easy and after trying many dog enrichment mats, my own DIY snuffle mat for dogs is by far my favorite!
What Is Dog Enrichment?
If you found my post through Pinterest, Google or another social media platform and are new to dog enrichment, I thought it would be helpful to share exactly what dog enrichment is! You know when you take your dog outside and they take time to take in all the smells? That’s dog enrichment! You know when you practice training or teach your dog a new trick? That’s dog enrichment! Essentially, dog enrichment is any activity that makes your dog’s life better and stimulate their senses, to put it simply. This can be found in the form of DIY dog puzzles, interactive dog toys, outdoor activities, walks, dog sports, etc.
Providing physical and mental enrichment for dogs helps prevent bored dogs, destructive behavior in dogs, and if you have a super smart, high-energy breed, this will also aid in keeping their minds busy in a positive way.
Who Is Ava’s Pet Palace?
Ava’s Pet Palace was founded by Ava herself when she was only 6 years old and her mission is to create a healthier world for pets, people and the planet. She focuses on super high quality, simple, organic and all-natural ingredients for all of her treats which is something I care about a lot. I always try to choose dog treats that are made with limited ingredients, or have ingredients that I recognize on the label.
She currently has three organic dog treat biscuit flavors: Gone Bananas, Cheeze Pleeze and Peanutty Paws. On top of that, she has a single ingredient fish dog treat, the Snappin Salmon, salmon jerky dog treats that my pups can’t get enough of (those were the treats featured in my DIY snuffle mat for dogs blog post since they have the perfect smell for DIY scenting games for dogs!).
Also, they’re on presale right now, and I cannot WAIT to try them, Ava’s Pet Palace has brand new treats coming out this fall! She’s launching her own line of freeze-dried dog treats in two different flavor combinations that sound amazing: Turkey Poppers (made with turkey and pumpkin) and Salmon Puffs (made with salmon and kale). You’ll want to get your paws on those!
DIY Dog Enrichment Idea 1: Tennis Ball Dog Treat Dispenser
The first DIY dog enrichment idea has become one of my favorite boredom busters for dogs! We’re going to be making a DIY dog treat dispenser out of only two things: a tennis ball and a plastic bottle. For this DIY dog enrichment game, I looked at multiple sizes of plastic bottles and tennis balls to find the perfect combination. I even went to a gas station to find the right bottle without having to buy a 6 or 12 pack, ha! Below is what I used and how to make this Tennis Ball DIY Dog Treat Dispenser.
You’ll Need:
- 1 Snapple Bottle
- 1.5 in. tennis balls (I got the Joyhound Game On Tennis Balls 6-pack!)
How To Make:
Step 1: Clean out your Snapple Bottle and take the lid off.
Step 2: Grab your bottle and one tennis ball and push the tennis ball inside.
Note: You’ll have to push a little to get the ball inside but it will plop right in once you do!
Step 3: Add as many of the tennis balls from your 6-pack as you want.
Pro Tip: The more tennis balls inside, the harder the puzzle. If you’re just getting started or have a young dog, only put in 1-3 to ensure the treats or food comes out easily. If you have a dog who loves puzzles, go ahead and put all six in!
Pro Tip 2: If you have smaller dog and are using their food (smaller kibble sizes), you might want to put all six tennis balls in since the food will be able to come out easier due to its’ size. Play with it first to see what amount works best for your dog!
Step 4: Add in Ava’s Pet Palace organic dog treat biscuits and watch them enjoy their DIY dog enrichment activity!
I couldn’t resist sharing this blooper. Ya’ll have to zoom in and see her face. She looks like she has a nose from The Grinch movies, ha!!!
DIY Dog Enrichment Idea 2: Tennis Ball Muffin Pan Game
The second DIY dog enrichment idea is a classic loved by many, the muffin pan game! This is one of my favorite beginner enrichment activities for dogs and beginner scenting games for dogs because it’s not overly complicated while still providing a ton of fun and mental enrichment for dogs. Here’s how to make it:
You’ll Need:
- 1 Muffin Pan (or two smaller ones depending on what size you have!)
- Tennis Balls to fill the pan (featured here are 12 tennis balls that I got in two 6-pack bundles from KONG, but there are big packs on Amazon for cheaper! I just didn’t have the best shipping time, ha!)
Pro Tip: If you don’t have enough tennis balls, you can always fill it with other balls and toys that are around the same size. In my blog post 3 DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas To Combat Dog Cabin Fever, I used a variety of dog toys to fill it, so no worries if you don’t have a full set!
Step 1: Grab your empty muffin pan and fill every hole with your organic dog treats from Ava’s Pet Palace.
Step 2: Fill each hole with a tennis ball (or other toys) until it is filled and watch your dog solve!
Bonus Challenge Tip: If you want to make this more challenging, don’t fill every hole with a treat. This will encourage your dog to use their nose even more and only remove the tennis balls that have the treats.
When we were shooting this, Diesel was being so adorable because after he had removed like two of the tennis balls, he would gently pick up a tennis ball with his mouth and slowly place it in an empty hole as he kept finding the areas that still had treats. It was so cute!
DIY Dog Enrichment Idea 3: Tennis Ball DIY Dog Treat Dispenser #2
The third and final boredom buster for dogs is another DIY dog treat dispenser. One of my favorite ways to give my dogs their food is through a treat dispensing dog toy. After using so many and making quite a few on my own with other items, I realized there was another item I had in my house that I could use, a giant tennis ball!
You’ll Need:
- 1 Large Tennis Ball
- 1 Box cutter
Step 1: Grab your large tennis ball and your box cutter and begin cutting a straight line. Make sure you have a sharp box cutter or this will take longer, ha!
Step 2: Continue cutting to create a triangle shape that is the size of the treats/dog food you want to put inside (i.e. if you have a big dog with big kibble, make sure the whole isn’t too small for it to not come out or too big so it all comes out to quickly. Same for small dogs).
Step 3: Fill your tennis ball DIY dog treat dispenser with Ava’s Pet Palace organic dog treats and watch your dog have fun!
Three easy dog enrichment activities made with the best organic treats for dogs by Ava’s Pet Palace, done and dusted! But really, how easy were those DIY dog enrichment ideas to make? Adding in these DIY puzzle toys for dogs during the week will add a ton of mental enrichment for your dogs, plus if you need some homemade dog toys to keep them busy while you work, these also have that benefit too! Make sure to check out Ava’s Pet Palace to see all of their organic dog treats. I can’t wait to try their new freeze-dried treat line but until then we’ll enjoying all of their baked dog treats and single ingredient salmon jerky dog treats!
Want more dog enrichment ideas? Check out some of my favorite posts featuring some more fun DIY puzzle toys for dogs, Lickimat recipes, KONG filling ideas, and more:
- 3 Easy Dog Lick Mat Ideas
- 3 DIY Dog Treat Dispensers
- 3 DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas To Combat Dog Cabin Fever
- 3 Dog Enrichment Activities Using Toilet Paper Rolls
- 3 DIY Puzzle Toys For Dogs
- 3 Easy Scenting Games For Dogs
- 3 Ingredient Yogurt Dog Treat Recipe With Lickimat Soother
- 3 Snuffle Toys For Dogs
- DIY Snuffle Mat Ball: JW HOLEE Roller Ball Dog Toy Idea
Plus, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get more dog enrichment ideas delivered straight to your inbox.
Thank you Ava’s Pet Palace for sponsoring this post. My dogs and I absolutely love your treats and your mission. All opinions are my own!
Photography: Kate Kelley Collection