I recently posted a blog post on how to play tug with your dog. You can read that article here. Next Im going to show you an easy way to make a fleece dog tug if you would rather not purchase one.
What you will need:
· Fleece
· Scissors
· Carabiner Clip (optional)
· Cutting Mat (optional)
· Rotary Cutter (optional)
· Lip Edge Ruler (optonal)
As you can see the items needed to make quality fleece dog tugs are very minimal! All you have to have is Fleeceand a pair of Scissorsand you are on your way. The Carabiner Clip, Cutting Mat, Rotary Cutter and Lip Edge Ruler just make it easier, especially if you intend on making a lot of dog tugs. They make great gifts & prizes!
First I will teach you how to make a single fleece tug that is about 27 inches long and 1 inch thick.
Your fabric can be any kind of Fleece, even remnants! They can be the same fabric for your ties, or different, it really doesnt matter unless maybe you are going to sell them or give them as gifts. Or if you are trying to be eco friendly, they do make ECO Hemp Organic Cotton Fleece Fabric.
You will want to cut 3 pieces of fleece that are approximately 5" wide by 28" long. You will want the length to be the stretch part of the fabric. Give it a gentle tug before cutting to ensure the length will have the stretch.
You can either eyeball it and cut each piece of Fleecewith your Scissors, or you can use a Cutting Mat, Rotary Cutter and Lip Edge Ruler for more precise cuts & you can also do more than one at a time. A great investment if you plan on making more.
Tie one end in a knot. If you would like, take Carabiner Clip and attach to the end of the knot to something like a chair. Or, if you are like me, you can put the knot between your big toe & second toe & hold! You are looking for a way to be able to give the fleece a little tug in between each braid. Fold each piece in half length-wise to double the thickness.
Now its time to start braiding the fleece! Rather than try to write instructions, I found this nice video on how to braid. Its pretty straight forward. You will want to leave enough fabric at the end to tie another knot. After I typically trim both ends to be even.
Viola! Your first quality dog tug toy is complete.
If you want to make a fleece tug with a looped handle, that is pretty simple too. Set up the same as previously, but this time cut your Fleeceabout 36" long. Do not tie a knot. This time start your braid from the CENTER of your fabric & braid about 5" to each side of the center.
After you get the center braided (the handle), bring the ends together (3 from one
Viola! Your first quality dog tug with a handle is complete.
Need some extra help? I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!
Please feel free to contact me for details.
