Quick & Simple DIY Snuffle Ball
There is an interactive dog puzzle toy ball combo thingy that has been making the rounds on TikTok lately. Everyone and their dogs are going bananas over it. As soon as I saw the toy in play, I knew we already had all the tools we needed to make one. This quick and easy DIY Snuffle Ball took us about 15 minutes to put together and only a few minutes more to load up and get ready for our new puppy. I’m excited to show you how you can reuse materials that you may already have laying around to make your very own homemade Snuffle Ball!
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What is a Snuffle Ball?
A Snuffle Ball is typically a ball composed of fabric scraps. The pieces are secured together tightly enough to create perfect hiding spots for multiple treats. The dog is then challenged to sniff out and release the treats from the Snuffle Ball while rolling it around the house.
Why is enrichment so important?
A lot of people believe that the only way to tire out a puppy is with physical exercise, but would you believe that mental stimulation is even more exhausting? I’ve seen a lot of different stats suggesting mental enrichment can be 2 – 3X more tiring than physical exercise. Scent work is especially important for dogs, and your DIY Snuffle Ball is the perfect puzzle toy for really getting your pup’s brain going.
DIY Snuffle Ball Supplies
For our DIY Snuffle Ball, we will be modifying a Hol-ee Roller. The JW Hol-ee Roller is a super versatile, rubber ball that has openings along all sides. The Hol-ee Roller is a great toy for playing fetch, but because you can also put all sorts of treats and toys inside the ball itself, it also makes a great puzzle enrichment toy. Today we are going to be using some old fleece pajamas and our Hol-ee Roller to recreate the popular TikTok Dog Toy.
Supplies
- Hol-ee Roller Ball (Medium)
- Fleece or Knit Fabric Scraps*
- Fabric Scissors (or these lefties)
- Treats and/or Kibble
Finding the right fabric
As I mentioned above, we are going to be using an old, worn out pair of fleece pajamas as the material for our homemade Hol-EE Roller Snuffle Ball. You can also use any kind of knit fabrics, such as old T-Shirts, Leggings, etc. Fleece and knits are excellent fabrics for quick and easy projects like this one because they do not fray.
If you have used our other DIY Dog Toy or T-Shirt Yarn tutorials, you may already have some scraps laying around that would be a perfect fit for this project. Similarly, any scraps you have left over from your DIY Snuffle Ball can easily be turned into one of our 5 Easy DIY Dog Toys.
How to make a snuffle ball for your dog
Whether you are working with old clothes or fabric scraps, there isn’t much prep involved for this DIY Snuffle Ball. The process is very simple and can be completed in just a few moments. All you will need is your fabric scissors, scrap fabric, Hol-ee Roller, and your dogs favorite treats and/or kibble.
1. Cut
Cut your fabric into long strands that are about 3 – 4” wide. I cut mine across the chest of the pajamas so I would have one large loop.
Then cut one end of the loop to transform it into a single long piece. This piece will hang out of your homemade Snuffle Ball on both sides, so it is okay for it to be a bit long. You can trim it down later.
2. Knot
Lie one piece over another so that they intersect in the middle. Tie these pieces into a knot and tighten.
Repeat until you have combined 5 – 6 pieces of fabric with one singular knot in the middle. You will need to be able to pass this knot through the openings of your Hol-ee Roller, so keep that in mind as you work.
3. Combine
Force the knot of your fabric into the middle of your Hol-EE Roller Ball along with all the strands. Now arrange and pull the strands out of the ball one by one until they are evenly distributed across the surface of your Hol-EE Roller Ball.
4. Load
Working with one strand at a time, place bits of kibble and treats along the length of the fabric. Roll the fabric tightly into a little dog treat burrito and tuck it into one of the holes of your Hol-ee Roller Ball. Choose the larger openings for an easier snuffle ball activity OR use the smaller openings to make it harder.
Release the Hounds
You did it! You just learned how to make a Snuffle Ball using fabric scraps and a JW Hol-EE Roller. Now you can join the TikTok trend and post videos of your puppy having a blast with their homemade Snuffle Ball. Make sure you tag me at @dfwcraftshows. I would love to see how your homemade Snuffle Ball turns out!
Save your Scraps
Don’t forget to bundle up any scraps from your DIY Snuffle Ball project and check out our 5 Easy DIY Dog Toys tutorial for more quick & easy ideas on how to keep your dog happy, healthy, and having fun.
Originally posted on March 05, 2023.
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4 thoughts on “Quick & Simple DIY Snuffle Ball”
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Hi, I'm Tania!
Thanks for stopping by DFW Craft Shows! Our blog is home to tons of creative inspiration, gift guides, tutorials, featured artists, and tips for small businesses trying to make their mark in the arts & crafts world.
I love how you made this from fabric scraps. And pet enrichment is so important.
I need to try this for my dog. He doesn’t really care for toys, but he does love treats. It might be the way to get him playing.
Hello! Do you know approximately how long you made your strips?
Great question! I just used the length that resulted from cutting across the chest of my 10 year old’s shirt. If I had to guess, I would say it was about 16″ or so. I apologize for not having an exact length.