DIY Snuffle Ball for Dogs

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

UPDATE. Instead of using zip ties, you can use shoelaces, string or strong thread. Happy sniffing!

[@libertymicrofarm6032]

Thank you. This was easy to make! Side note though, if you are using a heavier weight fleece like I did (arctic fleece), use fewer circles per grouping. The 8 I used made it un-snuffle-able. I took it apart and made it with only 6 per grouping. Worked much better! Next time I’ll use a lighter weight fabric and do the 8 😉

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great tip!

[@evahelen2242]

Very nice video, well explained of a very nice lady !❤ Thank you so much ! I am looking forward doing this very soon for my doggy 😍

[@LHornSnifferDog]

Thank you. Let us know how it goes!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for the kind words. Laurie Horn is a treasure! We are lucky to have her on our team. Thank you for watching!

[@christinesibona6553]

❤❤❤ the idea of steeping scraps in catnip. No waste!❤️❤️❤️

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thanks for watching! Please hit the subscribe button for more.

[@veronicarankin8297]

Amazing tutorial, thank you so much! Can't wait to make one!

[@alisonlouise6406]

I'm gonna make some for my 9 chihuahuas. They're gonna love them off i go to raid hubbys tool box and my fabric stash 😂❤ thanks for a great tutorial.

[@DragonFlyOwl]

9 … chihuahuas!? Frig, I’d hate to be your neighbour! Unless you’ve trained them not to bark at every tiny sound!

[@leftieknitter7392]

Thank you. A very useful and fun thingie to make. Great tutorial❤

[@bordercollie7798]

Very well done video! Thank you!❤😊

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching!

[@janalee2019]

Fantastic video! Thanks so much for clear, thorough instructions instructions and the detailed materials list! 🥰

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching! Hope you and your pup have fun with the snuffle ball!

[@Nalaoflightangelen]

Can't wait or make my first sniffle ball.my gsd nala is gonna love it.thank you for this easy step by step video.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thanks for watching!

[@hannahandrainn]

I love this idea! I’m going to make some for my dobes 🙌😊

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

How did they turn out?

[@rachelstampsitup]

Great tutorial, thank you! How much fleece (yardage) would you guess it takes for a 6" snuggle ball?

[@LHornSnifferDog]

For a 6" you would need the following. 2 color - 3/8 yd 1 color - 5/8 yd

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for the reply, Laurie! @@LHornSnifferDog

[@DragonFlyOwl]

@@LHornSnifferDogcould you please add this info (for all sizes) to your video description!

[@Withluvyourkahu]

Hi. Great video. I grow my own farm-fresh catnip and can pair it with these homemade snuffle balls. You said that you had a template for the sizes? I could not find.

[@LHornSnifferDog]

Sorry, no actual template available. I found a jar and plates that were the size I wanted and traced the circles on card stock.

[@DragonFlyOwl]

@@LHornSnifferDogagain …. Pls add this to video description

[@thuurtje9]

Love the video! Thank you very much!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

You're welcome!

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

The hot end of a glue gun will melt the end of the zip tie …no glue of course

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great tip!

[@adamjenniesammax]

Thank you!! ❤️

[@debbiesteffen448]

W ow so well done. Thank you ❤❤❤

[@LHornSnifferDog]

Thank you 😊

[@olivewoo522]

I came upon your video because I asked Meta AI what a snuggle mat was. Then i saw your snuggle ball. 💜

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching!

[@letsmakeamesstoday]

This is awesome! Thank you!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching! We are recording some new videos on how to make different snuffle toys. Please subscribe to our channel to keep an eye out for our new videos coming soon!

[@TheReluctantVEGrANny]

I love this

[@peggymcthompson261]

You mention using tshirts how many do you recommend per zip tie?

[@lhorn49]

Hello Peggy! I have personally not used tshirts to make a snuffle ball. You should be able to determine how many once the circles are cut. Depending on the weight of the tshirt fabric and how tight you want the ball to be fewer circles make it much easier for the food/treats to come out and more circles per zip tie will make it more difficult. I'm sorry I don't have a definitive answer for you, but the number of circles you can get out of one tshirt will vary also depending on the size tshirt you are cutting up.

[@pennybrackett9889]

Try use cutters. My cutter is blue handle.We use this at work all the time with no problem

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Cable cutters ... great idea! Thank you for the suggestion and for watching. Please be sure to subscribe to our channel for more.

[@kathyerwin7835]

Could you use a strong thread or string instead of zip ties?

[@LHornSnifferDog]

Yes! I have actually switched to using shoelaces!

[@jakarina2214]

Can't wait to make it

[@IAMGiftbearer]

This is clever!

[@fd36captain45]

Thank you for this great video! I have a question - Both our dogs are young, 1 and 2 years old. They love to shred their toys. Would this be something to curb that behavior? They love to pull stuffing out of every toy I have given them. Squeakers are the most fun part! Of course I take it away from them and it ends up in the trash.

[@lhorn49]

Thank you for your question. While the act of sniffing can be a calming activity for a dog (using their nose is a natural behavior and very powerful), I don't think that using a snuffle ball or mat would stop them from shredding their other toys. You could try and see if they don't destroy this because they are rewarded with food. Squeakers can be seen as prey to many dog breeds, thus the need to "kill" them. Close supervision is necessary anytime a new activity or toy is introduced. I know there are toys made specifically for dogs that love to "un-stuff" their toys. They are made with tough Velcro so a dog can rip them apart over and over again. If they have a really strong prey drive you made need to seek a tougher toy that can't be destroyed.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

@@lhorn49 Thanks for the reply, Laurie!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

@FD36Captain, please keep us posted if you try the snuffle ball or any scent games. Good luck and happy sniffing!

[@fd36captain45]

@@MichiganPetAlliance Thank you for the reply! I do plan on trying this as a reward game and for rainy days when we cannot go outside for some fun. I have tried a game before with a previous pup I had (weimaraner). I would hide treats around the yard for him to "hunt." I am going to try the snuffle ball and this to see if it helps with, not so much calming, but enrichment. Btw, they are both Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. One looks like a Catahoula and the other is definitely the heeler part of the mix.

[@fd36captain45]

@@lhorn49 Thank you for your reply! I have tried those toys that they pull the little animals out of, or even one with little veggies, but they all were shredded lol. I have recently purchased jolly balls (arrived yesterday) and the heeler/catahoula mix just went wild with it! Those other toys that are unstuffed and made with ballistic material do not stand a chance lol. Anyway, going to definitely try this snuffle ball for active mind play. Thank so much for your recommendations :D

[@juliebraga1130]

Hello, From Canada . Would you be able to provide the templates for the sizes of the circles please?

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

The Supplies List and circle dimensions are at the end of the video starting at 11:33. Thanks for watching!

[@heybrothers]

My husky would she shred one in a matter of seconds. 😂

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

🤣🤣🤣

[@nnmmnn9442]

Спасибо ❤

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

You're welcome!

[@JanineMKartist]

Are the zip ties safe from Dog’s access?

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for your questions. Laurie explains in the video how to use the zip ties safely.

[@lhorn49]

Remember that close supervision is recommended and the snuffle ball should be removed when the dog is done snuffling. It is not intended to be a toy.

[@yogiduhbahr6138]

Awesome...unfortunately, my dog killed the snuffle ball in about 30 seconds flat. Thanks for sharing!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Sorry to hear that! Some dogs just can't resist the fluffy fleece fabric. Thanks for watching!

[@shelleysmith4017]

You could use the fleece circles to fill an inexpensive holey ball. Put a few treats or kibble in the fleece circles and roll them up. Then stuff them into the ball. It allows them to snuffle a bit and remove the stuffing (which many dogs enjoy) and get the reward f getting the treats in some of the fleece “innards”. I had a “destructive “ dog who liked to kill soft toys and pull out all the stuffing and this holey ball worked great for us both, he loved it and could kill the creature and it wasn’t costing a fortune for 2 minutes of enjoyment of “killing” the toy and it could be made again and again in ever more difficulty levels as he solved each of the puzzles. Sometimes I used treats, sometimes food and sometimes, making it more difficult for them, I would use circles to enclose a treat, I sewed elastic to a few to make him work at opening pouches to get the goodie, and even used lengths of fabric, tie a treat into it with a loose knot for them to work out how to undo to get the goodie. And some fabric bits had nothing at all. So if you have not thrown the fabric pieces out, you could try that, as the holey balls are not very pricey online. I think I paid roughly $5 for an 8 inch one (I say roughly as although I am American I live in Scotland so exchange rate adds the approximation). Initially I filled the ball quite loose with the fabric and each piece has a little of his high reward treats (freeze dried meat pieces) to get him excited and encourage his desire to get to it. But once he got the hang of it, anything could be used, baby carrots, bits of apple, he was weird and loved oranges, so segments of orange, his kibble, anything. I started by leaving a few bits of fabric ends hanging outside the ball for him to grab and pull. But as he began understanding and getting faster with it I stuffed it tighter and did not leave any fabric on the outside so he had to figure out how to get an edge to pull. The ball is quite flexible so it doesn’t take too much effort on their part but they have to work it out. This ball kept him so entertained and he would get so excited when he would see me bringing the ball out to play. So maybe your dog would like something like that and you won’t have a bunch of fleece or fabric circles hanging about. I hope this helps.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

@@shelleysmith4017 - Great suggestions!

[@shelleysmith4017]

@@MichiganPetAlliance thank you.

[@paulagustafson6609]

@@shelleysmith4017what exactly is the holey ball you're referring to? I'd love to try this!

[@victoriawashburn4934]

can't hear her

[@MichelleSpranger]

Unmute?

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Are you able to adjust your volume or unmute the audio?