In this post, I share 10 of the best budget DIY enrichment toys that cost less than $5 to make. I bet you already have supplies for most of these games around your house… making them basically free!
Each of the 10 games I picked out taps into a key type of enrichment. So this isn’t just a list of toys and games. I explain what kind of benefits each one offers for your dog. With my help, you’ll know you’re giving them enrichment that makes their life better, not just something that keeps them busy.
There’s so much more to enrichment than food puzzles! If you’re curious, check out my breakdown of the 7 categories of enrichment and learn how each one supports your dog’s happiness and well-being.
Rather get straight into these DIYs? Here’s my selection of under $5 DIY dog enrichment from myself and other bloggers.
This post may contain affiliate links. When you click or buy something, I might earn a small commission. That support helps me keep this blog running. Thank you in advance for your support!
10 Under $5 DIY Dog Enrichment Games
I’m always grabbing stuff around the house, including stuff destined for the trash, that I can use for a canine enrichment game! Empty toilet paper rolls, yogurt containers, egg cartons… those are all great supplies to save and use to play with your dog.
Here you’ll find a few ideas that live on the Wear Wag Repeat blog alongside more ideas from my pet blogger friends.
I broke the list down by enrichment category so it’s easier for you to find activities that your dog really loves. You’ll find sensory and scent games, food puzzles and how to teach impulse control through enrichment games.
Scent Work Enrichment Ideas (That Cost Less Than $5!)
Scent-based activities engage a dog’s most powerful sensory tool… their nose. This type of enrichment encourages natural foraging behavior when your dog has to sniff around and find the treats.
These sniffing games don’t just burn mental energy, they help calm your dog’s nervous system because sniffing is naturally soothing for dogs. I love using these on rainy days, vet visit mornings, or anytime my dogs need to chill out.
DIY Snuffle Mat
Snuffle mats are a staple of enrichment and one of the easiest ways to encourage your dog’s foraging instincts. Just hide a little food or treats in the fleece strips. Then your dog gets to sniff, search, and self-soothe.
My small-sized DIY version came out to just $4.22 in materials! I promise, it’s very easy to make. Plus, it can be customized with colors and difficulty levels for your dog with more or less dense strips.
Get the full DIY snuffle mat tutorial
Muffin Tin Puzzle Game
I bet you have a muffin tin collecting dust in your kitchen! I did! So I turned it into a DIY enrichment puzzle for my dogs.
All you need is a muffin tin and a few tennis balls or toys. Hide food or treats in the cups and cover them with the balls. Your dog will use their nose, paws, and problem-solving skills to figure it out.
I used all supplies that I had laying around, but you can find inexpensive muffin tins at DollarTree. For small dogs, try the 6-muffin tin.
Learn how to set up and play the muffin game
Rolled Towel Treat Box
This clever scent game from our friend Taylor @bindisbucketlist uses rolled-up towels stuffed with treats and arranged in a cardboard box.
Your dog gets to sniff, unroll, and search. These are all natural, calming behaviors that make this activity perfect for rainy days or dogs on crate rest.
Watch the video tutorial on TikTok
Created by: Bindi’s Bucket List
Problem Solving & Food Dispensing
These toys challenge your dog to think, experiment, and problem solve to earn a reward… like a few tasty treats or their whole dinner!
Problem-solving builds confidence, so itàs great for dogs who need a boost. Mental games like this also prevent bored dog problem behaviors like excessive barking or chewing up your stuff.
Mental problem-solving can be just as exhausting as a walk! So these are great, cheap DIYs to do with your dog on a rainy afternoon.
DIY Busy Box
This is one of my go-to ways to add enrichment to my dog’s day. All you need is a cardboard box and some household items like packing paper, empty toilet paper rolls, yogurt cups, or even plastic berry containers. Sprinkle a little food or treats inside each container, pack it all up, and let your dog dig, forage, and explore.
No two busy boxes are ever the same, which keeps it novel and fun every time. In that way this cheap puzzle is better than the expensive ones from the store!
I usually do this activity the night before trash day. I feed my dogs dinner in their busy box in the backyard, then I take all the ripped-up containers out to the curb.
Learn how to build your own DIY busy box
Water Bottle Puzzle Toy
This upcycled toy from our friend Caitlin at Sparkles and Sunshine Blog turns old water bottles into a brain-teasing food puzzle. Just add a small handful of kibble inside a few water bottles, then string them up between two dining room chairs.
Your dog will have to flip and shake the bottles to get the food out. Caitlin says this was pretty challenging for her dogs. So we don’t recommend this one for beginners or puppies.
See how to make the Water Bottle Puzzle
Created by: Sparkles and Sunshine Blog
Yogurt Cup Treat Dispenser
Here’s another budget-friendly idea from Caitline at Sparkles and Sunshine Blog. Take an empty yogurt cup, cut a small hole in the container, fill it with treats and secure the lid with packing tape.
As your dog pushes it around, food spills out slowly. This activity encourages patience and persistent play while slowing down fast eaters.
And it only costs as much as a tub of yogurt… under $5 where I shop!
Created by: Sparkles and Sunshine Blog
See the tutorial here
Food Enrichment With a Twist
Licking, chewing, and gnawing are deeply satisfying behaviors for dogs. These activities activate the brain’s feel-good chemicals, help release excess energy, and can even promote better digestion and sleep.
But food enrichment toys like Toppls and Kongs are definitely NOT under $5! So here are some ways you can get the benefits of food enrichment on a DIY budget.
Frozen Carrot Treats
In this TikTok from @dogs.made.simple, they hollow out large carrots, stuff them with their dog’s wet food, and freeze them for a chilly, crunchy puzzle.
This one’s a sensory experience with a unique texture and temperature. Your dog will lick and crunch through this one! And at just a few dollars for a whole bag of carrots, it’s a great value too.
My dogs love carrots! Just be mindful that there are natural sugars in carrots, so this is a good activity for every once in a while, not daily.
Watch the carrot food enrichment DIY video
Created by: @dogs.made.simple on TikTok
Toilet Paper Roll Snake
This idea from Sparkles and Sunshine Blog uses 3-5 empty toilet paper rolls, a kitchen towel and a handful of treats. String them together to create a bendy, treat-dispensing “snake” puzzle for your dog to solve.
This activity is mentally stimulating and eco-friendly! It’s perfect for dogs who love to pull things apart… that being said, your towel might get torn apart in this game!
I’ve been saving toilet paper rolls so I can do this with Burt.
Find instructions for the Snake game here
Created by: Sparkles and Sunshine Blog
Enrichment Idea That Encourages Self-Control
Enrichment isn’t just about burning energy or keeping your dog busy. Sometimes it’s about helping your dog slow down and feel calm.
This next activity builds emotional intelligence, impulse control, and a stronger connection between you and your dog. And all you need is a tug toy!
Tug Toy With Rules
This tutorial from my dog trainer friend Louise at Red Pointy Dog Training explains how to use a tug toy as a way to build focus, boundaries, and emotional control for your dog.
Instead of wild pulling, the game includes cues like “drop it” and “wait.” This creates a two-way communication moment between you and your dog.
It’s also great mental and physical enrichment that strengthens the bond you share! Louise also points out that this activity, done right, is great for dogs with reactivity.
Read Louise’s enriching tug tutotiral here
Created by: Red Pointy Dog Training
Advanced Scent Work DIY Idea
I already told you about how great sniffing and scent games are for your dog. And while this last DIY enrichment idea isn’t necessarily advanced for your dog… it takes some advanced DIY skills to make it!
The upside is that this toy should last you and your dog for years of fun! This photo shows me and my dog Burt at a Barn Hunt training session with the type of PVC tube we use for that sport. Can you guess whats inside that tube?? It’s not treats!
PVC Scent Tube Treat Dispenser
This durable, long-term toy is made with a PVC pips that can be filled with scents or treats. It requires some safety gear and power tools, but if you have the supplies and skills, you should totally make this!
With this enrichment toy, your dog has to sniff, manipulate, and problem-solve to release the treats.
Of course when I saw this, I thought of my dog Burt and his Barn Hunt training. Instead of using this as a treat dispenser, you could also just hide the tube with scents in it and have your dog find it.
See the full tutorial for this PVC enrichment toy
Created by: Humane Society of South Louisiana (HSSLC)
Want More Enrichment Ideas Like These?
If you loved these ideas but want step-by-step instructions in one place, grab my Mental Enrichment Activity Pack. It includes 10 printable activities I’ve personally tested with my dogs, plus bonus tips for adjusting difficulty levels and making each one last longer.
These enrichment games are:
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Backed by science
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Easy to set up (with stuff you probably already have)
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Tested and approved by my Labradors, Burt and Lucy
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Designed to build real-life skills like focus, regulation, and confidence
Just click here to grab your Enrichment Activity Pack now
FAQs About DIY Dog Enrichment Toys
What’s the easiest DIY dog enrichment toy to start with?
I would start with the muffin tin game or Caitlin’s yogurt container treat dispenser. These are both inexpensive, or use things you already have, and are games that I know any dog can figure out with a little guidance and cheering on from their person.
Are these homemade toys safe for heavy chewers or destructive dogs?
You should always supervise your dog with any of these activities. None of the games here are really designed for heavy chewing activities. If you want to teach your dog how to have some impulse control, check out Louise’s tug tutorial because that will teahc your dog how to “drop it” and “wait” as you play games like tug or when they’re chewing on something.
How often should I give my dog enrichment toys?
You should do some kind of enrichment with your dog every day. It doesn’t have to be complicated! Any of these under $5 DIY activities are great and I have tons more ideas in the Enrichment section of my blog.
What should I avoid when making DIY dog toys?
When you’re making DIY enrichment toys and puzzles for your dog, always make sure you’re using safe materials. Don’t use anything that could be a choking hazard, or small pieces of plastic that your dog might eat.
You should also avoid leaving your dog unsupervised with any of these activities. They’re better when you play together and then clean up afterwards.
Do I need to supervise my dog with DIY enrichment toys?
Absolutely, yes! And not only should you supervise, but I think you should try to participate in the activity with your dog. Of course, you don’t need to sniff and find the treats, but you can cheer your dog on, encourage them, and help them if it looks like they’re getting frustrated.
Remember, enrichment is bonding, not babysitting! So use this as a chance to play with your dog rather than getting them to leave you alone.
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