DIY dog toy with treats: a snuffle mat made from an old towel

Key points

• With an old bath towel you can make two sniffing games: a knotted snuffle mat and a rolled towel with treats.
• A towel is too big to swallow; a sock, on the other hand, is a common cause of intestinal blockage.
• Always use it under supervision and put it away afterward, especially if your dog chews fabric.
• Treats count toward their daily portion: keep them few and small.

This DIY dog toy with treats is made from an old bath towel: you scatter a few treats, knot or roll it up, and your dog has to sniff, nose and untangle it to find them. Ten minutes of sniffing games tires them out more than a short walk, and you don't need to buy anything.

This guide used to suggest making it with a sock. We no longer recommend that: socks are one of the most common causes of intestinal blockage in dogs, and a towel gives you the same game without that risk. We explain two versions, the knotted snuffle mat and the rolled towel, and why we've dropped the sock.

Two versions with an old towel

Knotted snuffle mat

Spread the towel on the floor, place a couple of treats in one spot, gather the fabric around them and tie a loose knot to wrap them up. Repeat along the towel until you have three or four knots, and leave a few loose treats in the folds. Your dog has to sniff out which knot has a treat and loosen it with their nose and paws.

Rolled towel with treats

Spread out the towel, scatter treats over the whole surface, roll it up from one side like a jelly roll and tie a loose knot in the middle, or fold the roll in half. Your dog has to unroll it and nose around to find them.

To start, leave a treat or two in plain sight and don't tie the knots tightly. Once they get the hang of it, tighten them a little or hide the treats closer to the center.

Why we no longer recommend the sock toy

For a while this guide explained how to make this toy with a sock and treats. We've changed it because a sock is just the right size to pass down the esophagus and get stuck in the stomach or intestine. It's one of the foreign bodies vets remove most often, by endoscopy or surgery, and not only from large dogs: a 10 kg (22 lb) dog can swallow a sock with no trouble. Playing with socks also teaches them that socks are theirs, and then they go looking for them in the laundry basket.

Signs of a blockage: repeated vomiting, retching, not eating, lethargy, pain when you touch their belly or no poop. If you suspect they've swallowed a piece of clothing, call your vet even if they still seem fine.

Towel safety

• Supervise. Stay close while they play.
• Put it away afterward and keep it out of reach. It's not a toy to leave in their bed.
• If they chew or tear it, trade it for a treat and take it away: it's not a chew toy.
• For dogs that shred or swallow fabric, a cardboard box with crumpled paper (if they don't eat cardboard) or a rubber treat-dispensing toy is a better choice.
• Use a towel in one piece, with no loose threads or long fringes, washed without scented fabric softener.

Which treats to use

Use small, dry treats that don't leave a mess: pieces of their kibble, sweet potato chews, liver treats or broken-up apple and carrot cookies. Remember they count toward their daily portion. You'll find more ideas in our homemade dog treats.

More games in DIY dog toys.

What you need

• An old bath towel, in one piece with no loose threads
• A handful of small, dry treats (10-15 pieces)

Step by step

1. Check the towel

   Make sure it's in one piece, with no loose threads or long fringes, and that it doesn't smell of scented fabric softener.

2. Scatter the treats

   Spread the towel on the floor and scatter the treats over the whole surface. If your dog is new to this, leave one or two in plain sight.

3. Knot or roll

   For the snuffle mat, tie three or four loose knots along the towel with a couple of treats inside each. For the roll, roll it up from one side like a jelly roll and tie a loose knot in the middle, or fold the roll in half.

4. Play while you watch

   Give it to them and stay close. Let them sniff it, push it around and undo the knots. If they start chewing hard on the fabric, trade it for a treat and take it away.

5. Put it away afterward

   Once they've found all the treats, shake out the towel, fold it up and keep it out of reach until the next session.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this toy with a sock?

We don't recommend it. A sock is just the right size for a dog to swallow and is a common cause of intestinal blockage, which often ends in endoscopy or surgery. An old bath towel gives the same sniffing game and is too big to swallow.

What happens if my dog swallows a sock?

Call your vet right away, even if your dog seems fine. A sock may pass on its own in some large dogs, but it often gets stuck in the stomach or intestine and has to be removed by endoscopy or surgery. If it happened recently, the vet can safely induce vomiting. Don't try it at home.

What homemade toys are safe for dogs?

The safest are those your dog can't break or swallow, used under supervision: a large towel rolled up with treats, a cardboard box with crumpled paper and treats for dogs that don't eat cardboard, or a plastic bottle without its cap inside a box. No homemade toy is one to leave them alone with.

How long should a dog play sniffing games?

With 10-15 minutes of sniffing games a day, most dogs end up calm and tired, because sniffing takes a lot of concentration. You can split it into two short sessions. It's especially useful on rainy days, with older dogs that walk less, or to keep them busy while you leave the house.