"Y" SHAPED DOG TUG & TOSS TOY

Intro: "Y" SHAPED DOG TUG & TOSS TOY

These easy to make colorful rope toys are great for any size dog.

"Y" SHAPED DOG TUG & TOSS TOYProject Cost $1.68
(100' of rope at $7.00 = $0.07 a foot; Project 24' x $0.07 = $1.68)

Check out my basic version of this toy at Dog Toys for Heavy Chewers

If you are having trouble tying the knot see my video BASIC KNOT VIDEO

(If you are concerned with your dog ingesting the nylon rope, natural 3/8" jute rope can be used instead)

WARNING

Please discard if toy becomes damaged or torn. Not intended for children. Should be used for chewing & playing only. Supervision is recommended when dogs are playing with toys.

STEP 1: Materials & Tools

1. Materials & Tools Needed for “Y” Shaped Dog Tug & Toss Toy
•3/8” Rope
•Tape Measure
•Scissors
•3 Small Zip Ties
•Marker
•Needle-Nose Pliers or Hemostats
•Lighter

STEP 2: Cut Six 48" Long Pieces of Rope

2. Cut six 48” lengths of rope, lightly melt ends of rope with lighter to prevent fraying
(1” finished project = approximately 4” of rope)

STEP 3: Find Center of Four 48" Ropes

3. Take four of the 48” lengths of rope and fold in half, mark if needed with marker

STEP 4: Secure Center With Zip Tie

4. Secure the four ropes with a small zip tie in the center (note: the zip tie will be removed later on in project)

STEP 5: Split Into Two Groups of Two

5. From the zip tie split the four ropes into two groups of two

STEP 6: Insert Remaining Two 48" Ropes

6. Take remaining two ropes divide in half, place center of ropes where you divided four ropes into two groups of two

STEP 7: Create Three Groups of Four

7. Secure with zip tie on each side creating three groups of four ropes each when finished

STEP 8: Grasp First Group of Four Ropes

8. Start with the first group of four ropes you created grasping at zip tie using a lightly closed fist with thumb extended

STEP 9: Position Ropes in Hand

9. Spread the ropes out over the top of fist with one rope behind thumb

STEP 10: Wrap Rope 1 Around Thumb & Over Rope 2

10. Take rope (rope 1) from behind thumb and wrap around it and over the next rope (rope 2)

STEP 11: Using Rope 2 Go Over Rope 1 & Over Rope 3

11. Take second rope (rope 2) go over first rope (rope 1) and over next rope (rope 3) keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

STEP 12: Using Rope 3 Go Over Rope 2 & Over Rope 4

12. Then take third rope (rope 3) go over second rope (rope 2) and over last rope (rope 4) again keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

STEP 13: Using Rope 4 Go Over Rope 3 & Thru Loop of Rope 1

13. Using last rope (rope 4) over third rope (rope 3) and thru loop of first rope (rope 1) that was looped around thumb

STEP 14: Tighten Up Knot

14. Tighten up each length of rope

STEP 15: Create Tight Uniform Knot

15. Continue tightening ropes until a uniformly tight knot is created

STEP 16: Repeat Steps 9 Thru 15

16. Repeat steps 9 thru 15

9. Spread the ropes out over the top of fist with one rope behind thumb

10. Take rope (rope 1) from behind thumb and wrap around it and over the next rope (rope 2)

11. Take second rope (rope 2) go over first rope (rope 1) and over next rope (rope 3) keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

12. Then take third rope (rope 3) go over second rope (rope 2) and over last rope (rope 4) again keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

13. Using last rope (rope 4) over third rope (rope 3) and thru loop of first rope (rope 1) that was looped around thumb

14. Tighten up each length of rope

15. Continue tightening ropes until a uniformly tight knot is created

repeat until six inches of finished length is reached or you have approximately 2” of rope remaining

STEP 17: Insert Pliers to Pull Rope Tail Thru

17. Carefully insert pliers or hemostats thru finished knot using care not to disturb knot by going between sections of knot

STEP 18: Pull Rope Tail Thru Knot

18. Grab tail of rope with pliers or hemostats and pull tail thru existing kno

STEP 19: Trim Rope Tail & Warm With Flame

19. Trim excess from tail to 1/2” and warm with lighter

STEP 20: Press Tail Into Knot While Warm

20. While still warm use end of lighter to press tail flush into knot

STEP 21: Repeat on Remaining Tails

21. Repeat on remaining tails until all four are done and a finished 6” knotted length is created

STEP 22: Remove Zip Tie & Ready Next Four Lengths of Rope

22. Remove zip tie from completed section and from the next section of four ropes leaving one zip tie in place holding the remaining four lengths of rope in place

STEP 23: Repeat Steps 9 Thru 15

23. Using the four remaining ropes without the zip tie repeat to steps 9 thru 15

9. Spread the ropes out over the top of fist with one rope behind thumb

10. Take rope (rope 1) from behind thumb and wrap around it and over the next rope (rope 2)

11. Take second rope (rope 2) go over first rope (rope 1) and over next rope (rope 3) keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

12. Then take third rope (rope 3) go over second rope (rope 2) and over last rope (rope 4) again keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

13. Using last rope (rope 4) over third rope (rope 3) and thru loop of first rope (rope 1) that was looped around thumb

14. Tighten up each length of rope

15. Continue tightening ropes until a uniformly tight knot is created

repeat until six inches of finished length is reached or you have approximately 2” of rope remaining

STEP 24: Insert Pliers to Pull Rope Tail Thru

24. Carefully insert pliers or hemostats thru finished knot using care not to disturb knot by going between sections of knot

STEP 25: Pull Rope Tail Thru Knot

25. Grab tail with pliers or hemostats and pull tail thru existing knot

STEP 26: Trim Rope Tail & Warm With Flame

26. Trim excess from tail to 1/2” and warm with lighter

STEP 27: Press Tail Into Knot While Warm

27. While still warm use end of lighter to press tail flush into knot

STEP 28: Repeat on Remaining Tails

28. Repeat on remaining tails until all four are done and a finished 6” knotted length is created

STEP 29: Two Completed Sections

29. At this stage you should have 2 complete sections and four lengths of rope zip tied together

STEP 30: Remove Final Zip Tie

30. Remove zip tie from final four lengths of rope

STEP 31: Repeat Steps 9 Thru 15

31. Using the four remaining ropes without the zip tie repeat to steps 9 thru 15

9. Spread the ropes out over the top of fist with one rope behind thumb

10. Take rope (rope 1) from behind thumb and wrap around it and over the next rope (rope 2)

11. Take second rope (rope 2) go over first rope (rope 1) and over next rope (rope 3) keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

12. Then take third rope (rope 3) go over second rope (rope 2) and over last rope (rope 4) again keeping first rope (rope 1) looped around thumb

13. Using last rope (rope 4) over third rope (rope 3) and thru loop of first rope (rope 1) that was looped around thumb

14. Tighten up each length of rope

15. Continue tightening ropes until a uniformly tight knot is created

repeat until six inches of finished length is reached or you have approximately 2” of rope remaining

STEP 32: Insert Pliers to Pull Rope Tail Thru

32. Carefully insert pliers or hemostats thru finished knot using care not to disturb knot by going between sections of knot

STEP 33: Pull Rope Tail Thru Knot

33. Grab tail with pliers or hemostats and pull tail thru existing knot

STEP 34: Trim Rope Tail & Warm With Flame

34. Trim excess from tail to 1/2” and warm with lighter

STEP 35: Press Tail Into Knot While Warm

35. While still warm use end of lighter to press tail flush into knot

STEP 36: Repeat on Remaining Tails

36. Repeat on remaining tails until all four are done and a finished 6” knotted length is created

STEP 37: Finished "Y" Shaped Dog Toss & Tug Toy

37. Your new “Y” Shaped Dog Tug & Toss Toy should be complete and ready for your dog to enjoy

Comments

[tfarwell]

Super pumped to make one!! I have been trying to figure out how to make the "Y" shaped yous for weeks!!

[kibblesandkrafts]

This is great! I can't wait to make one. Where do you get your rope from for $7? Thanks!!!

[KristinM5]

Walmart has fairly cheap rope in the hardware section

[J3443RY]

Big Lots or Harbor Freight Tools usually have the best price in my area.

[Oll Alex llO]

Do you have your instructable for a circle dog toy for heavy chewers out yet or are you working on making it

[SparkySolar]

Thank you for this nice Instructable. I like it

Rima

[Amy Binder]

Just made a couple of these using 10mm climbing rope for my Bloodhounds. So far they are holding up. Thanks so much for the super instructable!!!

[rbaptista]

Nice project, can you please tell me what measure is 1/8", I'm not sure what unit that is, if you'd please say it in meters I'd be very glad, thanks

[bg_askins]

1/8 inch = 3.17mm

[gserrano701]

Great job, I guess if you add more groups of four you could end up with three dimensional shapes. Good instructable too.

[rbowren]

Cool toy!!!

I'm not seeing how you finished the ends. I see the cut pieces, warm them up with lighter, but I don't see how you hide the ends so they stay in place. What am I missing? Thanks for your help!

[J3443RY]

It gets a little tricky, especially if the ropes are getting really short. My suggestion is to allow a little additional length to each rope and as you start to finish up the toy, loosen the knots slightly. This will help as you weave the rope "tails" back thru the knot. Needle nose pliers or a heavy set of hemostats really help finish it off. I usually fish the rope back into the the knot a least a couple of times. Look for the outside loop of the knot and feed the rope thru it, then I usually turn the toy and do the same thing again. Hope this helps you out.

[Senior Waffleman]

Wonderful :)

[PeckLauros]

Nice instructables. I will try to make one

[shadow wave rider]

sick, my dog loves it. lol, now you just need to make the key saped one to complete the collection