How to Make a DIY Snuffle Ball for Your Dog

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Do you want to make your dog a new toy that is interactive and rewarding for playtime? Look no further than a DIY snuffle ball! 

This easy-to-make dog toy is sure to please your four-legged friend. Not only will they have fun, but the snuffle ball also helps promote problem-solving and mental stimulation in dogs. 

Plus, what dog doesn’t like a toy that rewards them with their favorite treats for playing with it?

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What is a Snuffle Ball for Dogs?

A snuffle ball is a fleece dog ball toy that encourages your dog to use their nose to uncover treats hidden inside.

The enrichment toy is a fun way to promote problem-solving skills in dogs as they search for small treats while playing with the snuffle ball. 

DIY Snuffle Ball for Dogs

There are a few ways of making a snuffle ball for dogs. The two ways included in this post are using circles and cutting fringe. 

Both methods use the same materials but the finished products look different and different dogs may prefer different styles of snuffle balls.

Snuffle Ball Materials

Both versions of the snuffle ball included in this post have the same materials in the finished product, fleece, and zip ties. 

I used inexpensive fleece blankets that I purchased at Walmart, but any fleece will work.

Zip ties need to be at least 8 inches long. Bigger will work but smaller will not.

You will also need scissors or rotary cutter and cutting mat for making either snuffle ball.

How to make a snuffle ball: the circle version

The circle version of the DIY snuffle ball is made by cutting a bunch of circles out of fleece and then grouping them together with zip ties. The number of circles you need will depend on the size of the snuffle ball you want.

Materials for a circle version snuffle ball

Fleece – I used a fleece blanket from Walmart that measures 50 inches by 60 inches. If using fleece by the yard I suggest getting 1 1/2 yards of fleece. This amount is for a large ball as that is what I made. Smaller snuffle balls will use less fleece.

4 zip ties – you will want 8-inch or bigger zip ties to make the process easier.

Template – a piece of cardboard or anything circular of the right size. I used an ice cream pail lid for mine.

Scissors or rotary cutter and mat for cutting the circles out

Scissors or Xacto knife for cutting slits in the circles

Marking pen, optional

Sandpaper, hot glue gun, or warmed nail

Instructions

If you are using a fleece blanket, you will want to remove the string from around the border of the blanket. You don’t want any random pieces of string on the fleece when you give it to your dog.

Then start by deciding how large of a ball you want so you know the size of the circles you will need. A small ball has a 4-inch diameter, a medium is a 6-inch diameter and a large is an 8-inch diameter.

Cut out a cardboard circle in the size you want or find a household item in the right size. Items that work would be circular plates, lids for your pots and pans, food container lids like Pyrex lids, or an ice cream bucket lid like I used. Anything circular of about the right size will work.

Then, lay out your fleece on a table. If you are planning on cutting the fleece with scissors, lay it in a single layer. If you’re using a rotary cutter, you can fold it in half and cut 2 layers at once.

Next, you want to either trace circles in the fleece or press the lid into the fleece leaving an indent to cut around. If drawing the circles, do all of them at once.

If pressing into the fleece, do one at a time otherwise the indent may disappear before you get to it.

The number of circles you need depends on the size of the snuffle ball you are making. You need 4 times the number of circles as the diameter of your circle. So a 4-inch ball needs 16 circles, a 6-inch ball needs 24 circles, and an 8-inch ball needs 32 circles. This is where I wish Luna wasn’t so big, 32 circles is a lot to cut out!

Once you have your circles drawn out, or pressed into the fleece, it’s time to cut them out. You can either cut them by hand with scissors or carefully cut them out with a rotary cutter. 

I used the rotary cutter on a mat as there was no way my wrists could handle cutting out 32 circles with scissors. (Granted my youngest volunteered to help but ended up sleeping in and missed out on the fun 🤣).

Now that you have all your fleece circles cut out you need to fold them all into quarters to form a cone shape.

Just fold them in half.

And then in half again.

Then stack them into 4 equal piles.

Once all of the circles are folded, it’s time to make a small slit near the pointy end of the cone.

You want this cut to be about 3/4 of an inch above the bottom.

I used a scissors and had to cut on both sides as I couldn’t get all the way through without making too large of a whole. An Xacto knife would make this easier if you have one. Anything that will cut a small hole through 4 layers of fleece will work.

Now that everything has been cut, it’s time to start putting the snuffle ball together.

Start by stringing one-quarter of your cut circles onto each of the 4 zip ties. You can put them all the same way or you can alternate which direction the fold goes.

I chose to alternate mine. Do not close the zip tie at this point.

Repeat this until all 4 zip ties have 8 folded circles on them.

Once all 4 zip ties have an equal number of folded circles on them it’s time to close one zip tie, but only loosely close it. 

Then thread another zip tie through the first closed zip tie and close that one loosely as well.

Repeat with the other 2 zip ties.

Now, tighten each zip tie. I found it easiest to tighten them most of the way and then work my way back and forth between all 4 until they were all as tight as I could get them.

Once all the zip ties are tight, cut them as close to the base as possible. Just be careful to not cut the fleece near the zip ties.

Then use the sandpaper to sand the rough edge down so it doesn’t scratch your dog’s nose. You can also try to use the hot tip of the glue gun or a warmed nail to melt it. I chose to use the sandpaper and it only took a few minutes until I felt it was rounded off enough to not scratch Luna or Morgan.

Finally, fluff the ball so that you can’t easily see the zip ties. Your snuffle ball is now done and ready for treats!

How to make a snuffle ball: the fringe version

The fringe version of the snuffle ball uses a strip of fleece with fringe cut into it and then rolled up to make the ball.

Materials for a fringe version snuffle ball

Fleece – I used a super soft fleece blanket from Walmart that measures 50 inches by 60 inches. (I do not recommend using super soft fleece of any type for this toy, just use a regular fleece blanket or get fleece from the store)

1 zip tie at least 8 inches long

Scissors or rotary cutter and mat for cutting the fringe

Instructions

First, you will need to cut your fleece into the proper size for the size ball you want. If you are using a fleece blanket, you will want to remove the string from around the border of the blanket or make sure to cut this section off. You don’t want any random pieces of string on the fleece when you give it to your dog.

For a large ball, the size I made, you will need two rectangles about 5 feet long by 12 inches wide. A medium size ball needs to be 3 feet by 8 inches. The two pieces of fleece can be either the same or different colors depending on what you prefer.

Then, lay your two pieces of fleece so they are one on top of the other and lined up as nicely as possible.

Now, measure a 3-inch strip down the middle the long way. This 3-inch zone does not get cut. 

Next, cut the fringe all the way down on each side of the 3-inch middle strip. I made my fringe about a finger width wide, though I mostly eyeballed the width of each cut. Make sure to cut through both layers of fleece.

Once the fringe is cut on both sides, go to the short side of the fleece and start to roll the two layers up. Make sure to roll it as tightly as possible.

Once it is rolled up, use the zip tie to secure it. Pull the zip tie as tight as possible and trim it as close to the base as possible.

Then, use two pieces of fringe to tie over the end of the zip tie to reduce the risk of your dog hitting it with their nose and getting a scratch.

Finally, fluff the ball up to get it into ball shape. It’s now ready to put treats in for your dog.

Tips on making a snuffle ball for your dog

Choose the right fleece. The super soft fleece sheds horribly when it gets cut. I had little pieces of fleece all over the table when making the second snuffle ball (you can see this in some of the pictures above).

Closing the zip tie on the fringe ball and getting it tight enough can be difficult. I had to use pliers to pull it tight enough.

If you are using more than one color for either ball, think about how you want it to look. For the circle ball, do you want each section to be a different color? Or do you want it alternated? Decide this before closing your zip ties.

For the fringe ball, if you want a certain color on the outside of the ball, that color should be on the bottom before you start cutting. It won’t be easy to flip it once the fringe is cut (though it is doable). 

How to use a snuffle ball

Now that you know how to make a snuffle ball, you might be wondering how to use it. This part is easy.

For the circle ball, just place some dry treats in the folds of fabric, making sure to not put them all in one area of the ball.

For the fringe ball, just put the treats close to the center, making sure to also spread them around all sides of the ball.

Then give the snuffle ball to your dog for playtime.

They should push the ball around and may use their paws to hold it in place to get the treats.

Make sure to supervise them at all times with a snuffle ball and intervene if they seem to get stuck on how to get a treat.

Luna is not normally a fabric eater but there were a few times with the circle ball that she had found a treat but was one layer of fleece away from it. Instead of moving to the other side, she just bit at the fleece trying to get the treat. At this point, it’s best to assist them in getting to the correct side of the fleece. 

This is especially important if your dog is a known fabric eater.

For safety, the snuffle ball should never be used without supervision.

Avoiding Frustration

If your dog is easily frustrated, especially with new toys, make it easier by placing the treats closer to the outside of the snuffle ball. This makes it easier to find the treats.

Also, stay close by and assist as needed when they are close to a treat but just a layer or two away. 

Benefits of the Snuffle Ball

The snuffle ball is a great way to reward and interact with your dog. It allows them to use their nose by sniffing out the treats in the folds of the snuffle ball. 

It also encourages problem-solving skills as they have to figure out how to get all the treats from within the ball. 

Finally, it helps build their confidence in a safe and supervised environment. 

Can I wash a homemade snuffle ball?

After your dog has enjoyed their super slobbery play with their very own DIY snuffle ball, you may be wondering if it is machine washable. The good news is, yes it is!

Due to being just a fleece ball, you can wash the snuffle ball in the washing machine on gentle cycle and put it in the dryer. Just be sure to not use hot water and to dry it on low heat.

Make sure to check the ball over for any issues and make sure it is completely dry before using it again. 

When I washed the fringe ball that I made to get all the loose bits off it was not completely dry when it came out of the dryer. You can either put it back in for more time or let it finish air drying.

No Time to DIY?

If you don’t have the time to make your own snuffle ball, there are some great premade options out there for snuffle balls in the same style as the circle snuffle ball DIY above.

You can find them on both Amazon and Chewy.

Whether you make your dog a snuffle ball or buy one, they are sure to enjoy all the treats they will get from playing with this toy. 

Just please remember to supervise your dog when playing with either the homemade or store-bought versions. 

Hopefully, your dogs will love their snuffle balls as much as my dogs do!

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