For his birthday, Jake received a $5 toy!

I’m guessing many owners spend too much money on keeping the furkids amused. I learned my lesson years ago with my West Highland white terrier, Duffy.

When he was old enough I bought him his first stuffed toy: a $12 squeaky hedgehog almost as big as he was. I thought it was adorable. He destroyed it in less than 10 minutes. Lesson learned.

Cheap toys can be found. Stuffed critters may be bought at Family Dollar or Dollar General, but often they are the canvas kind. I have had the best luck at Target. This week I found small, stuffed animals in the $1 area in the front of the store. They weren’t marked as dog toys, but they had no embellishments or beady eyes as choking hazards. I think they were for infants. I bought half a dozen.

After Jake, Hope, or Windy de-stuff a toy, I will re-stuff it. When the critter is so destroyed I can’t stuff it, it goes into the trash.

Walmart has dollar toys too. You may have to dig for them. Just don’t take your dog with you — even though my dogs are better behaved than some of their customers.