The Snuffle Ball That Made My Dog Forget I Exist For Fifteen Minutes

There's a particular kind of quiet that only happens when a dog has a job to do. Not the guilty quiet, not the "I definitely ate something I shouldn't have" quiet — the focused, nose-to-the-ground, world-has-narrowed-to-this-one-ball quiet. That's what happened the first time I handed Sherlock this snuffle ball. He didn't look up once. I finished an entire cup of coffee while it was still hot, which, if you have a dog, you understand is basically a miracle.

This one's a fifteen-minute build with three supplies, most of which are already floating around your house or craft bin.

WHAT YOU NEED

- 1 holey ball (a treat ball or any ball with holes works)

- Fleece strips (cut from an old blanket or fleece fabric)

- Scissors

- A handful of your dog's favorite treats

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Sherlock-approved all-natural turkey treats — the ones that pass the sniff test at our house (Amazon)

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Tie the fleece strips through the holes in the ball, working around until it's mostly covered.

2. Fluff and adjust the strips until it looks more like a pom-pom than a ball — that's exactly what you want.

3. Hide a few treats down in the fleece and let your dog sniff them out.

That's the whole project. No sewing, no glue, just fleece, knots, and a dog who now considers himself a professional detective.

If cutting fleece strips isn't how you want to spend your evening — no judgment, some nights are for the couch — there's a ready-to-buy snuffle ball that does the exact same nose-work job right out of the box. Sherlock's using his in the video below, right after he retired the homemade one to "well-loved" status.

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The exact one I used - Snuffle Ball for Dogs (Amazon)