Fish Dog Toy Pattern

Crochet Your Own Eco-Friendly Dog Toy (Using Scraps & an Old Squeaker!)

If you're like me, you probably have a stash of leftover cotton yarn just waiting to be turned into something. And if you're also a dog parent, this project is the perfect way to combine your love for crafting with your love for your pup — all while keeping waste out of the landfill.

Meet Your New Favorite Quick Crochet Project

This simple, satisfying crochet pattern walks you through making a soft and squeaky dog toy from scraps you already have. It's designed for using up leftover cotton yarn (because it’s gentler on those doggy teeth) and reusing a squeaker pulled from an old toy that's seen better days. Instead of tossing it out, you're giving it new life — and saving yourself a trip to the pet store.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

Eco-friendly: It’s all about making the most of what you’ve got — yarn scraps and rescued squeakers.

Beginner-friendly: If you know the basics of crochet, you can make this! It’s a quick project that’s perfect for an evening of crafting.

Pup-approved: It’s soft, fun, and squeaky. What more could a dog want?

Totally customizable: Since you're using leftover yarn, every toy comes out a little different. That makes each one extra special.

A Win-Win for You and Your Pup

Whether you’re looking to reduce waste, create thoughtful handmade gifts, or just spoil your furry friend with something you made yourself, this pattern checks all the boxes. Plus, it’s just fun to see your dog get excited over something you created from scraps!

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Ready to get started?
You can grab the downloadable crochet pattern here on my Ravelry shop and start turning your yarn odds and ends into tail-wagging joy.

Or continue below to crochet here for free (powered by ad revenue, please do not distribute the pattern elsewhere and disable your ad blocker).

Crochet Pattern - Easy

Yarns & Supplies
Color A - Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton - Sky
Color B - Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton - Navy

Hook - 3mm / Size 5

Optional
Polyfil or yarn scraps for stuffing
Squeaker - I tend to reuse the ones my dogs pull out of other toys to increase its longevity.

Locking stitch markers - for aligning pieces and/or counting sts

Gauge
6 st per inch (per ~2.5cm)
My motifs were 4” (~10cm) long by 7.5” (~19cm) wide

Stitch Abbreviations 
ch - Chain
st - Stitch
sc - Single crochet (UK double crochet)
dec - Single crochet decrease (UK double crochet decrease)
inc - Single crochet increase (UK double crochet increase)

Motif - Make 2

Stitch count at the end of each row is in (). 

Row 1
With color A, ch 17. Starting in the second chain from the hook - sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (16)

Rows 2-7 (6 rows)
1 dec, sc in each st across until the last two sts, 1 dec, ch 1, turn.
(14) (12) (10) (8) (6) (4)

Rows 8-9 (2 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (4)

Rows 10-17 (8 rows)
1 inc, sc until last stitch, 1 inc, ch 1, turn.
(6) (8) (10) (12) (14) (16) (18) (20)

Rows 18-19 (2 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (20)

Row 20
1 inc, sc until last stitch, 1 inc, ch 1, turn. (22)

Rows 21-22 (2 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (22)

Row 23
1 inc, sc until last stitch, 1 inc, ch 1, turn. (24)

Rows 24-34 (10 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (24)

Row 35
1 dec, sc until the last two stitches, 1 dec, ch 1, turn. (22)

Rows 36-37 (2 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (22)

Row 38
1 dec, sc until the last two stitches, 1 dec, ch 1, turn. (20)

Rows 39-40 (2 rows)
1 sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. (20)

Rows 41-48 (8 rows)
1 dec, sc until the last two stitches, 1 dec, ch 1, turn.
(18) (16) (14) (12) (10) (8) (6) (4)

Row 49
2 dec, ch 1, turn. (2)

Row 50
1 dec. (1)

Fasten off the first panel, make motif 2 with color B.

🚨 After finishing the last row on the second panel - DO NOT FASTEN OFF 🚨

Before the next steps you can optionally steam iron the motifs since they naturally curl.

Put both motifs together, sc through both layers around the edge to combine panels. (optionally align using st markers to keep them straight)

Image below shows arrows of the direction of seaming, when you reach each of the stars on the tail make two sc in the same st to turn the corner nicely.





At about 4-5” (~10-12cm) from sealing the toy, fill the toy with your stuffing and squeaker, or leave it filling free if that’s what you and/or your dog prefers! I prefer to leave it without stuffing for my dogs since they make a hole pretty quickly between the two of them, therefore less mess.

Fasten off, hide the ends inside the toy, and enjoy!

(Caution: Always supervise doggy playtime, make sure to dispose of it once it gets too stringy for them and the squeaker comes out.)