We love a crafty DIY – especially if it’s for the benefit of dogs .
Take this ‘stick library’, created by toolmaker Andrew Taylor, 59. Andrew was trimming trees at the side of his house in Kaiapoi, New Zealand, when he came up with a way to put the branches he cut off to good use.He collected the branches and sanded them to be nice and smooth, then engraved a box with the words ‘stick library’.
The idea is that dogs who fancy a game of fetch can borrow a stick whenever they fancy.
Andrew dropped off the box in a newly opened park so all the dogs in the neighbourhood would have easy access to toys. The dad’s daughter, Tayla Reece, shared photos and videos of the ‘stick library’ online. We’re glad she did – it’s an adorable idea and one we hope other people will copy in their own local area. ‘Our dog Bella had become a stick lover because she ripped to shreds any balls or toys,’ said Tayla.
‘While trimming the trees, my dad found himself with a lot of dead branches, and knowing from experience how hard it can be to find a good stick, and that the new dog park was opening soon, he had the idea that he would save them and put them in some kind of box.
‘When the park opened on November 30, mum and dad took Bella and sure enough there were no good sticks.Alternate Their Toys to Keep Their Interest. Just like us dogs get bored with new stuff after awhile, and this includes their toys. Keep their interest by alternating their access to them. Once your dog hasn’t seen their blue ball in a month they’ll have a brand new appreciation for it the next time it makes an appearance.
‘Dad is the type of guy that is always thinking of things to make, so the next day he found a suitable crate and made the sign for the top.
‘He decided to call it the stick library because it implied that you return the stick once you’re finished with it.’
Andrew’s invention has been a hit with dogs and their owners at the park.
Tayla invited Kaiapoi residents to meet at the park on 11 December to give the toy box a go – and loads of people came along.
‘Approximately 50 people turned up with their dogs and one guy even brought his cat,’ said Tayla.
‘As people started to arrive there was a disbelief of how simple the idea was, but it’s one of those ideas no one had thought of.
‘All the dog owners appreciate it as they all have experienced the ‘good stick search’ which isn’t always fruitful, it’s an idea that just makes sense to them.’
Have you completed a strangely brilliant DIY project? Get in touch to tell us more by emailing [email protected] .No, it’s not just to make themselves look adorable. Dogs curl up in a ball when they sleep due to an age-old instinct to keep themselves warm and protect their abdomen and vital organs from predators.