Traveling With Your Pet- Vintage Style Suitcase Filled With DIY Toys for the Hotel

It just seems that a  dog  named Ion Isotope the Third would travel with a vintage suitcase filled with special toys for the hotel. Okay there is no Ion Isotope the  first or second, we just thought the name was funny, but he  is a well traveled corgi and people at rest stops have called him regal. He has Criss- crossed the United States and has logged more than 25,000 miles ( the pandemic slowed him down).  The joyful nose prints on his window attest to his love of RV travel. Ion has claimed the sofa, his food has a special drawer, treats and toys occupy another cabinet….hiking , new dog parks at every stop.  Life is perfect, except when the RV pulls into a hotel…shhhh, no barking, no leaping and worst of all no toys with SQUEAKERS!

A great part about traveling is packing and choosing books, activities and projects to enjoy during the trip. Traveling with a pet adds to the pre-trip enjoyment, a vintage style suitcase filled with quiet toys also made the occasional hotel stop more fun, especially for Ion.

suitcase-Cardboard box, postcards, scrapbook paper, fabric, drawer pull, spray adhesive

DIY toys- fabric, cardboard, plastic jar, cardboard rolls, PVC pipe, small silicon ice cube tray, socks

tools/equipment - Scissors, pinking shears, drill with large bit

I wanted a vintage train case. However, my wallet selected a nice cardboard box and a roll of fabric from the thrift store.  

Unfold the box and trace the outline on the right side of the fabric with a sharpie, cut and use spray adhesive to secure it to the interior of the box.  Allow to dry.

 I used postcards bought at a National park to celebrate 100 years. The cards are also available on-line. At TJMaxx, I found a pad of travel themed scrapbook paper, but  similar paper is available at any craft store. After looking at images of vintage suitcases with stickers, I decided to cut the post cards into silhouettes of a corgi, bones and paw prints.  

Add a drawer pull with small bolts and nuts, instead of the screws that come in the package.

The main goal of the toys was quiet play in the hotel room, so no pull toys, squeakers or tennis balls that could crash into the TV.  Ion enjoyed all of the toys, but remember to supervise your pet.  The toys are also cheap, easy and quick to make , so you have more money and time  for adventures.  The toys consist of a snuffle mat, a rolling treat jar, a PVC puzzle, a long roll, a sock ball and a very versatile ice cube tray.  Gee, I wish I had come up with better names for the toys.

Cut two pieces of cardboard that will fit into your box

Using the width of the ruler draw a grid on one piece of the cardboard

Use a sharp pencil to poke a hole at the intersections of the lines

Use pinking shears to cut the fabric into18 x 1 inch strips

Fold each strip in half and put into a hole, this creates a loop

Thread the other ends into the adjacent hole, tie to the loop, Fill into all holes

Place the other piece of cardboard on the fabric, leaving about one inch around the perimeter, cut, then use spray adhesive to secure the cardboard.

Secure to the back of the cardboard with loops.

TO PLAY- hide a few treats in the loops and folds, allow your puppy to sniff and search for the treats.

You will need a clean plastic peanut butter jar that fits in your box.  If you only have a full jar, you could make “ Easy 5 Minute Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe , By CRAFTGENIUS20 in CookingCookies” on the Instructable site. (Ion loves them!!)  Using a large bit , drill holes in the jar, I only drilled a few to make the experience last longer.  Next, add cardboard tubes, I need to cut my smaller and I added a ring of fabric to keep with my theme  (and get my use out of that two dollar roll of fabric)

TO PLAY- place a few treat in the jar and allow your dog to roll it around to release treats

Using pinking shears, cut a fabric strip (about one foot by five feet)

Fold over about four inches the entire length of the fabric

TO PLAY- sprinkle treats the entire length of the fabric, including under the fold.  Roll tightly.  Allow your pet to explore and unroll to find the treats

Use a clean thick pair of socks, roll into a ball.

TO PLAY- a sock ball is a soft , fun alternative to a tennis ball for indoor games of fetch

Cut two pieces of PVC, to fit into your box, add connectors at each end.

TO PLAY- add a treat, allow your dog to flip and turn to release treat

TO PLAY- 

1.  Place one or two treats in each section, fill with water, place in hotel mini fridge freezer, give cubes to pet to lick and enjoy

2. Smear with some peanut butter from the breakfast bar, allow to pet to lick and enjoy

3. Put dinner kibble in each section for a slow relaxing dinner experience