A locking dowel assembly for joining wooden objects without glue or screws includes a pair of cups. Each of the cups is inserted into a well in a respective pair of objects intended for joining together. A pair of inserts is provided and each of the inserts is positioned against each other such that the pair of inserts forms a cylinder. The cylinder is inserted into each of the cups for joining the objects together. A retainer is positioned between each of the inserts and the retainer has a plurality of teeth thereon. The teeth engage the cups when the insert is inserted into each of the cups thereby retaining the inserts in the cups.