Summer days, a shimmering lake, a clear backyard pool, or a sandy beach, there is nothing quite like watching your dog splash into the water to retrieve a toy. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for dogs. It provides a full-body cardiovascular workout with zero impact on their joints, making it perfect for high-energy puppies, athletic adult dogs, and senior dogs alike.
However, playing fetch in the water requires the right gear. Regular tennis balls easily become waterlogged, heavy, and eventually sink to the bottom. Standard plush toys turn into soggy, bacteria-filled sponges. Throwing natural wood sticks can be incredibly dangerous, posing risks of splintering in your dog’s mouth or causing severe throat injuries.
To make the most out of your dog’s aquatic adventures, you need purpose-built water toys. A great floating dog toy must stay above the water line, be visible to your dog’s specific eyesight, and withstand the wear and tear of wet teeth and paws.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about dog water toys. We have compiled a detailed list of the absolute best store-bought options on the market, alongside clever, cost-effective DIY floating toys you can make at home. We will also dive into essential water safety tips to ensure your dog stays healthy and safe while swimming.
Why Your Dog Needs Specific Water Toys
Before we look at the specific toys, it is important to understand why regular dog toys fail in the water.
Water changes the dynamic of play. When a dog swims, their primary focus is keeping their head above water. If a toy sits too low in the water or begins to sink, your dog might accidentally inhale water while trying to grab it. This can lead to coughing, panic, or even a dangerous condition called water intoxication.
Additionally, a dog’s vision works differently than human vision. Dogs are dichromatic, meaning they see the world mostly in shades of blue and yellow. A red or green toy might look incredibly bright to you, but to a dog swimming in a green lake or a blue pool, those colors blend right into the background. Purpose-built water toys are designed with high-contrast colors and high-buoyancy materials to make water retrieval safe and effortless.
Best Store-Bought Floating Dog Toys
When buying a floating toy, you want to look for durable materials like EVA foam, neoprene, or specialized buoyant rubber. Here are the top store-bought options that have proven to be durable, safe, and highly visible.
1. The Chuckit! Amphibious Bumper Toy
The Chuckit! Amphibious Bumper is a staple for water-loving dogs, particularly retrievers and spaniels who are bred to fetch game from the water.
Why it works:
This toy is made from a combination of tough nylon and memory foam. The foam core ensures that it floats high on the surface of the water, making it incredibly easy for your swimming dog to spot. The knotted rope handle allows you to launch the bumper great distances without getting your hands covered in dog slobber.
Best for: Medium to large dogs who love a classic game of fetch. The soft exterior is gentle on a dog’s mouth, which is important because water can soften their gums during extended play sessions.
2. KONG Aqua (Floating KONG)
Almost every dog owner knows the classic rubber KONG, but the KONG Aqua takes that durable design and makes it unsinkable.
Why it works:
The KONG Aqua is made from KONG’s classic durable rubber, but the center is filled with a closed-cell foam core. This means even if your dog chews on it, the toy will not take on water and sink. It also comes with a long throw rope attached. You can easily swing the rope to toss the toy far out into the lake or pool.
Best for:
Heavy chewers. While no toy is completely indestructible, KONG rubber stands up well to dogs who like to chomp down on their toys as they swim back to shore.
3. Ruffwear Lunker Floating Throw Toy
Ruffwear is known for high-quality outdoor dog gear, and the Lunker is no exception. This is a soft, stuffed dummy toy designed specifically for water fetch.
Why it works:
The Lunker is filled with recycled foam, giving it excellent buoyancy. The exterior is made from abrasion-resistant fabric. Because it is soft, it is much easier for dogs to grip in the water compared to hard plastic toys. The rope handle makes it easy to throw and allows you to play a quick game of tug-of-war once your dog brings it back to land.
Best for:
Eco-conscious dog owners and dogs with sensitive teeth. The recycled core and soft fabric make it a fantastic, low-impact retrieval toy.
4. West Paw Zogoflex Hurley Dog Bone
West Paw creates toys from their proprietary Zogoflex material, which is a specialized, non-toxic rubber that is remarkably tough but still floats.
Why it works:
The Hurley combines the shape of a classic dog bone with the durability of a chew toy and the floatability of a water toy. It does not have any fabric to rip or foam to shred. It is completely waterproof, meaning it will not harbor mold or bacteria, and you can simply toss it in the dishwasher to clean it.
Best for:
Dogs that tend to destroy fabric or foam toys. The solid Zogoflex material holds up incredibly well against aggressive chewers while remaining perfectly buoyant.
5. Kurgo Wox Water Dog Toy
The Kurgo Wox looks like a strange, three-legged tripod, but this unique shape makes it one of the most versatile water toys available.
Why it works:
The unpredictable, wiggly shape makes the toy bounce erratically if you throw it on land, and the three legs sit high above the water line when it floats. The shape also creates a natural gap that allows dogs to breathe easily through their mouths while carrying it.
Best for:
Multi-dog households. Because the toy has three distinct legs, multiple dogs can grab a piece of it and play tug-of-war together in the shallow water.
6. Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer Dog Toy
If your dog prefers catching frisbees over retrieving bumpers, the Paraflight Flyer is the ultimate water disc.
Why it works:
Standard hard plastic frisbees sink quickly and can hurt a dog’s teeth if they catch them wrong. The Paraflight is made from soft, durable nylon with a thick rubber edge. The aerodynamic shape allows it to descend gradually, giving your dog time to jump and catch it. Most importantly, it floats right on top of the water if your dog misses the catch.
Best for:
Agile, high-energy dogs that love to leap and catch toys in mid-air before they even hit the water.
Easy DIY Floating Dog Toys
Store-bought toys are great, but you can also make fantastic, highly functional water toys at home using inexpensive materials. Here are five easy DIY dog water toys you can create today.
7. The Water Bottle Cruncher
Dogs absolutely love the crunching sound of an empty plastic water bottle. By combining a bottle with a simple sock, you get a toy that floats perfectly and provides great auditory feedback.
How to make it:
Take an empty plastic water bottle and remove the plastic cap and the little plastic ring around the neck (these are choking hazards). Squeeze the bottle slightly so it has some give, but leave it mostly full of air. Slide the bottle into a thick, clean tube sock. Tie a very tight knot in the sock right at the opening of the bottle to secure it inside.
Why it works:
The trapped air in the bottle makes it incredibly buoyant. The sock makes it easy for the dog to grip.
Note: This is strictly an interactive fetch toy, not a chew toy. Discard the bottle once it becomes entirely crushed or if the plastic begins to break.
8. The Pool Noodle Bumper
Pool noodles are made from closed-cell polyethylene foam, which is exactly the same material used in many expensive store-bought water toys.
How to make it:
Take a standard, brightly colored pool noodle (yellow or blue is best for a dog’s vision). Use a serrated knife to cut a section about 10 to 12 inches long. Take a sturdy nylon rope and thread it directly through the hollow center of the noodle. Tie a large, thick knot at both ends of the rope so the noodle cannot slide off. Leave about 6 inches of extra rope on one end to serve as a throwing handle.
Why it works:
It sits incredibly high in the water, making it visible from far away. It is lightweight, extremely cheap to replace, and the soft foam is very gentle on a dog’s mouth.
9. Floating Tennis Ball Rope Tug
As mentioned earlier, standard tennis balls often sink once they fill with water. However, you can buy pressureless, hollow rubber balls or specialized floating dog balls and turn them into a great water tug toy.
How to make it:
Purchase a few hollow, floating rubber balls (avoid standard pressurized tennis balls). Use a drill to carefully create a hole straight through the center of two or three balls. Buy a length of floating marine rope (polypropylene rope floats well). Thread the rope through the balls, tying a knot between each ball to keep them spaced out. Tie a loop at one end for your hand.
Why it works:
The combination of floating rope and hollow balls ensures the toy stays on the surface. The spacing of the balls gives the dog multiple grab points, making it easy for them to snatch out of the waves.
10. Upcycled Wetsuit Braided Tug
If you or a friend is an avid surfer or diver and you have an old, ripped wetsuit lying around, you have the perfect material for a dog toy. Wetsuits are made of neoprene, which contains tiny nitrogen gas bubbles that make it highly buoyant and water-resistant.
How to make it:
Take a sharp pair of fabric scissors and cut the old wetsuit into three long, wide strips (about 2 inches wide and 24 inches long). Tie the three strips tightly together at one end. Tightly braid the three strips together all the way down. Secure the bottom end with another very tight knot.
Why it works:
Neoprene is tough, stretchy, and floats naturally. The braided texture cleans your dog’s teeth while they play, and the material will not get waterlogged or heavy.
11. Cork-Stuffed Canvas Dummy Toy
Natural cork is incredibly buoyant. By upcycling old wine corks, you can create a hunting-style dummy bumper.
How to make it:
Take a piece of heavy-duty, tightly woven canvas fabric. Fold it in half and use strong nylon thread to sew two of the sides closed, creating a durable pouch. Fill the pouch completely with clean, natural wine corks (do not use synthetic plastic corks). Once the pouch is stuffed full, sew the final side securely shut. For extra security, you can sew an X-pattern across the middle of the pouch to keep the corks from shifting.
Why it works:
This mimics the feel of a traditional canvas hunting bumper. The tightly packed corks provide incredible buoyancy and a satisfying texture for the dog to bite down on, while the heavy canvas resists tearing.
Crucial Water Safety Rules for Dogs
Having the right floating toys is only the first part of the equation. Keeping your dog safe in and around the water requires vigilance and preparation. Even the strongest canine swimmers can run into trouble. Keep these critical safety tips in mind before you throw that toy into the water.
Invest in a Dog Life Jacket
Even if your dog is an excellent swimmer, a dog life jacket (also called a Personal Flotation Device or PFD) is a vital piece of safety gear, especially in deep water, oceans, or fast-moving rivers.
Dogs do not know how to pace themselves. They will swim after a floating toy until they are completely exhausted. If they get too tired to swim back, a life jacket will keep their head above water. Look for a life jacket that has a sturdy rescue handle on the back, which allows you to easily lift your dog out of the water and onto a dock or boat.
Beware of Water Intoxication
Water intoxication (hyponatremia) is a rare but potentially fatal condition that occurs when a dog ingests too much water too quickly. This dilutes the sodium levels in their blood, leading to brain swelling.
Dogs that love playing fetch in the water are at a higher risk. Every time they open their mouth to grab a toy or splash around, they swallow a little bit of water.
Signs of water intoxication include:
- Extreme lethargy or weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of coordination (staggering)
- Glazed eyes and excessive drooling
- Seizures
To prevent this, enforce mandatory rest breaks. Play fetch for 10 to 15 minutes, then bring your dog onto dry land to rest for an hour before playing again. Opt for flat, wide toys (like the Chuckit Bumper) that do not require the dog to open their mouth very wide to carry them.
Watch for Blue-Green Algae
If you are playing in a lake or pond, inspect the water before letting your dog jump in. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) usually looks like pea soup or a green paint spill on the surface of the water. It is highly toxic to dogs and can be fatal within hours of ingestion or even skin contact. If the water looks murky, smelly, or has a green film, do not let your dog swim or play in it.
Avoid Choking Hazards
When choosing or making a floating water toy, size is extremely important. The toy should be large enough that your dog cannot accidentally swallow it. In the water, dogs often lunge at toys with their mouths wide open. If a toy is too small, the force of the dog’s swimming into it can push the toy straight to the back of their throat, blocking their airway. Always size up when buying water toys.
Rinse After Swimming
Whether your dog is swimming in a chlorinated pool, a salty ocean, or a natural lake, always rinse them off with clean, fresh water when playtime is over.
- Pool water: Chlorine can dry out a dog’s skin and bleach their fur.
- Ocean water: Salt can cause severe skin irritation and stomach issues if they lick it off their fur.
- Lake water: Lakes harbor bacteria, parasites, and microscopic organisms that can cause skin infections.A quick rinse with a hose ensures your dog stays clean, comfortable, and healthy.
Choosing the Perfect Floating Toy for Your Dog
Selecting the right water toy comes down to your dog’s play style.
If you have an aggressive chewer, skip the foam and canvas and go straight for solid floating rubber toys like the West Paw Zogoflex or the KONG Aqua. If your dog loves to jump and is highly athletic, a floating frisbee like the Chuckit Paraflight will provide endless entertainment. If you have a soft-mouthed retriever, fabric and foam bumpers like the Ruffwear Lunker or a DIY Pool Noodle Bumper are absolute perfection.
Remember to prioritize high-visibility colors like bright blue and yellow. Dogs struggle to differentiate red and green from the surrounding environment, so a bright yellow toy will save you a lot of time searching the reeds for a lost item.
Playing in the water is one of the greatest joys you can share with your dog during the warmer months. By choosing the right floating toys and following basic water safety protocols, you can ensure that every trip to the beach or pool is a fantastic, enriching experience for your canine companion.
