We often think of dogs as our children, so, would you leave your kids to their own devices? Of course not! If a child is in the water they'll have you there, plus those inflatable flotation arm-bands to keep them above water.
Now if a dog were to jump into the pool, they'll just paddle around for a bit, but they're not mer-dogs to get it right the first time around! They need help, especially if you want to play fetch with them.
Water is a new territory for them, so they might be scared at first, which is why these dog water toys we're going to be talking about in this article might be a good choice for dog owners who want their pets to get comfortable when they're in the pool, river, or lake and have some water-loving fun with you by their side.
Before we get into the details about what specifications and criteria you'll want to look for in these toys, let's have a look at some of what we believe to be the best water toys for dogs of today.
Best Water Toys For Dogs - (Our Favorite 5 Options Of 2023)
Top Pick: Chuckit! Ultra Ball
Pick #2: Chuckit! Amphibious Toy
Pick #3: ChuckIt! Amphibious Bumper Floating Fetch Toy
Pick #4: KONG Aqua Dog Toy
Pick #5: KONG Training Dummy Toy
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*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.
Dog Water Toys - Important Information You Need To Know
If You're A First-Time Buyer
Dogs don't just fetch on dry land, they'd like to fetch in the water too. It's supposed to be fun, playful, and allow them to cool off whether they're at the pool or by a lake.
But if you've never bought a pool toy for your pet before, you have to think like a dog.
Which Toy Is Best For Fetching
First of all, how would you feel if you had to hold a toy in your mouth that made your jaw feel like it was ready to come off? Not very pleasant, right?
Well, in that case, choose toys that are light, because dogs use their teeth, not their paws to grab on to toys.
While you're at it, also check to see that they're soft, so they don't lose a tooth when they bite into it as well.
Make Sure The Toy Is Fun
Imagine playing with a ball that doesn't bounce when it hits the ground or splashes in the water. Boooring!
What if the ball doesn't have enough buoyancy and sinks? It's safe to assume that your dog isn't going to dive all the way to the bottom of the pool to fetch a toy, so, make sure that the toy has enough air in it that it floats, or your dog won't see it.
Balls? Frisbee? Tomato, Tomatoe
The shape and color of the ball or Frisbee is more for our benefit than it is for the dog. But one thing your dog might appreciate would be a toy that's gentle and they can play with on both land and water.
If you're choosing a water-friendly Frisbee, the center hole should allow your dog to bite into it and hold it in its mouth with ease and stability.
Is The Water Toy Built To Last?
Dogs will wreck everything within reach with their jaws, such as your shoes, your furniture, your Christmas tree -you name it!
There's no way you can curve "Jaws", or should we say "Paws," natural instincts. So, if your pooch is a heavy chewer, then you might want to look for water toys that are lab tested to withstand a lot of abuse.
Just know that there's no such thing as "indestructible" when it comes to dog toys, water dog toys included. However, if you do a little research, you'll find dog water toys that are at the very least heavily resistant to even the most powerful of chewers.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
When looking at the specifications of some toys out there, you'll notice that the manufacturer guarantees your dog can't destroy while it plays with it in the water or dry land.
But there's no such thing as 100 percent guarantee in life, so the manufacturer also adds that they've got your back and will replace the product free of charge.
So, if you're going to invest your money in a water toy for Fido, you might as well put it on one that claims to do what it advertises, and offers the option of replacement if you and your doggy aren't satisfied.
Toys With Perks
Fun in the sun can equally cause your pooch to dehydrate because it has a natural fur coat that it can't take off in the summer.
So, that's when a product like the Hydro Ring by Hugs can offer your dog entertainment and keep them hydrated.
It's so simple, the toy absorbs water, and as your dog chews on it, it releases the water back into its mouth slowly. It's simple perks like this that make the playing experience that much more enjoyable for your pooch, and much more beneficial to them as well.
Water Dog Toys That Work On Land
We mentioned water toys, but we never said that you needed to be in a body of water for your pooch to enjoy them.
There is an assortment of water toys that attach to a hose that can provide plenty of entertainment for your four-legged friend like the Doggy Drencher from Outward Hound.
Toys like this are basically a rotating sprinkler, but for your dog, it might as well be Disney World, because with one hit from their paw, the sprinkler will spin and splash them with water.
Best of all, it's so much fun that your kids can join your pets for a wicked good time.
So, creatively designed toys like this that give your dog the experience of water while on dry land are also awesome in their own way.
Dog Water Toys - A Closer Look Into Our Top 5 Options
Pick #1 - Just Chuckit!
Chuckit! Ultra Ball redefines playing fetch with your pooch and can stand up to the most aggressive chewer.
The product is made from natural, great quality high-bouncing rubber that's not only durable, bud it also comes in a wide array of sizes, from small, 2-inch, 2-pack, to medium- 2 pack, medium 2.5-inch 4 pack, medium, 2.5-inch, 1-pack, medium, 2.5-inch, 2-pack, large, 3-inch, 1-pack, XL 2 Pack, X-Large, 3.5-Inch, 1-pack and XX-Large, 4-inch, 1-Pack.
So, it's super friendly for petite or massive sized dogs alike.
The only downside is that it has a one plug that can last up to only 3 months if your dog's an aggressive chewer.
This could result in a hole that can cause suction, and leave your dog's tongue stuck, but you can easily drill a small hole on the other side to counter the suction.
The ball bounces on dry land and floats even better when it's on water, and best of all, they're easy to wash, unlike those tennis balls that absorb all that slobber you'd rather avoid touching.
Plus, they're good for your dog's health and won't damage their teeth. At first, your dog might find that the squeaking noise inside the ball might frighten or annoy them, but once they get used to it, they'll fetch and never want to give it back.
All in all, the ChuckIt! Ultra Ball might be a good choice for those of you looking to interact with your dog. It comes in all sorts of sizes, is comfy on their jaws, and is more fun for you and your pet - and you have to admit, it's better than using a stick, so chew on that!
Pick #2 - ChuckIt! Amphibious Toy
The Amphibious Toy was literally designed to stand out in the water, which makes playing a game of fetch in the pool or on the lake so much fun.
It's soft and resilient, yes; even for your four-legged friend with those bionic jaws, and has self—righting capabilities, meaning that it'll stand upright in the water and float twice as high so your dog won't give you that awkward puzzled look when it's paddling in the water.
It also comes in different shapes and sizes like the small or medium duck diver, small, medium, or large gator, and small, medium, or large shark fin.
One down side to it that appears to be pretty common among dog owners who've tried it is that it doesn't seem to last as much as the manufacturer claims it can. However, on the plus side, that just means that your dog absolutely loved it to pieces, and you can easily give them all the fun again by just getting a replacement.
If your dog isn't responding to sticks, tennis balls, or Frisbees, then the Amphibious toy may be a very good option to consider.
It also fits in a chuck-it-thrower, in case your arthritis is acting up, and it's far more visible to your dog than a conventional tennis ball.
Then again, some of the toys are smaller than you'd expect, so it may not be that much compatible with larger dogs. In some cases, the size of the product might make it difficult to hang on to in the water, or depending on your dog, they might simply shred it, and it doesn't have a squeaker either.
While the Amphibious toy might not be the most durable option out there, your pet might think it's a hit, and it's always better that they tear a chew toy gator in the water than your brand-new couch, which you're still paying for.
At first glance, you can see why the ChuckIt! Amphibious Bumper Floating Fetch Toy is so cool. Aside from the bright colors, it looks like a stick or a bone, which dogs already love to put in their mouths anyways.
It's made from high quality nylon, rubber, and memory foam that not only makes the fetch toy unsinkable, but durable and visible too.
It also floats high on the water and won't hurt your pet's teeth either.
If the material starts to show a bit of wear and tear, then you might not want to leave your dog playing with the fetch toy on their own. On the plus side, that just means you'll have to bond with them a little more.
The toy floats well, even if your dog tries to sink it. It's also highly visible with its fantastic colors of bright orange and blue colors.
If your dog fails to catch it in the pool, you can just point to it, and they'll find the toy with ease. The downside is that if your dog likes to chew like Cujo, then even the most durable material won't last, so you'll have to replace it often.
All in all, fetching on dry land is one thing, but being able to do it in the water is just fantastic, which is what Chuckit! intended when it designed this toy, so you and your dog could have hours of fun on end.
Pick #4 - KONG Aqua Dog Toy
The Kong Aqua Dog Toy allows you and your pet to do a bit of throw-and-retrieve training while interacting, having fun, and doing some much needed exercise in the summer.
The Kong Aqua can be used on dry land, but it also has a foam core that will keep it high above water until your pooch can swim towards it and fetch it with their jaws.
It also comes with a large rope that measures 20", and is durable, especially if your dog is an aggressive chewer.
While the toy itself is highly resistant to your dog's jaws, the rope itself will fall apart under your dog's tender loving care, so if you've got a heavy chewer then you'll want to find an alternative that doesn't involve a rope.
In the absolute worst case scenario, you can just replace the old rope with a thicker rope in a DIY task that should take no more than a few minutes of your time.
On the plus side, you can use them at the pool, the lake or the river, and they can even play a bit of tug of war with you or another dog and have fun with them in case you just want to lay back, relax and enjoy watching the action instead of being part in it.
On the other hand, the toy floats only as long as the sponge inserted inside of it hasn't been taken out. Also, if your sole purpose for this toy is for your dog to use as a chew toy, then don't buy it because the rope may not last very long.
All in all, the Kong Aqua Dog Toy is a great retrieval training tool, and can provide your pooch with hours of fun by allowing them to play in water as aggressively as they do on land.
Pick #5 - KONG Training Dummy Toy
The Kong Training Dummy Toy doesn't just serve the sole purpose of training your dog, but it also provides physical and mental stimulation, regardless of the kind of dog you have or their size.
Aside from the fact that it floats with its solid foam design, your dog can learn to fetch and retrieve the toy while you also teach them that they don't have to bite too rough on something to carry in their mouths.
Like most water toys, it floats high and won't sink. Your dog won't leave any marks on it while sinking their teeth into it to retrieve it from the lake or the other end of the swimming pool.
It's important to keep in mind that the Dummy Toy was intended as a training tool, and not a chew toy, so if you have a dog like a pit bull at home, you might run into some issues. In that case, you may want to look for a toy that isn't made of foam material.
This toy is ideal for medium size dogs.
It's also soft and durable and your dog will be able to bite down on it without needing a trip to the vet afterwards.
You can also take the rope off if your dog is big enough, because they can chew on the material while you train them what to do. This toy has a rope at the end that medium or small dogs use to throw the toy around, and without it, most dogs have no reason to play with it after they've chewed the rope off.
Last but not least, it's made from orange color, which is one of the rare colors that dogs can actually see.
Dogs love to chew on anything they can get their jaws on, but like children, you have to teach them that there are rules they must follow, and there's no better way to do that than with the Kong Training Dummy Toy.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, you want a toy that's both educational and fun for your dog, and finding a toy that works well on both land and water is important whenever you're looking for a dog water toy.
In our opinion, the toys we've described are some of the best options on the market at the time of this writing.
Not only do these options allow you to bond with your four-legged best friend, but in our opinion, they'll also help them learn the dos and don'ts when it comes to soft biting versus aggressive biting, which is actually a very important part of overall dog training in general.
That way your pooch can have fun in the water with you, their human companion, and follow the house rules when they're indoors.
