An unpredictable bounce turns a straightforward game of fetch into something a dog has to think about. Dimples across the surface send this ball off at odd angles when it lands, so a chase does not simply end where the ball first hits the ground, and the bright orange stays findable in long grass, where a green or blue ball vanishes within seconds and the walk becomes a search party.

It floats, which is the feature that matters most if your walks involve a river, a lake or the sea, because a sinking ball is a lost ball and, worse, a dog who keeps diving after it. The grooves are cut deep enough to hook with a finger or the cup of a ball thrower, so you can pick it up and send it out again without handling the wet end.

• Dimpled surface for an unpredictable bounce
• Floats for river, lake and beach games
• Grooves for easy pick-up without touching the slobber
• Bright orange and visible in long grass

Who it's for: Medium and large dogs who live for fetch, especially around water and in long grass.