Dogs habituate to toys quickly, and texture is one of the few things that slows that down. Two contrasting surfaces on a single rubber shape give a dog more to work at with their mouth than one uniform finish does, which is why this one tends to hold attention past the first few minutes. The grooves take a soft spread as well, so it doubles as something to lick at rather than only something to chew.

Natural rubber is the material choice that makes the difference. It has enough give to be kind on teeth and gums, unlike hard nylon, while still resisting a medium chewer's jaw, and it rinses clean rather than absorbing whatever paste you loaded it with. The dual-texture surface also gives the toy an uneven profile, so it does not simply sit where it lands when a dog nudges it across the floor with a nose.

• Made from natural rubber
• Two contrasting surface textures on one toy
• Grooves hold pastes and soft treats
• Weighs 85g
• Suited to medium chewers
• Rinses clean after use

On chew strength. This is built for medium chewers, and we would rather say so plainly. A determined power chewer, the sort who strips a rubber toy in an afternoon, will get through it, and if that is your dog then this is the wrong toy and we will happily point you at something tougher. No toy is indestructible, and any rubber toy should be binned once pieces start coming away.

Who it's for: Dogs who lose interest in a toy within minutes, and owners looking for a lickable, stuffable enrichment toy rather than a heavy-duty chew.