Some dogs never take to a hard rubber ball. They want something they can carry in a soft mouth, settle down with and squeak on the sofa, and a tennis ball offers none of that. A plush ball splits the difference: it still rolls and bounces enough for a game of fetch in the garden, but it is soft enough to hold comfortably for half an hour afterwards without the jaw ache a rigid toy gives an older dog.

The surface is a fuzzy plush pile, which does more than feel nice. It gives paws and teeth something to grip, so a dog with a gentle mouth or worn teeth can pick it up cleanly off a hard floor, where a smooth ball just skids away from them. A sounder sits inside the stuffing, so the toy answers back when it is squeezed rather than only when it is bitten hard, and the round shape keeps it rolling properly rather than tumbling off line.

• Soft fuzzy plush surface, gentle on the mouth
• Built-in squeaker responds to a light squeeze
• Round shape rolls well for fetch
• Easy for paws and worn teeth to grip
• Two colours: yellow green and orange yellow

Be honest about the name. This is listed as a long-lasting molar toy, and it is not one. Plush is a comfort and fetch material, not a chew material, and a determined chewer will have this open and the squeaker out within a session or two. That squeaker is a swallowing hazard once exposed, so bin the toy the moment the seams go. For a dog who destroys soft toys, buy solid rubber instead and we will happily point you at one.

Who it's for: Soft-mouthed dogs, older dogs with worn teeth, and any dog who carries their toys about rather than shredding them.