Most plush toys fail in the same place, which is a seam, and Tuffy build against exactly that. Layers of material are bonded together and then stitched through several rows, with protective webbing laid over the seams so a dog working at an edge finds fabric rather than a loose thread to pull. It is not indestructible, and nobody sensible would claim it is, but it survives play that finishes an ordinary soft toy in an afternoon.

The Junior size and the odd lobed shape are the interesting part. Because it is not round it bounces unpredictably, which keeps a fetch session going longer than a tennis ball manages, and it floats, so it works at the beach or a lake without sinking the first time a throw lands short. It goes through the washing machine when it comes back muddy, though it wants air drying rather than a tumble dryer.

• Measures 7.6 x 17.8 x 7.6 cm and weighs 90g
• Multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching
• Protective webbing over the seams
• Floats, so it suits water play
• Machine washable, air dry
• Junior size, made for smaller mouths

Worth being clear. Tough is not the same as chew-proof. This is a toy for supervised fetch and play, not something to leave with a determined destroyer for the afternoon, and any toy should be retired once the outer layer has been breached.

Who it's for: Owners of enthusiastic small and medium dogs who get through ordinary plush toys in days rather than months.