Length and a smooth taper make this one a thrower. The dolphin body is long and slim rather than round, so it leaves the hand cleanly and a dog can pick it up mid-run without breaking stride. That is a different job from the shake-and-tug toys in the same range, even though the construction underneath is exactly the same.

That construction is what Tuffy are known for: several bonded layers of material instead of one, with rows of stitching driven through protective webbing at every seam so the joins outlast the fabric they hold together. It floats, so it doubles as a water toy on a beach or river walk, and it goes in the machine when it comes back filthy. Air dry it, because heat is harder on the layered build than the wash cycle.

• 36.1 x 19.1 x 8.9cm
• Multiple bonded layers with webbing-backed seams
• Floats for water retrieves
• Machine washable, air dry
• Made in China
• Shipped tracked to the UK

Two things worth knowing. More usefully: this is a tough plush, not an indestructible one. Supervise a determined chewer, check the seams after hard play, and retire it once an inner layer starts to show through.

Who it's for: Dogs who fetch rather than shred, especially ones who swim, and owners who want a throwable toy that survives more than one summer.