Floating dog toys
A floating dog toy stays on top of the water rather than sinking after the first throw, which matters for any dog who swims or retrieves from a lake, river or the sea. What keeps it up is the material — closed-cell foam or hollow rubber — rather than the shape, so a toy that floats well on a still pond can still get away from a dog in moving water.
What actually makes a toy float
Solid rubber sinks. A floating toy is either made from a closed-cell foam that trapped air can't escape from, or moulded as a hollow shell, and it's worth checking which before buying if floating is the whole point of the purchase — a toy only described as "water-resistant" isn't the same claim as one described as floating.
Bright colour matters more in water than on land, since a dark toy against dark water or a low sun on the surface is genuinely hard for a dog to spot from a distance. Orange and yellow tend to show up best against most UK water colours.
Sizing it for your dog
A floating toy still needs to be too big to swallow and small enough for your dog to actually carry back without struggling against the water. A retrieve toy that's fine on dry land can be awkward once it's wet and heavier, so err on the larger side for a strong swimmer rather than the smallest option on the shelf.
Rope or fabric elements on a floating toy soak up water and add weight quickly, which changes how it handles compared with dry play. If your dog swims regularly, a simple foam or rubber shape with no absorbent parts tends to hold up better than one with fabric trim.
Looking after a floating toy
Foam toys can hold water inside if the shell splits, which adds weight and, left wet, can start to smell or grow mould. Rinse toys in fresh water after a swim in the sea or a stagnant pond, and let them dry fully rather than putting a wet toy straight back in a toy box.
Check foam toys for splits or chunks missing more often than you'd check a dry chew toy, since teeth marks that open the surface let water in where you can't easily see it. Replace one once the shell is visibly broken rather than waiting for it to fail completely.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Kingdom Fruit Rope Dog Toy
A plush fruit-shaped rope toy with a squeaker in both the head and the body
£6.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
A crocodile dog toy from Red Dingo's Durables range: a 150g character toy for fetch, tug and carrying about, backed by Red Dingo's five-year guarantee.
£20.49
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo Dog Toy
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
Smart Choice Squeaky Plush Birthday Present 2in1 Dog Toy
A 20cm plush present with a squeaker, a crinkle and a hidden vinyl toy inside it
£9.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw Dog Toy
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Chase Buddy Boredom-Busting Dog Toy
An interactive chase toy that gives a restless dog somewhere to put its pursuit instinct, providing mental and physical exercise indoors or in the garden.
£14.99
Kingdom Marine Animal Dog Toy
A plush marine animal toy with a hidden squeaker, in four assorted designs
£5.49
Dog Ball Rope Toy
Floating interactive dog toy with ball & rope toy shape and eva foam for practical dog play or walks
From£4.35
Coffee Wood Tug & Chew Dog Toy
Two coffee wood chews joined with hemp rope for a tug-and-chew combo — natural, sustainable, and brilliant for interactive play.
£17.49
Tough Toy Trio for Big Chewers
Three Tuffy Ultimate toys — an odd ball, a tug-o-war and a ring — built for dogs who destroy ordinary soft toys.
£48.49
Smart Choice Treat Dispensing Birthday Cake Dog Toy
TPR birthday cake treat dispenser dog toy, approximately 14cm, in assorted colours
£5.99
Happy Pet Lamb Chop Dog Toy
A cuddly plush Lamb Chop dog toy with hidden squeakers, for snuggling or a game of fetch
From£4.99
Common questions
- Are floating toys safe for a strong chewer?
- Not usually as a chew toy left unsupervised — foam and hollow rubber are built to float, not to survive determined chewing, and torn pieces are a swallowing risk. They're best used for active retrieve play rather than left down as something to gnaw on alone.
- Do all rubber dog toys float?
- No — solid rubber toys sink, so check the listing specifically says the toy floats rather than assuming from the material alone. Hollow rubber and closed-cell foam are the two constructions that actually stay on the surface.
- Can I use a floating toy in the sea?
- Yes, and it's worth rinsing it in fresh water afterwards since salt residue left in a foam toy can irritate a dog's mouth and dries stiff. Check the current and any local flag warnings before letting a dog swim out for a retrieve, the same as you would for a person.
- How do I stop a wet foam toy going mouldy?
- Let it dry fully in the open air before putting it away, ideally somewhere with airflow rather than a sealed toy box. A toy that's put away damp, especially one with any split in the surface, is the one that starts to smell within a week or two.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.