How to Choose Dog Floating Toys? What to Consider Before Buy

Getting Started with Floating Toys

Okay, so the weather got warmer, and my dog, Max, he just goes nuts for water. Like, seriously obsessed. We have a small lake nearby, and every time we go, he's straight in. The problem was, all his favorite fetch toys? Yeah, they sink like rocks. Toss 'em in, and poof, gone to the bottom. Max would just look at me, confused. Not much fun for fetch, right?

So, I figured, gotta get some toys that actually float. Seemed simple enough.

Hitting the Pet Store

Went down to the local pet supply place. Man, they have a whole aisle for dog toys, it's kinda crazy. Looked specifically for stuff labeled "floating" or for water play. Found a few different kinds. There was this bright orange rubber bone, looked pretty sturdy. Then a classic tennis ball type, but it felt lighter, maybe hollower? And one of those ring things, made of some kind of foam material. Didn't spend ages deciding, just grabbed those three, figured I'd see what worked.

The Big Test Run at the Lake

Next sunny day, Max and I headed to the lake. He was bouncing off the walls, knew exactly where we were going. Got to our usual spot, let him have a quick dip first to cool off. Then, toy time.

First up, the orange bone. Tossed it out maybe ten feet. It landed with a splash and... it floated! Pretty well, too. Sat right on top of the water. Max paddled out, grabbed it easy enough, brought it back. Success! We did that a few times, seemed solid.

Next, the lighter tennis ball. Threw that one. It floated okay, but maybe sat a bit lower in the water? It was yellow, so kinda hard to spot with the sun glare sometimes. Max fetched it fine, but he seemed less excited about it than the bone. Maybe the texture?

Last try: the foam ring. This thing floated high, like, super visible. Bright blue color helped too. Tossed it, Max went for it... but he seemed to have a harder time grabbing it? Maybe the shape was awkward for his mouth in the water. He got it eventually, but it wasn't as smooth as the bone. After a few throws, I noticed it seemed a bit waterlogged already, felt heavier.

What I Figured Out

So after that first session, here's what I learned:

• The orange rubber bone: This was the clear winner. Floated great, easy for Max to see and grab, felt durable. Definitely keeping this one in the lake bag.
• The floaty tennis ball: It worked, technically. But visibility wasn't great, and it didn't float as high. Plus, I know Max can shred regular tennis balls, so I wasn't sure how long this one would last. It's okay as a backup, maybe.
• The foam ring: Floated really well at first, super visible. But it got waterlogged fast, and Max struggled to grip it comfortably in the water. I could also see bite marks appearing pretty quickly. Probably won't last long.

It wasn't rocket science, just trying stuff out. The simplest, sturdiest option turned out to be the best for us. Max was happy just chasing something in the water, but the orange bone definitely made the game easier and more fun for both of us. Found what works, gonna stick with it. Job done.