Whether your dog enjoys independent or group play, whether they prefer to run and chase or sit and relax, there are suitable toys, and below, you will find reviews of 10 of the best summer toys for dogs to keep your pup entertained.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy |
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Best Value
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Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy |
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Premium Choice
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K&H Pet Products Dog Pool & Pet Bath |
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| Best for Puppies |
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Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Bone Chill & Chew Bone |
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Ruff Dawg Indestructible Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy |
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The 10 Best Summer Toys for Dogs
1. Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy – Best Overall
| Toy Type: | Ball Launcher |
| Material: | Plastic |
So many dogs love fetch and chase games that it’s not surprising to see the popularity of balls and fetch toys. But, constantly throwing a ball can be a pain on the shoulder, and unless you have the launch of a professional cricketer, your feeble throws won’t satisfy the hardest running dogs.
And that’s where the Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy comes in. It is a plastic stick with a cup on the end. The ball sits in the end and the toy can be used to launch the ball three times as far as you can throw it by hand. What’s more, it’s easy to pick the ball back up with the launcher, which means you don’t have to handle a dog-slobber-covered tennis ball. The launcher has a comfortable handle, is reasonably priced, and it includes one fuzzy ball.
The Chuckit! Is also compatible with rubber balls, which is useful because the tennis ball that it comes with won’t last long if your dog is a chewer. The cost, utility, and popularity of the Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy makes it the best summer toy for dogs.
- Prevents bad shoulders from throwing balls
- Launch tennis and rubber balls further than you can throw
- Decent price for a long-lasting toy
- The provided ball won’t last long
2. Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy – Best Value
| Toy Type: | Frisbee |
| Material: | Polyester, Synthetic Fabric, Rubber |
Some dogs love to run and chase but don’t necessarily enjoy chasing a ball. Rather than trying to force your dog to chase tennis balls, some other toys and shapes are equally fun as a chase toy.
The Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy is a frisbee-shaped toy that has a rubber frame and a polyester middle. It is made from multiple layers of fabric, which makes it much more difficult to tear, chew, and destroy, and its aerodynamic shape means it can be tossed a decent distance with minimal effort.
That shape also easily fits in a dog’s mouth, which is further enhanced by the soft rubber frame. It can be used in water and is constructed from visibly colored materials, so it is easy to find, too.
The Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy is fun, functional, and inexpensive, making it the best summer toy for dogs for the money. However, dogs with sharp teeth, or those that like to chew whatever they retrieve, will make relatively short work of the construction.
- Waterproof design means it can be used in water
- Vibrant colors make it easy to find
- The soft rubber frame is gentle on dogs’ mouths
- Cheap
- Not that durable
3. K&H Pet Products Dog Pool & Pet Bath – Premium Choice
| Toy Type: | Pool |
| Material: | Metal, Plastic, Vinyl |
Some dogs detest water and will run in the opposite direction at the merest suggestion of getting wet. Others, especially spaniel and retriever breeds, love nothing more than jumping in any body of water. And, in summer, your active hot dog needs to find ways to cool itself down. The K&H Pet Products Dog Pool & Pet Bath is a 32 x 50-inch pool made with a strong metal frame and vinyl walls. There is a drain hole so the water can be emptied quickly and easily.
The walls are easy to clean, and the frame ensures the pool keeps its shape and stays in position. Unlike inflatable pools, it doesn’t need inflating before use, and the sides aren’t as easily crumpled, but the use of metal and vinyl does mean that the K&H Pet Products Dog Pool & Pet Bath costs more than typical pet pools.
Unfortunately, nothing is completely dog-tooth proof, and if you have a power chewer that gets its mouth on this, it will eventually get through the vinyl walls, so it does require supervision.
- Metal frame holds its shape
- Vinyl design negates the need to inflate the pool
- A great way for your dog to cool off in summer
- Expensive
4. Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Bone Chill & Chew Bone – Best for Puppies
| Toy Type: | Chew Toy |
| Material: | Plastic |
Dogs love to chew, and puppies find the chewing motion not only enjoyable but also soothing, especially when their teeth are coming through. The Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Bone Chill & Chew Bone is designed to ease the irritation that comes with puppy teething, but it is also a great treat for puppies in hot weather.
The cloth massages the gums and mouth, and so too do the rubber bristles on the main part of the bone.
The Chill & Chew is peanut butter flavored and retains its flavor. The bone also has wells, which can be filled with water or a soft treat like extra peanut butter. This freezes in place and will keep your puppy busy for hours. The plastic bone won’t last long in the teeth of a power chewer, though, so this is best for gentle gnawers and young gnashers.
- Helps with puppy teething
- Can be filled with water and frozen for a cooling effect
- Massages the gums to provide relief
- Not suitable for power chewers
5. Ruff Dawg Indestructible Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy
| Toy Type: | Ball |
| Material: | Rubber |
Balls are a firm favorite with a lot of dogs. They’re great for chasing and throwing around. They can be used for independent play, as well as interactive play with humans and even other dogs. But some dogs make very short work of tennis balls and even some rubber balls thanks to a combination of sharp teeth, strong jaws, and iron wills.
The Ruff Dawg Indestructible Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy aims to overcome those with a toughened rubber construction. The ball floats, so is ideal for use in your dog’s new outdoor pool or at the beach. It is also a solid rubber construction, which means it won’t lose its bounce even if your dog manages to chew chunks out of it.
And there’s a choice of sizes so you can choose a ball to match your dog’s requirements. It is more expensive than other balls, but it is more durable than most.
However, no ball is completely indestructible, and if you have a determined, willful, strong chewer, it will likely still get through the Indestructible Ball.
- Tougher and more robust than most balls
- Solid rubber, so it won’t lose its bounce
- Floats so can be used in water
- Expensive
- Not completely indestructible
6. Pet Fit for Life Dog Step-On Sprinkler Dog Toy
| Toy Type: | Sprinkler |
| Material: | Coated Metal |
Most of us have seen videos of dogs running through sprinklers in gardens when it’s sunny. They enjoy chasing and trying to catch the water while also benefiting from the natural cooling effect of the water. It can provide hours of entertainment, and it encourages independent play, too.
The Pet Fit for Life Dog Step-On Sprinkler Dog Toy offers a more environmentally friendly solution than leaving a garden sprinkler on all day, and it adds an extra element to sprinkler play. The sprinkler is made from durable materials that won’t rust. It includes an attachment to fit it to a garden hose, as well as extra adaptors for non-standard spigot fitting. It also comes with a large tennis ball.
The included splitter even lets you continue to draw water for a garden hose while leaving the dog toy on. You will need to teach your dog to stand on the paddle to get the water, which will be easier with some dogs than others, but you can also adjust the water pressure according to your dog’s preferences.
The Step-On Sprinkler Dog Toy is a little pricey, but it offers your dog a drinking station as well as a sprinkler toy.
- Provides drinking water and sprinkler play
- Made from durable materials
- Includes a large tennis ball
- Expensive
- Can be difficult to train dogs to use it
7. Trixie Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set
| Toy Type: | Obstacles |
| Material: | Plastic |
Dog agility is a great way to further enhance obedience training efforts while also offering physical exercise and mental stimulation to your dog. It can also improve the bond between a dog and its human. As well as teaching basic commands at home, with a few simple obstacles, you can also train parts of the course.
The Trixie Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set contains 6 plastic cones and 3 poles. The cones have holes at varying heights, so you can adapt the hurdle height to your dog’s current agility level and size, although big dogs will find even the tallest setting too easy. The cones can also be set up to practice slalom, and whether you compete in agility events, go to regular training, or are looking for something a little different to do with your dog on warm afternoons, it is a good set.
The poles are collapsible, and the set includes a carry case for convenient storage, but as well as being too small for big, active dogs, they are quite lightweight which means they are too easily knocked over or even blown over.
- Everything stores conveniently in a carry case
- Cones and poles can be used at varying heights
- Great way to encourage exercise and build bonds
- Lightweight
- Big dogs will find it too easy
8. Chuckit! Amphibious Bumper Dog Toy
| Toy Type: | Water Toy |
| Material: | Foam, Polyester |
The Chuckit! Amphibious Bumper Dog Toy is a foam and rubber toy that can be used for light tug games, or it can work as a fetch toy. Its waterproof, floating design means that it can be used in the water, as well as out, and it is a good choice for dogs that like to chase their toys.
It is inexpensive, too, but its foam and polyester design means that it won’t withstand rough tug games, and if your dog enjoys chewing its toys, it likely won’t last many play sessions. That also means you will have to supervise any time your dog spends playing with the Bumper Dog Toy to ensure that they don’t chew it to pieces too easily.
- Inexpensive
- Suitable for use in the water and out
- Suitable for fetch and light tugging
- Easily destroyed with heavy chewing
9. Earth Rated Rubber Fetch Chew Dog Toy
| Toy Type: | Fetch Toy |
| Material: | Rubber |
Fetch toys tend to take the shape of spherical balls or disc-shaped frisbees. They’re easy to throw and predictable, which means your dog knows where they’re going to land and even how they’re going to bounce.
The Earth Rated Rubber Fetch Chew Dog Toy isn’t ball or frisbee-shaped, and its design leads to unpredictable bounces that will keep your dog on its toes. This type of fetch toy can be really useful in small spaces because it means your dog will have to run back and forth to try and gather the toy up, giving it more exercise and making the game more enjoyable.
The rubber is reasonably difficult to chew through, but the seams can split apart, and the toy is surprisingly small, so you do have to be careful of which size you buy to prevent it from being a choking hazard when your dog does finally catch up to it.
- Unpredictable bounce makes the game more fun
- The rubber construction is difficult to chew through
- Smaller than expected
- Seams can split apart
10. Hyper Pet K9 Kannon Mini K2 Dog Toy
| Toy Type: | Ball Launcher |
| Material: | Plastic, Rubber |
Throwing tennis balls all day long can play havoc with your shoulder, but if you have a dog that loves nothing more than chasing bright yellow balls around a field, you won’t want to stop the fun.
The Hyper Pet K9 Kannon Mini K2 Dog Toy is a gun-style ball launcher that relieves the pressure on your shoulder and lets your dog keep playing its favorite game. You don’t have to pick up the slimy ball, either, as you can press it directly into the end of the barrel to load it.
The balls are smaller than standard tennis balls, which means you do have to buy the right ones, and they are a lot more expensive than standard balls, and the gun only comes with a single ball. While the balls are designed for smaller mouths, the loud noise of the loading of the gun is enough to put a lot of small dogs off going anywhere near the gun.
- Launcher prevents shoulder pain from tennis ball throwing
- No need to handle slimy balls
- Replacement balls are expensive
- Loud operating noise scares some dogs
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Summer Toys for Dogs
Playtime is important to dogs. It offers physical exercise and mental stimulation. It can also help develop a strong bond between you and your dog as you play together or teach independence if you offer independent toys that don’t need your input. You do need to be careful letting your dog exercise in the summer months, however, because they can suffer heatstroke and even sunburn.
Finding the right toys will help your dog and could provide you with an opportunity to play or a few minutes’ peace, depending on what you’re looking for.
Toy Types
There are many toys to choose from, including those that are suitable all year round. Determine what kind of play you want for your dog, whether it is independent or interactive play, and then choose a toy type to match those needs. Typical summer toys you can choose from include the following:
- Balls and Discs
Balls and discs are classic dog toys. Generally, it is down to you or another human to throw the toy, and the dog will hopefully retrieve it. You can then repeat the process until you or your dog gets bored. Some dogs play independently with balls, but you might need to supervise to ensure they don’t chew them to pieces and swallow the bits.
As well as standard balls, you can get those that float in water which are useful if you’re at the beach or want to play in the dog pool you’ve bought. Oddly shaped balls and fetch toys are good because they have an unpredictable bounce which will test your dog’s agility even more.
- Launchers
For those who struggle throwing a tennis ball or want greater distance on their throws, ball launchers are good investments. Launchers enable you to throw, slingshot, or fire a ball further and with less effort, and many of them enable you to pick the ball up without having to use your hands, which is great when it’s a soggy mess after a day of playing.
You can even get guns that fireballs, although some dogs are wary of the noise they make while loading and firing.
- Tug Toys
Tug of War is another popular classic that has been enjoyed by dogs and owners for generations. Often, you don’t even need a toy, but they are easier to replace than sweaters or cushions. Make sure the tug toy is durable.
Some owners avoid string toys altogether because the bits of string are easily swallowed. Tug of war is a great way to burn off energy, and a tug toy can also be a good way to distract a dog that mouths or nips when it wants attention.
- Chew Toys
Similarly, chew toys are good for dogs that like to use their mouths, which is the case for most young dogs and quite a lot of adult dogs. As with any toy, a chew toy needs to be durable, with nylon and rubber being the most popular material choices. Chew toys are usually best for independent play, although a human hand might be appreciated by some dogs.
- Pools
Dogs get hot in summer, and some really enjoy cooling off in a pool, just like people do. Special dog pools are shallow enough and small enough for dogs to feel comfortable and be able to stand up. They should have tough sides to prevent scratching, too.
Throw a floating tennis ball or another floating toy in, and your dog will be entertained for hours while keeping out of the potentially damaging sun.
- Obstacles
Although you shouldn’t push your dog too hard on very hot days, summer is the ideal time to train your dog outside, and what better way than with a home agility course?
Whether you intend to compete or not, agility obstacles like hurdles, slaloms, and others are a great way to interact with your dog, and performing agility also enables a good opportunity to train your dog.
Durable Materials
Dogs are destructive, even if they don’t mean to be. They have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws. These combine to mean that most toys won’t last long once your dog has them. Choose toys made from durable materials like rubber or nylon. They will last longer, and there is less chance that your dog will chew them to pieces and potentially swallow the bits.
Independent or Dependent Play
Dogs need both independent and interactive play. Independent play means they play with no human intervention and without other dogs. Typical independent play involves chewing toys, but it can also involve the use of treat-dispensing toys. These are good if you want something for your dog to do while you’re out or while you’re sunbathing and your dog is in the garden with you.
Toys that require your intervention include frisbees and tug toys, although your dog may enjoy carrying both these types of toys around even when you’re not present. These are best when you want some way to entertain both of you and are ideal for bond-building and training efforts.
Cost
Some toys, like pools and even launcher guns, are expensive. Not only do you want to ensure that you get your money’s worth before they break, but you should consider the cost of any replacement parts or even consumables.
Gun launchers need balls, and if your dog is a power chewer that enjoys chewing the toy it retrieves, these won’t last long. Standard dog balls are fairly inexpensive, but some toys will only take specific balls or replacement parts, and these can end up being expensive.
What Type of Play Is Best for Dogs?
Dogs benefit from all different types of play, from the physical exercise offered by chasing to the mental stimulation of jumping hurdles and slaloming between poles. But, if your dog isn’t interested and won’t take part in a particular type of play, there is no point in buying a toy for that type of play.
How Long Should Dogs Play?
Dogs generally need between 30 minutes and 2 hours of exercise per day, although some breeds can manage much more than this. Walks count towards that physical exercise, but so too can play time. Incorporate games into your dog’s daily life to mix up its activities and keep its mind and body sharp.
Can Dogs Play in the Sun?
Most dogs can spend some time in the sun, but even those that originally hail from hot climates run the risk of suffering heatstroke if they spend too long in very hot, sunny conditions. Provide a shaded area for your dog, ensure they go in it if they are getting too hot, and always provide fresh drinking water to help them regulate their body temperature adequately.
How We Selected These Summer Toys for Dogs
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dog toys reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dog toys available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dog toys. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Conclusion
Dogs love to play, and they benefit from playtime. They can spend some time playing in the sun, but you will need to provide a shaded area and drinking water.
Use the reviews above, choose a toy that best suits your dog’s preferred style of play, and offer some variety in the toys you provide. The Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy is a ball launcher that is easier than throwing a ball for your dog, and it can launch the ball further than your arm alone. The Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy is a cheap summer dog toy that is waterproof and durable enough for some light chewing and tugging games as well as fetch games.
Featured Image Credit: alexei_tm, Shutterstock
