Plush and rubber dog toys do different jobs. Plush is for carrying, shaking and gentle tug; rubber is for chewing, fetch and play near water. Many dogs enjoy both: a soft toy for supervised play together, and a rubber one that suits harder chewing. Whichever you pick, no toy is indestructible, so supervise play and replace a toy once it's damaged.
Plush or rubber at a glance
| Plush | Rubber | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Carrying, shaking, squeaking, gentle tug | Chewing, fetch, play in water |
| Feel | Soft: corduroy, faux fur or shaggy plush | Firm but bendy rubber |
| Cleaning | Some are machine washable (check each product) | The makers list them as dishwasher safe |
| Examples | McCraken Lobsta Knottie · Rowdies Bjorn | Rumpus · Skamp |
Plush toys: how they differ
Plush toys look alike on a shelf, but they're built in different ways:
- Knotted corduroy: HuggleHounds Knotties like the McCraken Lobsta and the Morris Moose have knotted limbs and five squeakers, over a three-layer inner lining the maker calls Tuffut Technology. They come in Small (about 9 in) and Large.
- An inner skeleton: the Birch Bunny X-Brace is built around a knotted inner frame, with a squeaker in the head and crinkle in the body. HuggleHounds makes it for tug and toss, and lists it as machine washable.
- Plush with rubber paws: West Paw Rowdies have a hidden squeaker, a mesh-backed plush and paws made of Zogoflex rubber. The maker lists them as machine washable and dryer safe.
Sizes of the Rowdies (per West Paw):
- Astrid: about 6.75 × 10.5 in
- Olaf: about 10.5 × 9 in
- Helga: about 13 × 8 in
- Bjorn: about 13.5 × 15 in, the largest
Pick a plush toy your dog can carry comfortably. If your dog tends to take plush apart, keep it for play you can watch, and put it away afterwards.
Rubber toys: for chewing and fetch
- Rumpus is a chew toy that rocks and rolls. West Paw rates it for tough chewers. The Medium is 6.25 in, and it floats.
- Skamp is a fetch toy with a squishy hollow core, for fetch, toss and tug. It's 8 in, floats, and is rated for tough chewers by West Paw.
Both are made of West Paw's Zogoflex rubber in Bozeman, Montana. For more fetch and treat toys, and for how chewing ratings work, see our guide How to choose a dog toy for the way your dog plays.
Quick checklist
- Soft toy for carrying and cuddling, rubber toy for chewing
- A size your dog can carry, but too big to swallow
- Check the care notes: machine wash for plush, dishwasher for rubber
- Supervise play; replace a toy when it's damaged
Shop the guide: Dog toys · Everything for dogs
Last updated: 2026-10-21 · Written by the Bean & Paw team.
