Best Safe Stick Toy for Dogs: Fetch and Tug Sticks Instead of Real Sticks

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Plenty of dogs would pick a stick over any ball. The trouble is that a real stick can splinter, snap into sharp ends, or stab a dog that runs onto it. A stick toy gives your dog the same shape to chase, carry and tug, made from rubber or a rubber-like material with rounded ends. This guide explains why vets and welfare groups warn against wooden sticks, what to check in a stick toy, and which stick toys in our catalog have been put through hands-on play tests by named reviewers.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Whole Dog Journal, where founding editor Nancy Kerns and three test dogs played with five stick toys over a period of more than four weeks (published June 2022, updated March 2023), and from Canine Journal, where reviewer Amanda tried more than 20 stick toys with her dogs (September 2023). Neither source says whether the toys were bought or sent by the makers. Safety background comes from the American Kennel Club and RSPCA Australia, checked on 1 November 2026. Product facts are as each maker states them. We did not test these toys ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Our picks at a glance

• Best for fetch, on land or in water: West Paw Zwig, a hollow, floating stick that came first in both tests.
• Best for tug between two dogs: Ruff Dawg Stick, a heavier rubber stick that held up to dog to dog tug, with a smaller Twig size.
• Best long stick for tug with you: KONG Safestix, a flexible stick with rounded ends that keeps your hands well away from teeth.

This page is only about stick shaped toys. For rope and rubber tug toys in other shapes, see our best dog tug toy guide; for flying discs, see best dog frisbee. None of the sticks below is a chew toy for a dog that destroys rubber; for those dogs, start with best dog toys for aggressive chewers.

Why a real stick is a risky toy

The AKC warns that chewing sticks can do real harm. Pieces can wedge across the roof of the mouth or between teeth, and sharp ends can cut the mouth. AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein describes dogs arriving at the emergency clinic after running onto a stick during play, and an earlier AKC article reports a British Veterinary Association warning that sticks can cause splinters, blockages and infections. RSPCA Australia also advises owners not to throw sticks because of the high risk of injury.

Whole Dog Journal’s tester learned this the hard way years ago, when a stick she threw on a beach stuck upright in the sand just as her Border Collie reached it. He needed emergency care and recovered, and she has thrown only rubber sticks since. Other risks she lists are dogs swallowing chewed wood, splinters lodging in the gums, and eye injuries when two dogs tug on a branch.

If your dog paws at its mouth, drools more than usual, gags, will not eat, or you see blood after playing with a stick, see your vet promptly. A stick toy lowers the risk, but it does not remove it, so the safety tips below still apply.

Types of stick toy

• Hollow rubber fetch sticks. Light, bendy and usually able to float. They are the closest thing to a real stick for throwing, but they are not built for long chewing sessions.
• Long flexible tug sticks. Longer sticks put more distance between your hand and your dog’s mouth, and two dogs can hold one at once. They get clumsy indoors.
• Solid heavy rubber sticks. Dense sticks sold for strong chewers. They are often too heavy for small dogs and too heavy for a long throw.
• Nylon or wood blend chew sticks. These are chew toys rather than fetch toys. Canine Journal found that two hard nylon sticks left sharp shards where dogs had chewed them, so look at the chew toy guidance instead.

What to look for

• A disclosed material. Whole Dog Journal gave its best marks only to makers that say what the toy is made of and that it is free of BPA, latex and phthalates. If the maker will not say, you are guessing.
• The right size for your dog. The toy should be long enough that your dog cannot swallow it and light enough to carry. Small dogs struggled with full size sticks in Canine Journal’s test, so pick a small size if the maker offers one.
• Rounded ends and some give. A stick toy should bend rather than splinter or snap to a point.
• Floats and is easy to see. If your dog swims, check that the maker says the stick floats. Canine Journal found that some sticks float low in the water and bright colors were easier to find in long grass.
• Weight for throwing. Light, hollow sticks are kind to the mouth but do not go far. Heavier ones fly further.
• Easy cleaning. Check whether the maker says the stick is washable or dishwasher safe, as some are.

Playing safely with a stick toy

• Supervise play, and put the stick away when the game ends. These are fetch and tug toys, not toys to leave with a dog that chews.
• Check the stick before each game. Take it away if it is torn or pieces are missing.
• Throw it in a low arc away from people and other dogs, and keep play areas clear of hard objects the stick could bounce off.
• Store it indoors. Canine Journal noticed that a stick left outside for months got stiffer.
• Keep tug games calm: let go if your dog gets over excited, and give a long stick plenty of room.
• If your dog swallows a piece or seems to have hurt its mouth, see your vet.

The stick toys we list

West Paw Zwig

The Zwig is a hollow, squishy stick about 13.75 inches long, made from West Paw’s recyclable Zogoflex material in Montana. West Paw says it floats, is dishwasher safe and is free of BPA, latex, silicone and phthalates, and the toy is covered by the maker’s Love it Guarantee.

It came first in both tests. Whole Dog Journal’s dogs liked the feel of it so much that it had to be kept away from them between games, and the tester noted that its light weight means shorter throws. Canine Journal called it the best stick for fetch: it bounced well on short grass, floated, and came out unmarked after a German Shepherd clamped down on it. Both reviewers warn that a dog that tears up rubber will tear this up too, and Canine Journal found it too big for its tiniest dogs. See the West Paw Zwig.

Ruff Dawg Stick

Ruff Dawg makes this hollow rubber stick in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 12 inch Stick is meant for dogs of about 40 lbs and up, and a 6 inch Twig is sold for smaller dogs. The maker says it floats, is weatherproof and washable, can be strung on a rope for longer throws, and is free of phthalates, latex and BPA.

Whole Dog Journal ranked it second. Its three test dogs chose it on their own for tug games between themselves, and it still showed no tears. Being heavier than the Zwig, it carries further when thrown. Canine Journal also found it durable for fetch, but left it off its top list because it had a strong rubber smell and floated low in the water, which made it harder for swimming dogs to spot. See the Ruff Dawg Stick.

KONG Safestix

KONG sells Safestix as a safer swap for wooden sticks, with rounded ends, and says it flexes, bounces and floats. The maker’s page currently lists a Small size for dogs up to 20 lbs and a Medium for dogs of 15 to 35 lbs. It describes the stick only as a durable material.

Canine Journal named it the best stick for tug. The long sizes its reviewer used kept her hands well clear of her German Shepherd, several dogs could hold it together, and it had no punctures after weeks of rough games. She found it awkward indoors. Whole Dog Journal ranked it third: the dogs enjoyed it and it threw the furthest, but the tester marked it down because KONG does not name the material and because it is made in China. If a disclosed material matters to you, choose one of the first two. See the KONG Safestix.

Other stick toys named without links

The two tests also covered these. We do not link them, because we could not match each one to a current maker page and a specific listing from an independent source, or because it did not do well in testing.

• Goughnuts sticks. Canine Journal’s pick for chewing, a heavy natural rubber stick with a red inner layer that shows when the toy should be replaced. Goughnuts sells several sizes. For heavy chewers, see our aggressive chewer guide linked above.
• West Paw Hurley. Canine Journal’s choice for small dogs, a small bone shaped toy light enough for a tiny dog to carry.
• Chuckit! Air Fetch Stick. A light, hollow stick designed to let a dog breathe easily while carrying it, which Whole Dog Journal found hard to throw far.
• Spunky Pup Fetch & Glow Stick. A glow in the dark stick that Whole Dog Journal ranked last, partly because the material is not named and its dogs ignored it. Spunky Pup says it is a fetch toy and not for chewing.

FAQ

Is it safe for dogs to play with sticks?

Not really. The AKC and RSPCA Australia both warn that real sticks can splinter, cut the mouth or injure a dog that runs onto them. A stick shaped rubber toy is the safer swap, used with supervision.

What can I give my dog instead of sticks?

A rubber or rubber-like stick toy with rounded ends, sized for your dog. For fetch, a floating stick like the Zwig works on land and in water. For tug, a longer stick like Safestix keeps hands clear.

Do stick toys float?

Many do. All five in Whole Dog Journal’s test floated, but Canine Journal found that some float low and are hard to see. Check what the maker says before you throw one in a lake.

Can dogs chew on stick toys?

Fetch sticks are not made for long chewing. Both tests found that strong chewers could damage the lighter sticks, so put them away after play and use a proper chew toy for chewing.

What size stick toy should I get?

Follow the maker’s weight guide. Small dogs need a short, light stick they can carry; large dogs need one long enough that they cannot swallow it.