RuffWear Gnawt-A-Stick Dog Toy

Andrew Piotrowski

Over the years we have lost our fair share of tennis balls and hard plastic tug toys the bay. Our dog Jack is great at playing fetch but sometimes distractions, tides, waves, and poorly thrown balls leave us unable to find or retrieve the toys.

I was in search of a dog toy that could be used in and out of the water, would not drift away easily, and would not be destroyed after one fetch session. Enter the Ruff Wear Gwnat-A-Stick Toy! This super durable toy is made of natural Latex Rubber and holds up astonishingly well against heavy chewers, saltwater, dirt, and even long slides across the pavement.

I have been testing two of these for about three months and my two hounds are just as excited to play with them today as they were when we got them. 

RuffWear Gnawt-A-Stick key features

Floatation & Visibility – This toy floats incredibly well. I often stash one in my dry bag and canoe over to a nearby island to let our dog Jack rip on the beach. He absolutely loves chasing the toy in the small surf created by passing boats.

Once impacting the water, the toy quickly floats to the surface and generally stays in one spot until your dog scoops it up. The toy floats at an offset angle making it easy for the pups to get a hold of. The secret to the great floating is a small foam cylinder that is inserted in the core of the toy.

On shady days or in dark water I find that the dogs have no issues finding the toy. I have noticed that my dogs seem to more easily spot the yellow one compared to the red one for some reason.

Fun on Land – This toy is not just for water! My dogs absolutely love playing with it in the backyard or nearby fields. When thrown fast it bounces erratically and makes for a really fun game of fetch. 

Color – This toy currently comes in 3 colors. I have tested both the yellow and red ones; however, there is also a nice blue color available as well. I might be going crazy, but I have noticed that both of my pups seem to be able to more easily spot the yellow one when thrown into fields as well.

Dishwasher Safe – What do you get when you mix drool, salt water, mud, and sand? One nasty-looking toy! Pop these toys in the top rack of the dishwasher and they come out looking new! This helps to keep the toys visible in the water.