9 Best Dog Frisbees and Flying Discs of 2023

Dog discs—more commonly known as frisbees, after the Frisbee brand name—come in a wide range of sizes and materials, but the best frisbee for you and your dog will be the one that most encourages consistent and rewarding play, so the two of you can spend more time bonding.

Playing with a flying disc helps exercise very high energy dogs, Martinez says. It also takes more mental engagement than fetching a ball, since your dog has to track the disc and consider the exact moment to jump to make a catch. “This game engages the dog’s mind and body, thus making them more tired than a regular game of fetch,” she told The Spruce Pets.

Our favorite dog frisbee is the Kong Flyer. This bright red disc is made of classic Kong material, which is nearly indestructible. Plus it’s easy to clean and comes in two sizes.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:KONG Classic Flyer Frisbee Dog Toy at Amazon
Best Lightweight:Chuckit! Paraflight Frisbee at Amazon
Best for Water:Ruffwear Floating Disc at Amazon
Best for Frisbee Beginners:Hyper Pet Flippy Flopper Dog Frisbee at Amazon
Best for Competition:Hyperflite Jawz Disc at Amazon
Best for After Dark:Nite Ize Dog Discuit Flying Disc at Amazon
Best for Small Dogs:West Paw Zogoflex Zisc at Amazon
Best for Large Dogs:Booda Soft-Bite Tailspin Flyer at Amazon
Best with Squeaker:Hartz Tuff Stuff Flyer at Amazon

Best Overall KONG Classic Flyer Frisbee Dog Toy

 

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What We Like

• Available in two sizes
• Nearly indestructible
• Soft rubber material
• Easy to clean

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t float

This very popular soft rubber disc is made from the same durable Kong material found in the classic toys. Dog owners like it because it’s both very tough and softer than classic frisbees. You can fold it in half to keep in a pocket or backpack, and it springs back, ready to use.

The Kong Flyer is heavier than a lot of discs, but once you master the right wrist flick, it can soar. Even if you aren’t very coordinated, it still can be tossed with a pretty impressive bounce. The discs come in two sizes— a 7-inch diameter small size for dogs up to 20 pounds and 9-inch large size for bigger dogs. Kong suggests if you’re not sure on the size, that you size up for safety.

This Kong toy is a solid choice for regular backyard games or to take on an adventure. It’s sturdy and stands up to lots of use and it’s easy to clean. It doesn’t float, so it’s not the best option for taking to the lake, but otherwise, this is an all-around great toy.

Price at Time of Publish: $12

_{Diameter: 7 inch, 9 inch | Material: Rubber | Colors: Red}

 

Best Lightweight Chuckit! Paraflight Frisbee

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What We Like

• Lightweight, flies far
• Floats in water
• Comes in two sizes
• Less expensive than most

What We Don’t Like

• Can be hard to keep clean

This lightweight nylon frisbee is easy to throw high and far for long-distance catch adventures. It catches a lot of air, making it challenging for dogs that vault to fetch. It has several layers of material and a rubber edge to make catching more comfortable. Like Chuckit! balls, the company’s disc is also bright orange and blue so it’s not easy for pet owners to lose.

The sturdy toy also floats in water. It comes in two sizes: The small is 6.2 inches and the large is 9.5 inches. It’s relatively inexpensive and users say that it lasts for a long time, even with very eager, mouthy pups.

Price at Time of Publish: $8

_{Diameter: 6.2 inch, 9,5 inch | Material: Nylon | Colors: Orange and blue}

Best for Water Ruffwear Hydro Plane Floating Disc

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What We Like

• Floats
• Two sizes and the large is bigger than most
• Two colors
• Rugges

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t fly very high or far

This rugged brand is known for colorful and sturdy harnesses, backpacks, and other outdoorsy dog gear. They also offer a couple of flying discs, and the Hydro Plane is geared particularly towards water use. It’s made of nylon with foam padding, which makes it soft on your dog’s mouth. That also makes it buoyant so toys aren’t lost in the water.

The Hydro Plane comes in two sizes—9-inch medium and 12-inch large—and comes in bright orange or a more muted teal. The large version is especially easy to spot in the water. This disc doesn’t sail as far and as high as some of the others, but people who have water dogs love this it floats so well.

Price at Time of Publish: $25

_{Diameter: 9 inch, 12 inch | Material: Nylon and foam | Colors: Orange, teal}

Best for Frisbee Beginners Hyper Pet Flippy Flopper Dog Frisbee

 

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What We Like

• Bright colors
• Floats in water
• Less expensive than many
• Lightweight and soft

What We Don’t Like

• Not incredibly durable
• Only one size

If your pup is just learning to catch a flying disc, then the Hyper Pet Flippy Flopper is a great start. It’s very lightweight nylon so it’s not painful if your dog gets bonked on the nose. That helps build their confidence and doesn’t cause fear. The disc soars far and high with the right flick of the wrist.

This disc also floats in water and comes in a range of very bright colors (loud pink, blue, and green) so it’s harder to lose it in the tall grass or the snow. It only comes in one size and might not stand up to a very aggressive game of tug.

Martinez uses these soft discs for puppies and dogs that don’t like hard plastic in their mouths.

Price at Time of Publish: $9

_{Diameter: 9 inch | Material: Nylon | Colors: Blue, pink, green}

Best for Competition Hyperflite Jawz Disc

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What We Like

• Very durable
• Comes in five colors
• There’s a smaller size for puppies
• Anti-glare feature

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn’t float

If your dog is serious about Frisbee and you’re eyeing disc dog sports, Hyperflite Jawz discs are a good place to start. These durable plastic toys are billed by the manufacturer as the toughest competition-approved discs in the world. They are very durable and hard to puncture when they’re snatched by an eager pup.

The discs come in four bright colors, as well as glow-in-the-dark. It has an anti-glare feature so the colors aren’t overwhelming in bright light. The standard Jawz disc is 8.75 inch wide, but the company also makes a smaller 7-inch puppy version made from the same rugged plastic. Martinez likes these discs because they come in different sizes.

Price at Time of Publish: $18

_{Diameter: 8.75 inch | Material: Plastic | Colors: Blueberry, black, mango, lemon-lime, glow in the dark}

Best for After Dark Nite Ize Dog Discuit Disco LED Light-Up Flying Disc

 

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What We Like

• Lights from rim to rim
• Long-lasting battery with two replacements
• Floats

What We Don’t Like

• Some users has issue with the light falling off

The fun doesn’t have to stop when it gets dark outside. The Nite Ize Flashflight Discuit is a soft plastic disc that has a bright LED that makes it glow in the dark. There’s a simple push button that turns the light on and off. The battery lasts for 20 hours and the toy comes with two replaceable lithium batteries. There’s a cap over the battery to prevent accidentally chewing, but the toy should always be supervised.

The disc is made from a durable material that’s in between hard plastic and softer, pliable plastic. It floats for water play. The light changes colors as you play and illuminates the entire toy.

Price at Time of Publish: $14

_{Diameter: 8.25 inch | Material: Plastic | Colors: Color-changing light}

Best for Small Dogs West Paw Zogoflex Zisc

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What We Like

• Two sizes
• Three bright colors
• Made of recyclable plastic
• Dishwasher-safe

What We Don’t Like

• Not as durable as some

If a disc is too big for a small dog, the game is just no fun. They can have a hard time catching it and it can make them stumble when they run. The Zogoflex Zisc from West Paw is made from a soft, recyclable plastic that is BPA-and-phthalate-free. It comes in two sizes: a standard 8.5 inches, and a smaller 6-5-inch version for tinier athletes. The small disc is lighter and thinner than the large one.

The disc can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. It’s softer than many hard plastic frisbees, yet can soar further than some of the nylon ones.

Price at Time of Publish: $15

_{Diameter: 6.5 inch, 8.5 inch | Material: Plastic | Colors: Tangerine, Aqua blue, Granny Smith}

Best for Large Dogs Booda Soft-Bite Tailspin Flyer

 

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What We Like

• Three sizes
• Doubles as a water bowl
• Less expensive than some

What We Don’t Like

• New ring is plastic instead of rubber

This lightweight pink and green nylon flyer from Booda comes in three sizes, including a large 12-inch toy for bigger pups. The soft nylon is gentle on a dog’s teeth and gums, but it’s not particularly durable, so it’s not a tug toy. It flies high and is buoyant, plus it’s flexible enough to fold and put in your back pocket.

The disc doubles as a water bowl so you can make sure your pet stays hydrated while playing fetch. The newer version features a plastic ring instead of a rubber one, which some users say breaks more easily and isn’t as soft on a pup’s mouth.

Price at Time of Publish: $8

_{Diameter: 7 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch | Material: Nylon | Colors: Pink and green}

Best with Squeaker Hartz Tuff Stuff Flyer

 

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What We Like

• Frisbee, tug, and squeaker toy
• Lightweight nylon makes it fly far
• Washes well

What We Don’t Like

• Can’t choose color

Is it a frisbee, a squeaky toy, a tug, or all of the above? The Hartz Tuff Stuff Flyer is a very versatile toy—a frisbee, a tug, and a squeaky toy! It’s made of lightweight but relatively rugged nylon so it sails pretty far. It’s constructed with grips so it also makes for a sturdy tug toy.

And if your pup chomps down in the middle, there’s a great squeaker for lots of interactive, noisy play. The flyer floats, so you can take it to the beach or the lake. It comes in one size and several colors, but you can’t choose which color you receive. Fans say it cleans well in the washing machine.

Price at Time of Publish: $16

_{Diameter: 9.06 inch | Material: Nylon | Colors: Blue, green, orange, red}

What to Look For in a Dog Frisbee

Size

Many flying discs are about 9-10 inches in diameter, which is too large for puppies or small dogs. For smaller breeds, look for a disc between 6-8 inches in diameter. The most essential consideration is whether or not your pup can carry the frisbee in their mouth without it scraping along the ground.

Material

There are discs made of both soft and hard plastic, as well as those made of nylon and lighter materials. Durable plastic is typically heavier and lasts longer, says Martinez, but it’s not the best choice for every dog.

“If your dog doesn’t like the feel of hard plastic in their mouth there are some cloth discs that fly very well and are suited for softer mouths,” she told The Spruce Pets.

Water and Weather

If you are going to play near or in water, make sure you choose a disc that floats. “If all you want is to throw the disc as far as you can on land, then go for a lighter plastic disc,” Martinez suggests. If it’s a very windy day, she typically opts for heavier discs because they are easier to use in strong winds. You’ll likely want a combination of both characteristics for beach play—a frisbee that floats, but is still heavy enough not to be carried away by the wind.

FAQ

• How do you teach a dog to catch a Frisbee?Martinez starts teaching dogs and puppies to play by first dragging the disc around on the ground. Once she gets their attention and they are trying to grab it or tug it, she rolls the flying disc on the ground away from them and has them chase and grab it while it’s moving.“Once they’re successfully doing that, you can move on to short and low air throws,” she says.
  She suggests teaching your dog to circle around you before throwing the disc so that you have enough time to get it in the air.
• At what age can a dog catch a Frisbee?A dog can play at any age, but Martinez recommends waiting until they’re fully grown (between 12-18 months of age) before doing big jumps or playing a lot. This allows the growth plates on a dog’s long bones to close and they are less likely to injure themselves.
  “Any dog of any size or age can learn how to play frisbee. As long as your dog likes toys/fetching and playing with you then you can transfer that toy drive to a frisbee,” Martinez says. “It’s all about building that relationship, making it fun, and enjoying playing with your best friend.”