SportDOG "B&W" Regular Plastic Knobby Dummy

The trainer’s choice — maximum contrast in any environment

Black and white is the color combination most preferred by professional retriever trainers, and the reason is contrast. The sharp split between black and white creates implied motion as the dummy tumbles through the air — it’s easier for a dog to track visually on the fall than a solid color dummy. That contrast also makes it stand out against almost any background: green grass, brown fields, blue water, or gray skies. If you’re going to train with one color year-round, black and white covers the most ground.

This is SportDOG’s standard regular-size dummy — 2" in diameter and 12" long, the classic bumper size that’s been the baseline for retriever training for decades. The soft plastic vinyl construction is tough enough to take thousands of throws and retrieves without cracking or splitting, but pliable enough in cold weather that it won’t become hard and uncomfortable for your dog to carry. The knobby texture gives your dog a firm, natural grip and is specifically designed to discourage hard mouth — the textured surface encourages a gentle hold rather than a crushing bite.

Adjustable buoyancy for land and water training

The air valve at the top of the dummy lets you control how it behaves in the water. Fully inflated, it rides high and is easy for dogs to see and pick up — ideal for young dogs or early water training sessions. Let some air out and it rides lower, sitting partially submerged and harder to spot — a more advanced challenge that more closely mimics the way a real duck sits in the water. This single feature makes the dummy useful across a dog’s entire training career, not just in the early stages.

Note: This dummy does not include a throw rope. If you want black-and-white along with orange and white, the Regular Assorted 4-Pack is the better value.

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