an animal toy includes structure presenting regions having characteristics providing different degrees of animal interest and / or accessibility , such that there is a higher likelihood that a dog will retain a particular part of the toy in its mouth apart from another region intended for grasping by the owner . the toy finds application in various modes of play , including tug activities between dog and owner , throwing and retrieval , and any other type of interaction in which the toy is held by the dog in its mouth and is thereby subjected to a depositing of saliva over the particular involved region of the toy . an embodiment includes members which include animal access regions and which are disposed in circumferentially spaced apart positions about a toy axis and radially spaced apart therefrom , and at least partially shielded handles , portions of which are positioned radially inward of a outermost radial extent of said members . exposure to saliva by a user is reduced by avoided contact with the region accessed to a greater degree by the animal during play .