best Balls for Fetch for dogs
Updated November 2020
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
- As Good As It Gets
- Best On A Budget
Bottom Line
When combined with a ball launcher, a great ball for taking fetch to the next level. High-quality rubber, it squeaks, bounces, and floats.
A unique design that takes a normal fetch ball and adds a ‘power play’ core for durability and a unique bounce.
Available in multiple densities, an ideal choice for aggressive chewers and large breeds.
A simple, quality fetch ball. Made from high-quality rubber in an array of bright colors.
Inexpensive, available in S, M, L, and XL sizes, and made from premium rubber, these are a great entry into a high-quality fetch ball.
Pros
Lightly textured, but made from soft rubber. Fits into most ball launchers. Floats!
Designed for aggressive chewers, the ball features a ‘core’ that’s ideal for dogs that enjoy ‘jawing’ balls.
A fetch ball with a treat pocket inside makes this great for training dogs on retrieval.
BPA-free rubber means hours of worry-free play. Two-tone colorways create a ‘flicker’ effect when thrown
S, M, L, and XL sizes. Sold in multipacks. Combines a fetch ball with a squeak toy. High-quality rubber construction.
Cons
Aside from medium size balls, these are designed to work only with Chuckit brand ball launchers.
Unique design means that a bouncing path can’t always be predicted. Not for use near roadways or other groups of people.
Treat space can be hard to clean. Glow-in-the-dark rubber means added chemicals.
Not recommended for large breed dogs.
Squeaking may prove annoying for some owners. Large dogs might be able to crush the squeaking insert with their jawing.
- As Good As It Gets
Chuckit Dog Ball
Bottom Line
When combined with a ball launcher, a great ball for taking fetch to the next level. High-quality rubber, it squeaks, bounces, and floats.
Pros
Lightly textured, but made from soft rubber. Fits into most ball launchers. Floats!
Cons
Aside from medium size balls, these are designed to work only with Chuckit brand ball launchers.
- Best On A Budget
Chew King Supreme Fetch Balls Extremely Durable Natural Dog Toy Ball
Bottom Line
A unique design that takes a normal fetch ball and adds a ‘power play’ core for durability and a unique bounce.
Pros
Designed for aggressive chewers, the ball features a ‘core’ that’s ideal for dogs that enjoy ‘jawing’ balls.
Cons
Unique design means that a bouncing path can’t always be predicted. Not for use near roadways or other groups of people.
Chew King Fetch Balls Durable Natural Dog Toy Ball
Bottom Line
Available in multiple densities, an ideal choice for aggressive chewers and large breeds.
Pros
A fetch ball with a treat pocket inside makes this great for training dogs on retrieval.
Cons
Treat space can be hard to clean. Glow-in-the-dark rubber means added chemicals.
Snug Rubber Dog Balls for Small and Medium Dogs
Bottom Line
A simple, quality fetch ball. Made from high-quality rubber in an array of bright colors.
Pros
BPA-free rubber means hours of worry-free play. Two-tone colorways create a ‘flicker’ effect when thrown
Cons
Not recommended for large breed dogs.
Outward Hound Squeaker Ballz & Tennis Ballz
Bottom Line
Inexpensive, available in S, M, L, and XL sizes, and made from premium rubber, these are a great entry into a high-quality fetch ball.
Pros
S, M, L, and XL sizes. Sold in multipacks. Combines a fetch ball with a squeak toy. High-quality rubber construction.
Cons
Squeaking may prove annoying for some owners. Large dogs might be able to crush the squeaking insert with their jawing.
How We Decided
Like all products on MDWT, we scoured the internet for customer reviews, and field-tested the products ourselves with our team of test-pups! Below is a breakdown of how we arrived at the best balls for fetch! Here’s a breakdown of our research:
23
Models Considered
8
Hours Researched
1
Experts Interviewed
5
Consumer Consulted
Buying Guide For The Best Balls For Fetch
While the range of play/fetch/chew toys for dogs runs the gamut, any dog owner knows that when it comes to their pup, nothing beats the appeal of a good old-fashioned ball.
This is great news for owners, because not only are purpose-built fetch balls relatively inexpensive, they’re an easy, effective way to help your dog get the exercise they need, even in small yards/spaces.
But not all balls are created equally, and we’ve come a long way from just using old tennis balls until they disintegrate.
Buying Guide For The Best Balls For Fetch
While the range of play/fetch/chew toys for dogs runs the gamut, any dog owner knows that when it comes to their pup, nothing beats the appeal of a good old-fashioned ball.
This is great news for owners, because not only are purpose-built fetch balls relatively inexpensive, they’re an easy, effective way to help your dog get the exercise they need, even in small yards/spaces.
But not all balls are created equally, and we’ve come a long way from just using old tennis balls until they disintegrate.
Key Considerations
Caution
When selecting a fetch ball, it’s important to make sure that the size or the ball is suitable for your breed. Too big and the ball could cause damage to their teeth or stress their jaw muscles. Too small and they represent a choking hazard.
Dog Fetch Ball Features
When considering the right ball for your dog, there are many factors to keep in mind. Depending on how old/active your dog is, you might want to consider a heavier ball with less bounce, while young pups might benefit from so-called ‘ultra-bouncy’ rubber balls.
Many toys come with added texture for gripping, treat pockets to encourage engagements, and (if you can stand the sound) squeaking features. Some balls are meant to be hand-thrown while others work with fetching handles and ball-throwers.
Ultimately the most important thing is to buy a quality ball made of quality materials, and make sure that it’s the right size for your pup. Too big and it will strain the jaw and cause potential injury. Too small and it will present a choking hazard.
Expert Tip
Dog fetch balls can get dirty and smelly. For a dog-safe way to clean them, soak them in a mixture of half white vinegar, half warm water for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Balls For Fetch Prices
Tips
Even a simple ball can present certain risks and issues for your pup, so it’s important to take a few things into consideration.
- Always buy a ball that is the appropriate size for your particular dog. Too big and you risk injury or dental damage. Too small and the ball represents a choking hazard.
- Look for high-quality rubbers, namely ones that are BPA-free. Not only will the ball last longer, but it will also be less likely to break down with use, and even if it does, the little material your dog might ingest will not be poisonous.
- Be careful where you play fetch. Ensure the area has enough free space for your dog to safely run and stop, and ensure hazards like lawn furniture, roadways, or plants/trees/shrubs don’t get in the way.
- Always supervise your dog, especially if it’s ‘jawing’ on a ball. Anything can happen, as a responsible owner, it’s important to be there in case things go wrong.
other products we Considered
There are far too many dog’s fetch balls on the market, and while we whittled the list down to our top five, some other notable products that didn’t make the cut include.
Kong Rubber Ball Xtreme: Available in three sizes, this dog-safe rubber ball is designed for even the most intense high-activity chewers. It also features a rubber density that makes for a fantastically active bounce that will have your dog guessing with each and every throw.
Nerf Checkered Squeaker: A well-established player in children’s toys, their line of dog toys are notable for their use of human-grade, food-safe ingredients. Also, thanks to the size and budget of a company like Nerf, this is one of the few dog toys out there that are FDA approved.
FAQ's
How Do I Know What Size Ball To Buy?
As a general rule, picking a dog fetch ball for your dog is as follows: Extra Small Balls – 5lb dogs or less. Small Balls – up to 20lb dogs. Medium Balls – up to 35lb dogs. Large Balls – up to 65lbs.
How Do I Know If A Ball Is Made From Safe Materials?
Since no one actually regulates the materials that go into dog toys, this is tough. But some materials any dog owner should be careful to avoid are PVC, Phthalates, BPA, Formaldehyde.The Team That WOrked on This Review
Nitin Gupta
Chief Content Officer
JJ Resnick
Director of Growth
Erik Adler
Editorial Director