Every so often a post goes around saying you should never throw a ball for your dog. Then you look at your retriever, who would run through a wall for a tennis ball, and wonder if you've been doing something wrong for years.
The honest answer is that playing ball is not bad for dogs. Some ways of playing it are hard on their bodies, and some balls are a bad fit for some dogs. Both are easy to fix. Here's what to know.
Is playing ball bad for dogs?
For most healthy dogs, no. Chasing is one of the most natural things a dog does, and a good game of ball is exercise, fun and time with you all at once.
The concerns vets and physical therapists raise are about a specific pattern: long, repetitive sessions of high speed sprints, sudden hard stops, twisting turns and leaping to catch the ball in the air. Done for half an hour every day, that can add up to strain on joints and soft tissue, especially in young dogs whose growth plates are still open, older dogs and breeds prone to joint problems.
There's also the arousal side. Some dogs get so wound up by fetch that they can't settle afterward, and a few become fixated on the ball to the point that it's the only game they'll play. That's not dangerous, but it's worth balancing out with other kinds of play.
How to play fetch more safely
- Warm up first. A few minutes of walking and sniffing before you start throwing.
- Roll or throw low. Skip the high throws that make your dog leap and twist to catch the ball in the air.
- Keep sessions short. Several short games across the day beat one long one. Stop while your dog still wants more.
- Mind the ground. Grass is easier on joints than concrete, and slippery floors are where a lot of indoor injuries happen.
- Watch the weather. Dogs will keep chasing long after they should stop on a hot day. You have to be the one who calls it.
- Mix it up. Add a sniffing game, a short training session or a calm chew afterward so the day isn't all sprinting. There are more ideas in how to tire out a dog.
What balls are safe for dogs?
A few simple checks cover most of the risk.
Size first. A ball that is too small can slide to the back of a big dog's throat when they catch it. The ball should be clearly bigger than your dog's mouth can close around. For a large dog that usually means something bigger than a standard tennis ball, which is about 2.6 inches (67 mm) across. For a tiny dog, a smaller ball they can actually pick up and carry is easier and more fun.
Tennis balls are for throwing, not chewing. The fuzzy felt is abrasive, especially once it picks up dirt and sand, and many vets say regular chewing on tennis balls wears down teeth over time. If your dog lies down and shreds them, swap in a rubber ball.
Be careful with small hollow balls. Small hollow rubber balls with a single air hole can create suction around a tongue. For dogs who chew, pick solid balls or ones made for chewing.
Know your dog. No toy is truly indestructible, and balls are no exception. Strong chewers should play with a ball, then have it put away, not left with it to work on. Our guide to why dogs destroy toys explains why some dogs take everything apart.
Battery balls need you there. Light-up and self rolling balls have a battery and electronics inside, so they are for play time with you around, then put away.
What color ball is best for dogs?
Dogs see mostly in blues and yellows. Red and orange look dull and brownish to them, so a red ball on green grass is harder for a dog to spot than it is for you. Blue and yellow stand out best. At dusk and in dim rooms, light matters more than color, which is why balls that glow are easier to follow after dark. There's more on that in our guide to light-up dog balls.
When you can't throw: balls that move on their own
Some days your shoulder hurts, it's pouring outside, or you're on a call and your dog is staring at you with the ball at your feet. That's where a self rolling ball helps. You start the game and the ball keeps it going.
There's a nice side effect for joints too. An indoor ball moves at floor level and changes direction, so your dog chases, pounces and turns at a slower pace than a full sprint across a park. No leaping to catch anything.
The BorkBall Disco is 80 mm across, the largest ball we carry, so it's bigger than a tennis ball. It rolls off when your dog nudges it, turns when it hits furniture, lights up as it goes and calls your dog back if they wander off. It's built for chasing, not chewing, and it's for play time with you nearby. If you want to know more about how they work, read how self rolling dog balls work or see the whole range of interactive balls.
Quick answers
Should you throw a ball for a dog every day? A short daily game is fine for most healthy adult dogs. Keep it low and short and mix in other kinds of play.
Are balls bad for puppies? Gentle rolling games are fine. Skip long, repetitive fetch sessions and high throws until your vet says their joints have finished growing.
Why is my dog obsessed with the ball? Chasing feels great to a dog, and for retrievers and herding breeds it's close to what they were bred to do. If the obsession gets in the way of everything else, keep the ball for set play times and give the nose and brain other jobs too.