Most dogs have one move with a ball. They drop it at your feet, stare at you, and wait. The game only lasts as long as your arm does. A self-rolling dog ball is built to keep that game going for a while after you sit down, by doing the one thing an ordinary ball can't: moving on its own.
They have become popular fast, and not all of them are the same. Here is how they work, what separates a good one from a gimmick, which dogs get the most out of them, and how to use one safely.
How a self-rolling dog ball works
Inside the shell sits a small sealed core with a battery and a motor. When the motor turns, it shifts the weight inside the ball, and that pushes the whole ball across the floor. Change the direction of the motor and the ball changes direction. Add a sensor and it can react when your dog touches it.
Most balls have a few things in common:
- A sensor that wakes it up. This is why they are often sold as motion activated dog balls. A nudge from a paw or a nose starts the ball rolling again, so your dog learns that touching it makes something happen.
- More than one mode. Usually a fast mode for a real chase and a slower one for quieter play or a more cautious dog.
- A rest between rounds. After a few minutes of movement the ball stops to save battery, then waits for your dog to wake it.
- A rechargeable battery. Most charge by USB, and a good one keeps the battery sealed away inside a hard core so it isn't within reach of teeth.
What makes one ball better than another
The way it moves. A ball that rolls in a straight line until it hits a wall gets figured out quickly. Balls that change direction, pause or hop are harder to predict, and unpredictability is what keeps a dog interested. If your dog loses interest in a toy after the first day, look for random movement rather than speed.
Size compared with your dog. A tennis ball is about 67 mm across, which is a handy reference. A ball much smaller than your dog's mouth is a choking risk, and a ball that is too big for a small dog will be pushed around rather than chased. Check the diameter before you buy, not just the photos.
The outer shell. A softer outer layer is kinder to teeth and quieter on hard floors. It also helps if the shell comes off for cleaning, because a ball that gets carried around will get slobbered on.
Your floors. Hard floors and low rugs are easy. Thick carpet slows most balls down and some modes stop working on it altogether, so if your home is mostly deep carpet, look for a ball that says it handles it.
Which dogs they suit, and which they don't
Self-rolling balls are made for chasers. Herding breeds, terriers, young dogs and anyone who goes after a ball with a lot of energy tend to love them, because the ball gives them something to work out instead of just something to run after.
They are a poorer fit for dogs whose first instinct is to chew. A determined chewer will try to get inside the shell, and no rolling toy is built for that. If that sounds like your dog, a food puzzle or a frozen lick mat is a better way to spend their energy.
Nervous dogs sometimes need time. A ball that suddenly moves toward them can be startling at first. Start with the slowest mode and let them approach it on their own terms.
How to introduce one
Keep the first session short, five minutes or so, and stay in the room. Let your dog sniff the ball while it is switched off, then turn it on at the gentlest setting. Join in: roll it toward them, cheer when they catch it, and end the game while they still want more.
Then put the ball away. A toy that lives on the floor all day becomes furniture. A toy that comes out for a game a couple of times a day stays exciting for weeks.
Playing safely
These are toys for chasing, not chewing. Play together, put the ball away when you are done, and check the shell every so often for cracks or bite marks. If your dog starts working on the ball with their back teeth instead of chasing it, stop the game. For the basics of choosing a safe ball, see is playing ball bad for dogs.
Don't leave a battery toy with your dog while you are out of the house. For time alone, stick to toys without a battery or a motor. Our guide to toys for dogs left home alone goes through the options.
Shopping for the holidays? Our guide to Christmas gifts for dogs matches gift ideas to the way your dog likes to play.
Where the BorkBall range fits
We carry four self-rolling balls, and each one moves differently.
- BorkBall Disco, 80 mm, is the largest. A touch starts it rolling with its LED stripes lit up, and if your dog wanders off it lights up and rolls again after a couple of minutes to call them back. It has a gentle mode and a faster one, and comes with an optional remote.
- BorkBall Zoom, 67 mm, about tennis ball size, hops and changes direction instead of rolling straight, and its smart mode waits quietly until your dog touches it.
- BorkBall Tug, 75 mm, has a cotton rope attached, so a chase can turn into a game of tug when you are free.
- BorkBall Nub, 38 mm, is sized for small dogs and puppies and chirps like a bird as it rolls.
If you are not sure where to start, most people choose Disco first. You can compare all four side by side in our interactive dog balls collection.