Petface Super Tennis Balls For Dogs, Throw and Fetch, Outdoor Exercise, 12 Pack

Product Information

The small is about the same size as a regulation tennis ball and fits in a standard-sized ball thrower. Unfortunately, all this comes at a price. Like the West Paw Jive, this is one of the most expensive tennis ball alternatives on the market. But included in the price is a replacement guarantee. At the time of writing, Planet Dog will replace the toy once in the event it fails. While this makes the price more appealing, you will cringe if you are on a tight budget. Most dogs play with tennis balls their whole lives without any problems. However, dogs and tennis balls do not always make the perfect love match and owners should know the potential health hazards they can cause to their pet. A few years ago, a Golden Retriever called Gracie, who belonged to Oprah Winfrey, died after choking to death on a plastic ball. Here we look at the risks of tennis balls and how your pup can safely play with his favourite toy. Why do dogs love tennis balls?

A dog tennis ball takes all these elements and improves on them in every way. When it comes to supervised games of fetch, a green-fuzzy tennis ball just doesn’t compete. The Jive is made from an FDA-compliant heavy-duty rubber that is free from nasties like BPA and latex. But the main reason it won this category is because of its durability. The rubber has a very slight give and wears incredibly well. Over the course of testing, our ball only showed slight scuffs and scratches – and our dogs weren’t gentle! Some have cut-outs that make it easier for your dog to breathe when returning the ball in its mouth… But what you are paying for is safety. As I covered above, tennis balls are not designed for dogs and can be harmful in certain cases. For many of you, the small extra cost will be worth the peace of mind. Will a tennis ball kill your dog? Probably not. But the above dangers are real. At the end of the day, tennis balls are designed to be hit around a tennis court, not chased or gnawed on by your dog.First and foremost, this is the most durable squeaky ball you will come across. If you have a chew monster for a pet, like a Rottweiler, then nothing else will hold up as well. Again, this isn’t indestructible, but it’s as hard-wearing as it gets for supervised play.

When thrown, air passes over these holes and makes a distinct whistling sound. How loud this sound is entirely depends on the force you throw it with. The harder you throw, the louder the whistle. This ball is slightly heavier than a tennis ball, allowing it to travel a longer distance when thrown. And being rubber-surfaced instead of green-fuzz, it certainly bounces higher. The higher bounce is much more noticeable on hard surfaces than on grass. On the flipside, this dense design is perfect for dogs that don’t know their own strength. Our tennis ball popping Labrador, and even a Great Dane puppy at the local dog park that wanted to join the fun, didn’t break this ball when they returned it. That’s not to say that this is suitable as a chew toy, but under supervised games of fetch, it holds up to rough play. They float, which means that your dog can fetch the ball in your pool, in a lake or even at the beach… American vet Dr Hunter Finn has gained widespread attention on TikTok for his short videos sharing advice for dog and cat owners, and now has over two million followers. In another recent video, he said that bananas can be a "good treat" for dogs - but stated that owners of small dogs should try and limit their pet's intake to a about a quarter of the fruit.These risks are serious, but you don’t have to throw out all of your dog’s tennis balls. Instead, make sure that your dog only has access to his tennis balls during supervised play sessions. This is especially important for dogs that like to chew on tennis balls, as they are the most at risk for choking and dental wear. I would go so far as to say that tennis balls are one of the most popular dog toys around. However, it might surprise you to learn that your dog’s favorite play toy could be harmful to his health. But for those who play fetch, whether in an open grassy field or the corridor of your home, a dog tennis ball is a substantially better option than a regular tennis ball.

Erratic balls are not perfectly round like a regular tennis ball. Instead, they have protruding sections or flat areas. When the ball lands on these areas, the result is a change in direction. As you might expect, the unpredictable bounce of these balls means that they are unsuitable for indoor play. All in all, tennis balls can be a fun part of your daily routine, as long as you are aware of the potential risks and take the necessary steps to prevent accidents.

Well, your dog’s jaw is considerably more powerful than your hands. In fact, even a small dog can compress a tennis ball to half its size…

The other sizes are good if your pup is on the extremes of dog breed sizing. Since there is no fuzz for smaller dogs to grip, I recommend sizing down. I found Chihuahuas could just get away with a small, although even that was on the verge of being too big. After I reviewed all the different erratic balls, I concluded… They are unsuitable for older dogs or those with hip problems. After watching our dogs frantically change direction mid-run to keep up with the ball, I believe it would be straining on senior pooches. It’s more common than you think. Every few months, you come across a news report of a dog that was rescued from choking on a tennis ball.

Dental Wear and Tear

It’s also worth mentioning that you can stuff treats inside the ball’s holes. As you can imagine, this was our Pug tester’s favorite part. She would roll the ball all around my living room as she attempted to remove the treats from inside. While the Breathe Right won’t replace your go-to treat dispenser, it’s a handy feature that you can take advantage of.