Balls are some of the best toys you can get for your dog. They are great for games of fetch, catch and some can even be used for games of tug of war with your dog. Our two black Labs love to play these games, so we’ve created a list of the best dog ball toys on the market.
In this article we are going to tell you why toys are so good for your dog, what ball toys to avoid and finally the best ones out there.
Why Do You Need Toys?
Exercise
Keeping your dog active and exercised is one of the best ways to keep them fit. While diet is important, exercise is just as important to keep your dog in the best shape. Without exercise your dog can develop a number of health issues including obesity and joint issues. Obesity itself can lead to a whole load of other complications as well, so make sure you keep your dog exercised!
To Help Keep Your Dog’s Mind Active
Dogs need to be mentally stimulated throughout the day to keep them out of trouble. Toys are one of the best ways to keep their body moving and their mind whirring. If a dog lacks any sort of mental stimulation or exercise they can become destructive and unruly, which is always a bad thing. A game of fetch with a ball will keep their minds active and away from your houses furnishings.
Dental Hygiene and Health
There is nothing worse than getting a good whiff of bad breath from a human and bad dog breath can be even worse. Keeping your dog’s teeth pearly white and their breath fresh is one of the most important aspects of dog ownership.
A dog’s teeth are incredibly important and there are a number of ways to keep them clean. You can use doggy toothpaste or special dental food, however, toys are another great way of keeping plaque and tartar under control. Overall it is best to use a combination of methods to keep your dog’s teeth clean.
It’s Fun and Will Make You and Your Dog Grow Closer
Playing with toys is great fun for you and your dog, and will help you bond with them. Dogs are pack animals and it is important for them to feel like they are important.
Safe Dog Ball Toys and Ones to Avoid.
Over the course of their life ball toys will suffer a huge amount of abuse, so it is important that you get quality toys. Damaged toys can be dangerous to your dog and in some cases can be life threatening.
It is important that you replace a toy if it is starting to look a bit ‘worse for wear’. If pieces of the toy are starting to come off or if there are cracks in a plastic ball toy, it may be best to replace them. Small broken parts of toys can get stuck in your dog’s throat or bowels, which could lead to an expensive trip to the vets.
The dog ball toys on this list are pretty sturdy, however if you are looking to extend the life a toy you may want to take it away from your dog when playtime is over. This will stop your dog from tearing it to pieces during the day, which means the toy will last longer.
Depending on the size and breed of your dog you may want to avoid certain ball toys. Larger and stronger dogs can easily destroy softer plush balls and tennis balls for example, however if you have a small dog these toys may be ok.
What Are The Best Dog Ball Toys?
We have talked about why toys are so important and how they can improve your dog’s health. We have also discussed dog toy safety and what toys to avoid. Now it is time to show you what we feel are the best dog balls on the market. Check them out below!
KONG Rubber Ball Extreme
KONG is one of the best known brands in the dog toy business and their ‘Rubber Ball Extreme’ is one of the toughest treat balls you can get. We have found that the Extreme Ball has been one of the most durable toys we have ever bought and our dogs absolutely love it.
The dog treat ball is constructed from KONG’s own ultra-strong and tough black rubber formula. It is available in a few different sizes and is made in the United States. KONG has designed a hole into the centre of the toy for treats to go in and the ball is very dense. It is great for games of fetch, but will not float.
If you are looking for an excellent treat ball for your tough chewing dog, then the KONG Extreme Ball is a good place to start. It is one of the few toys are dogs haven’t completely destroyed and we can wholeheartedly recommend it.
Find out more about the KONG Rubber Ball Extreme here.
Unbreakoball Dog Toy
As the name suggest the Unbreakoball dog toy ball is pretty much unbreakable. This dog ball is undoubtedly one of the toughest and most durable toys out there for your dog, and will be excellent for those with strong canines.
The ball is constructed from a super hard plastic that will hold up to hours of chewing from your dog. Despite the fact that it is super hard, Unbreakoball claims that it is soft on your dog’s teeth. It features a perforated design so your dog can get a good hold on the toy, and it comes in either a 6-inch or 10-inch size.
If you have a large or strong dog the Unbreakoball is the dog ball for you. Smaller dog owners have complained that the ball is just a little bit hard for their dog, so we don’t recommend this toy for puppies or smaller breeds.
Find out more about the Unbreakoball Dog Toy here.
KONG Stuff-A-Ball
Treat toys are one of the best toys to keep your dog entertained and distracted from doing naughty things. The KONG Stuff-a-Ball is not only an excellent treat toy; it is also great for games of fetch. It’s bouncy rubber material and unique shape give it an interesting bounce that your dog will love.
KONG has designed rigged grooves onto the exterior of the toy, which will remove unwanted plaque and tartar build-up on your dog’s teeth. The company also says that to improve the ball’s teeth cleaning abilities doggy toothpaste can be applied into the grooves.
The Stuff-a-Ball is made from KONG’s own non-toxic rubber compound and is three and a half inches in size. KONG claims that it is designed for dogs that are medium to large in size, so this may not be the best dog ball if your pooch is on the smaller size.
Reviews from dog owners around the world seem to be very positive and we feel this is one of the best KONG dog toys you can buy.
Find out more about the KONG Stuff-A-Ball here.
West Paw Zogoflex Jive
If you are looking for one of the toughest dog balls out there, you can’t go past the Zogoflex Jive from West Paw. It features a unique shape that produces an erratic and unpredictable bounce, which will make for some great games of fetch.
West Paw manufacturers the Jive in the USA and it is made from the company’s special, non-toxic Zogoflex rubber compound. The ball will be a great toy for any tough chewing dogs and West Paw has a 100% guarantee against any dog damage.
It is offered in a variety of colours and sizes. West Paw have also made it so it will fit ion a standard size dog thrower, which will make for even more fetching fun.
This is one of the best fetch balls out there and we have no doubt that your dog will love it too.
Find out more about the West Paw Zogoflex Jive here.
Planet Dog Diamond Plate Dog Ball
The Diamond Plate dog ball from Planet Dog is a toy for those with tough chewing dogs. It is amongst the company’s toughest dog toys and they claim it is nearly indestructible. To go along with this claim, Planet Dog has guaranteed against dog damage, which is always a nice bonus.
This tough dog toy ball will be great for interactive games with your dog, as it bounces and floats. It features a textured finish and a small treat hole so it can also be used as an excellent distraction toy as well.
The hole in the middle of the toy also allows the ball to squish down once it is bitten on and return back to its normal shape when your dog releases it. This makes for a softer ball that won’t wear your dog’s teeth down.
The Diamond Ball is manufactured from non-toxic materials and is made in the United States.
Find out more about the Planet Dog Diamond Plate Dog Ball here.
Chuckit! Ultra Ball
The Cuckit! Ultra Ball is about as standard as they come when it comes to fetch toys, however, that isn’t a bad thing. It is made from a natural rubber compound that produces an insanely high bounce and is perfect for games of fetch.
The Ultra Ball comes in a wide variety of sizes depending on what dog breed you have, and they will fit in dog ball throwers.
This is one of the best reviewed dog toys on Amazon with over 4,000 five star reviews.
Find out more about the Chuckit! Ultra Ball here.
Chuckit! Launcher
To go along with the Chuckit! Ultra Ball above you are going to need a dog ball thrower or launcher. The Chuckit! Launcher has been designed specifically for the company’s fetch balls and toys.
Chuckit! manufacturers the launcher from a lightweight and flexible plastic that firmly grasps the ball, then releases it when you swing. It also features a long ergonomic handle and is available in a wide variety of sizes.
If you are looking for one of the best dog ball throwers on the market, you can’t go past the Chuckit! Launcher and the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon show that many dog owners agree with us.
Find out more about the Chuckit! Launcher here.
Summing Up
Dog ball toys are one of the best ways to keep your pooch entertained and the list above is just a taste of some of the best toys and products out there. Despite the fact that all the toys on this list are just balls (except for the Chuckit! Launcher), they all have different benefits that make them worthwhile toys. Additionally, if you want to really play good games of fetch with your dog, a dog ball thrower is an excellent product to have.
Now Read: Seven Great Dental Dog Toys
