Almost all dog ball launchers use the average tennis ball as their model, but this isn’t necessarily ideal for small breed dogs. For dinky dogs, try and find a launcher which utilises smaller sizes of ball, as they need to be able to get their chops around it! Opposingly, you also need to be careful you don’t buy balls and launchers which are too small for your dog, as they could swallow or get smaller balls lodged in their mouth or throat! Indoor & outdoor suitability iDogmate also market a small dog ball launcher designed for dogs under 14kg, with customised mini pet tennis balls. When he seems comfortable with the machine, you’re ready to launch a ball. Some dogs will chase a ball fired from a launcher right away. If your dog seems hesitant, try standing near the machine and throwing a ball by hand. Then alternate between machine and hand throws.

Only play with a launcher in a safe location. Choose a wide-open space away from traffic and other hazards. Also, with a manual launcher, you don’t have to touch the ball by hand. That’s right – you can play fetch with your dog without getting dog slobber all over your hands! For hands-free use with an automatic launcher, your dog will have to learn how to place balls into the machine’s reservoir. Which Launcher is Best for My Breed of Dog? With a launcher, you can throw the ball further and more accurately than by hand. It’s easier on your arm, too.As stated in its name, a dog ball launcher is an object that simply launches dog balls. These are usually tennis balls, but there are some models that are designed for smaller dogs and use proprietary balls of their own. The dog ball launchers can travel a distance of between 10 to 30 feet (but again this depends on the product itself) and are a strategic way to exercise your canine companion. How does an automatic dog ball thrower work? Semi-automatic models are so-called because they require you to activate them with the press of a button– but the launching action itself is done without you exerting any effort! These are more often than not ball-blasting guns designs, making them most popular with children and families who enjoy making dog walks a fun, altogether activity. They also provide quite a fair bit of range at just the pull of a trigger! Automatic launchers Six angle options and nine distance settings mean you can create a wide range of throwing patterns based on your dog’s abilities and the available play space. It works by plugging it into an outlet or with six D batteries. Two standard-sized tennis balls are included. Nerf Dog Air Strike Launcher Dog Toy

Keeps your dog fit, healthy and in shape with minimal effort on your side. Also, it's a great way to play with your dog if you are unfit to do so. Surprisingly, not every dog naturally understands how to play fetch. Additionally, many owners need some practice using a launcher before they can do it well. If you and your dog don’t immediately get the hang of playing with a ball launcher, don’t worry. Practice makes perfect.Three balls come with the launcher, which are iDog Midi balls, felted like tennis balls but made for dogs and less abrasive on their teeth. However, standard tennis balls work fine. Distance settings: Do you want a dog ball launcher with multiple distance settings to vary the exercise? Perhaps you are satisfied with just one distance feature? The K9 Kannon Mini form Hyper Pet is a unique ball launcher that’s specifically designed for safe use by toy and small breeds. It fires soft mini-balls up to 75 feet, making it a great choice for puppies with boundless energy. It fits any standard-sized tennis ball, but not be surprised if he prefers the included Nerf ball, which has a built-in squeaker. Overall Best Dog Ball Launchers for Puppies

Similar to any routine puppy training, introducing an automatic ball launcher may require some getting used to. Some dogs can get it in the first go, others need a bit of practice. Here are some tips to successfully launch it with your dog: Size of your dog: If you have a medium-large dog breed, go for a large dog ball launcher. If you have a small dog, consider getting a smaller ball launcher model No launcher is quite like this one from Nerf. It’s a Blaster that fires standard tennis balls up to 50 feet. It’s simple to use, even for kids and contains no external moving parts. Plus, it has hands-free loading. If you have an especially high-energy dog, you can extend the length of each play session, but keep them limited to no more than two per day.

Best manual dog ball launchers

The Blaster includes three colorful Nerf tennis balls. It also works with any standard-sized tennis balls.

Learning to use an automatic ball launcher is often more complicated than using the traditional type. After all, your dog has likely never seen a machine quite like this before. Here are some helpful tips for teaching your dog how to use an automatic launcher:

What to read next:

Dog ball launchers are great because you can suddenly throw more than one metre. They aren’t so great because they are so long and cumbersome, though. Once your dog is actively retrieving launcher-fired balls, you can start teaching him how to return the ball and place it in the launcher. Only use positive reinforcement. Provide praise and a treat when he drops the ball into the machine’s reservoir. Finally, make sure the ball isn’t too big for the dog. Use mini tennis balls for small and toy breeds. All it takes is one erratic bounce for a standard sized tennis ball to accidentally injure a small dog’s mouth or face. Conclusion If you want to play ball games in more places than just down the park, you may want to consider a launcher which can also work in enclosed spaces. Suitability for indoors and outdoors tends to depend on a contraptions launch power, as hoying balls up to 100 feet indoors isn’t exactly a wise idea unless you live in a particularly large home! Price