If you only paid attention to the two dogs that liveat our house, you would believe that all balls are balls for dogs. You would also believe that all shoes are shoes for dogs, all stuffed animals are stuffed animals for dogs, and all food is definitely food for dogs. They no longer actually chew the shoes. They just sit by and guard them. They allow the children to play with the stuffed animals and only gnaw on the ones that come from the dog box. Any food that hits the ground is fair game. Forget the 5 second rule. They hover up fallen morsels in under 1.67 seconds. But their favorite toys are still balls.

Balls are a dog’s favorite toys because they involve the owner of the dog. It is much more fun to play when a person is playing, too. That sort of play also lends itself to scratched ears, rubbed tummies, and happy, loving, praise. Time spent with his person is far more important to the dog than any toy he has ever had.

So dogs love balls. There are tons of balls out there for your dog to play with. Why should it matter which ones you get?

There are two issues that especially pertain to this question. It should matter to you only if you would like to save money and if you are interested in your dog’s continuing health. If neither of those make a difference to you, then neither will these tips. If you do not like throwing money away and you want to keep your dog free from harm that these are ideas that may help you out.

Five tips for choosing balls for dogs:

• Choose a ball large enough for your dog. If the ball is too small there is a risk of choking. Do not let your puppy have one of those small rubber bouncy balls that your child picked up at the checkout counter in the toy store. If you are worried that a ball might be too small, put it inside an old athletic sock and sew the sock closed.
• The ball should be sturdy but not brittle. Hard rubber balls provide good material to satisfy your dog’s need to chew and last for quite a long time. Her jaws need exercise, too. If the rubber is soft or the ball is hollow, there is a chance that pieces of the ball could break off and either create a choking hazard or results in some intestinal discomfort.
• Select a ball with outdoor exercise in mind. Dogs have a strong natural instinct to retrieve. Your dog wants to please you, so she will bring that dog ball back until you can no longer raise your arm to throw it. With that in mind, you may want to select one of the balls that comes with a launcher. Dog ball launchers allow you to throw the ball farther with less effort, providing more exercise for your pup since she has to run farther to get it each time.
• Find some irregularly shaped balls. There are some wonderful hard braided the balls that are durable and long-lasting, make it easier for small dogs to grab them, and give lots of surface space on which to chew. Irregularly shaped rubber balls bounce unpredictably and that is fun as well. It is also fun to watch.
• Purchase one or two of the balls that allow you to hide a treat inside. Choose one that makes the treat difficult but not impossible to excise. Stuff the balls with dog treats, yes, but don’t overlook peanut butter and cheese as treat options.

The best balls for dogs are the ones that involve you with your pet. Balls for dogs are balls for people, too!