Football and tennis ball games for dogs: safety tips and more

If your dog lights up at the sight of a football or tennis ball, they’re not alone. In fact, most dogs can’t resist the rewardingly springy texture and unpredictable bounce of their favourite spherical object. But can a passion for footballs and tennis balls tip over into something darker, and why are dogs so obsessed with them anyway? Let’s find out. Key takeaways Why do dogs like balls so much? The science It comes from your dog’s prey drive. It’s why certain breeds, like Springer Spaniels, can become more obsessed with “their ball” than others; balls trigger instinctive hunting behaviours that are hardwired in their brain. This means catching, chewing and chasing a ball lights up your dog’s reward centres, releasing lots of feel-good chemicals like dopamine. Dogs enjoy the football or tennis ball’s texture and smell too, giving them a satisfying mouthfeel and engaging their nose. We also play a major role in a dog’s love for footballs and tennis balls. We often reward our dog when they successfully “fetch” something for us. This is known as positive reinforcement training, and it makes a dog feel accomplished when completing specific actions. Your dog also enjoys bonding with you through play. Physical and mental benefits Much like us, dogs react well to exercise, and when playing with a ball, they’ll get the right mix of anticipation, direction, movement and returning the ball. It mixes mental tasks with physical challenges, which is always a good time for dogs. Since ball games involve multiple areas of the brain and body at once, it reduces your dog’s boredom, conditions muscles, and improves cardiovascular fitness. They can also help reduce obesity . What breeds love balls the most? Typically, dogs bred for herding and hunting tend to love balls the most. These include: But personality matters more than breed, so all dogs have a chance of becoming ball-obsessed. Football for dogs Teaching your dog to play fetch with a football Fetch is a classic, but we usually play it with a smaller ball. If you’re using a football, there are a few things you need to do to keep your Pele-like pupper safe: Training your dog to score passes and goals You can positively reinforce commands like “push”, “stop” and “pass” to control how your dog uses the ball. When your dog successfully scores or passes, you can positively reinforce them, like with a clicker, to build up that association. This may take some time to learn, but for dogs who hunger for agility and mental stimulation, like Border Collies, it’s a good challenge. Football dribbling games for dogs Ever noticed your dog can dribble it like Messi? They aren’t alone. Dogs have fantastic reflexes and agility, meaning they’re able to guide the ball well. You can encourage your ball to touch the ball with their nose, using commands like “push” and “stop” to build up their agility over time. Potential safety problems with footballs Choosing the right ball size and texture Make sure the size of the football (or any ball your dog plays with) is appropriate. One that’s too small for a big dog becomes a choking hazard, while a ball that’s too large makes carrying frustrating and difficult. Avoiding heatstroke during summer play Our guide on heatstroke in dogs can help here, but to summarise, dogs can’t cool down as easily as we do. They’re limited to panting and sweating only through their paws. This means they can struggle to regulate their temperature, especially when exercising in the summer. In fact, exercise triggers 75% of heatstroke cases. So make sure you’re taking it steady and only exercising your dog during the cooler parts of the day. Symptoms include: Cold muscles strain more easily, so make sure you warm up your dog properly before exercise. Slowly build up to strenuous exercise rather than launching straight into it, and take your dog for a casual walk after the activity is done to make sure their body gradually returns to a normal temperature. Preventing injuries from jumping and chasing For at-risk dogs, make sure they wait until the ball lands before releasing them. Running and leaping to catch balls in mid-air with turns and abrupt stops can cause injuries for at-risk dogs. Watching for (and managing) obsessive behaviour Set ground rules so dogs know when fetch and “ball time” are appropriate. Never leave these types of toy out where they can see them; put them away in bins with lids and establish clear “play” and “not playing” time. For obsessed dogs, you need to be very clear about when play time starts and ends. Otherwise, you’ll find they spend all day chewing their ball, exercising too much and, in rare instances, being aggressive. Obsession can lead to aggression, especially over perceived ownership of valuable items like balls. This is known for resource guarding. Seek professional help from a behaviourist if your dog becomes too aggressive. Tennis ball games (and problems) for dogs Are tennis balls bad for your dog’s health? Veterinary surgeon Cat Henstridge, aka Cat the Vet , has seen first-hand the mental and physical toll that too many tennis balls can take on your dog. Physically, tennis balls can provide a good workout for you and your dog. But everything in moderation. “Lots of ball play can be really hard on your dog’s legs because of all the stopping, starting, turning and jumping that they do," says Dr Cat. And while a few minutes’ of ball chasing fun is fine for most dogs, Cat has an important message that ball flingers or tennis ball launchers can actually be quite harmful to your dog. “Fling them in the bin.” she says. “They throw the ball so far, so fast, so many times that it puts massive strain through their joints.” Tennis ball problem one: chew and destroy Is your dog a tennis ball murderer? You aren't alome. What’s the issue? Some dogs just love their toys to death and that includes tennis balls. If your pup chews their balls to bits it’s not just the expense of replacing them you need to worry about. Bits of swallowed ball can cause tummy troubles, including an intestinal obstruction. Sometimes those chewed up lumps of dayglo rubber even need surgery to remove. Constant tennis ball carrying and chewing is also very bad for your dog’s teeth. The abrasive fabric on the outside of a tennis ball can wear your dog’s teeth down over time. This causes blunting of the teeth and potentially leads to dental complications. Our solution Teach your dog to roll the ball. By redirecting your dog’s chewy energy into a focused learning experience you keep it out of their mouth and instead use it to engage their brain. You’re teaching them a new way to entertain themselves with a ball, which will hopefully mean less focus on simply chewing it to pieces. Tennis ball problem two: too hot for tennis If it’s too hot to walk your dog, it’s definitely too hot to be making them chase balls around. What’s the issue? Wimbledon season hits just as the mercury rises in June and July. If you like to exercise your dog with a tennis ball outdoors, just be careful at this time of year. They’re at real danger of heatstroke if they’re repeatedly running after a ball in the summer heat. Our solution Move your game of fetch to the water! Tennis ball bobbing is so much fun for dogs and you can improvise this game in lots of different scenarios - all you need is a bag of tennis balls and a body of water - anything from a bucket to a lake will work! Just put as many balls as you like in the water and get your dog to fish them out for you. Remember, more dogs = more balls = more fun! Tennis ball problem three: possessive and obsessive It's all fun and games until someone starts hogging the ball... What’s the issue? Some dogs have no problem chasing the ball, picking up the ball… but then it all falls apart. If your dog’s possessive with their ball and won’t relinquish it it can limit the fun for both of you. Our solution Make giving the ball back part of the game. By teaching your dog to drop their ball into a bucket or bowl you can reduce their guarding behaviour and make them much more relaxed around the object of their desire – in this case, a tennis ball. Even if your dog isn’t willing to give back the treasured tennis ball, you need them to return to you. So have something of greater value. That can be anything from an even more valued toy to some really smelly sausage treats – whatever they love. Tennis ball problem four: no restraint Fix that single-minded focus on tennis balls. What’s the issue? “Dogs love balls but for some it can become a bit of an obsession,” says Dr Cat. “That’s not great for their mental health, so make sure you mix those games up.” Our solution Unplug their brain from the ball! If your dog completely loses their head in the presence of a tennis ball, try this fun ‘out of sight, out of mind’ game to get them thinking calmly again. You’ll need a ball, a pot or bowl and a ball-obsessed dog.

Football and tennis ball games for dogs: safety tips and more

Content

Dogs and pubs: how to take your pooch for a pint

What’s the 3-second rule in dog training?

UK dog walking laws: how to avoid unlimited fines near livestock this summer

Derri Dunn

How much does it cost to neuter a dog in the UK?

Heart murmurs in dogs and cats

12 best low-maintenance dog breeds for easy-going pet owners

Best (and worst) dog breeds for seniors

Cruciate ligament surgery for dogs

Our plans

Resources

Company

Follow us

Country