After trying and testing over 25+ products, we give you honest and unbiased reviews of the best dog tennis balls of the season.
Not all dog balls are the same. Some are rough, smooth, slippery, prone to get dirty, don’t bounce enough and don’t fit into ball launchers. This leaves you and your dog with very little choice of buying the best dog ball toys to suit your dog’s preferences.
Luckily, tennis balls come in handy when it comes to choosing the ideal ball for your four-legged mate. They have a smooth surface, they are easy to grip and launch, available in bright colors, and are compatible with most ball launchers.
Since dogs also take a liking for tennis balls, we decided to review the 7 Best Dog Tennis Balls for your pup to have a bouncy and active playtime with his toy.
The Best Dog Tennis Balls of 2023
Dog Tennis Balls are a great toy for playing fetch with your pup as these balls are extremely soft and bouncy and are available in bright colors that make them easy to spot.
They are suitable especially for small and medium-sized fidos and can be used with most ball launchers.
As they are extremely light, they also float in water that makes them a great accessory for the swimming pool. However, there are several factors to consider before choosing a good quality dog tennis ball as not all balls are the same.
Hence, we bring you a comprehensive list and guide of the 7 Best Dog Tennis Balls for your four-legged friend to merrily enjoy his game of fetch.
1. Hyper Pet Tennis Balls For Dogs
The Hyper Pet Tennis Balls For Dogs is one of the best dog tennis balls that float, is safe and fun to play with.
Available in a regular pack of 12, Hyper Pet also offers size variants to suit your breed’s size and comfort. These balls are perfect for training, exercise, and even for playing in the pool.
Hyper Pet tennis balls are brightly colored that making them easy to spot amongst the bushes and in water.
The felt material over the hard rubber core is non-abrasive and safe for your dog’s teeth. The ink printing over the top is non-toxic and safe for pet use.
The tennis balls are available in a pack of 4 and a pack of 12. Make sure to supervise your pet, so they don’t use it as a chew toy. These tennis balls are also compatible with Hyper Pet K9 Kannon K2 Ball Launcher or Hyper Pet Throw-N-Go Ball Launcher.
To conclude, we think this is the overall best dog tennis balls.
Key Features:
- Size: 4.75”
- Pack of: 12 Tennis Balls
- Color: Green (multiple variants available)
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: No
- Compatible with Hyper Pet K9 Kannon K2 or Hyper Pet Throw-N-Go Ball Launcher
Pet parents may at times, complain of poor quality clothing and that it tears apart easily. Apart from which, these tennis balls by Hyper Pet are of good quality and offer great bounce as well as buoyancy.
2. The Dog’s Balls, Dog Tennis Balls
The Dog’s Balls, Dog Tennis Balls are amongst the premium range of dog tennis balls that are available as a pack of 12 and produce a bounce like no other. They are very exciting and fun to indulge with for a game of fetch or catch.
These balls are good for playing retrieval games with pets that help them learn commands easily and also stimulate them physically and mentally.
The Dog’s Balls have been tested and certified and are quite safe and non-toxic for pet use. Their hard rubber core makes it highly bounceable and durable.
The non-abrasive felt surface won’t tear down your dog’s teeth. The ink stamps and prints are totally non-toxic as well. Consider this dog toy as a fun addition to your fido’s exercise regimen as it also helps them satisfy their prey drive.
Key Features:
- Size: 3.5”
- Pack of: 12 Tennis Balls
- Color: Yellow
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: No
The dog tennis balls are available in different size variants, as per your dog’s size and breed. However, the balls are subject to ripping apart very easily that makes them flimsy.
The bright and are easy to spot color along with the superior bounce it offers makes it stand apart and a very exciting dog toy.
3. Chuckit! Ultra Bouncy Dog Tennis Ball Toy
The Chuckit! Ultra Bouncy Dog Tennis Ball Toy is our budget pick amongst most dog tennis balls as it creates a high impact bounce and is suitable for play on land and in water.
This is due to its lightweight and ergonomic shape and design. It is highly bounceable and moves randomly keeping your dog excited and on his toes all the time.
The bright and vibrant colors make it easy to spot the dog tennis ball amidst the bushes. These balls are also compatible with the Chuckit! Ball Launchers.
The ergonomic design also offers an easy grip for your dog to fetch and carry the ball through his mouth.
It has a durable rubber core on the inside with a textured surface that is non-slippery and easy to grip on the outside. Play catch with your pup or use the launcher to launch the ball across farther distances.
This ball also encourages running and exercising in pets while they play fetch. This product is available as a pack of 2.
Key Features:
- Size: 2.5”
- Pack of: 2 Tennis Balls
- Color: Multicolored
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: Yes
- Compatible with Chuckit! Ball launchers
Dog parents claim that the ball gets easily destroyed and rumbles into pieces that are dangerous upon being ingested. However, the random bounces keep your dog on his toes all the time which makes it an exciting game with him always with Chuckit!
4. KONG SqueakAir Birthday Ball Dog Tennis Toy
The KONG SqueakAir Birthday Ball Dog Tennis Toy looks very colorful with its range of bright and appealing colors that makes it instantly visible from a distance.
Gift this to your pooch on his birthday as the ball has a personalized happy birthday message printed on top and make him feel special.
Belonging to the family of KONG, their range of toys are known for their durability and toughness. The tennis dog ball is available in a single size only and is made of non-abrasive felt fabric, meaning it won’t wear out your dog’s teeth.
The ball also has an inbuilt squeaker that allows you to attract and encourage your dog to play with the ball and indulge in activity and exercise.
The tennis ball indeed makes for a perfect fetch toy for your pup. It is available as a pack of 3 balls, all of them in different colors for more variety and fun.
Key Features:
- Size: 2.5”
- Pack of: 3 Tennis Balls
- Color: Multicolored
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: Yes
- Compatible with ball launchers
However, the dog tennis balls fail to stand true to the brand name and are not as durable as usual KONG balls or toys.
The felt cover can scrape off the ball almost easily. But the range of attractive colors makes it appealing and attracts your pup towards the toy.
5. PetSport 12 Tuff Balls Industrial Strength Dog Tennis Balls
Made with a rubber core and producing a solid bounce, the PetSport 12 Tuff Balls Industrial Strength Dog Tennis Balls is built to last long and offer many balls in a single pack.
These tennis balls are very small and best suited for puppies and small dog breeds.
The balls are beige but extremely bright that making them easily visible even during evening or in the dark. This allows your dog the feasibility of playing with the ball anytime without worrying about struggling to search for it.
These balls won’t fit inside ball launchers but their tiny size makes them easy to hold, launch and convenient to handle.
Since they are known to be of industrial strength quality, manufacturers claim that the product is quite durable and are known to sustain aggressive behavior by pups.
Key Features:
- Size: 1.8”
- Pack of: 12 Tennis Balls
- Color: Beige
- Floats on Water: Not Mentioned
- Built in Squeaker: No
- Not Compatible with ball launcher
Certain pet parents complain that the product is not true to size and is way too small as per what is shown in the image.
It is not quite durable as claimed either. The product is good for short term play but cannot sustain aggressive and long time use.
6. KONG Squeakair Dog Toy Tennis Balls
The dog tennis ball by KONG stands by the KONG quality as it is very durable and tough, it can resist the most aggressive of behaviors.
It comes in a pack of 6, so the more the merrier. It also has an inbuilt squeaker to attract your pet and encourage him to play.
The outer cloth material is extremely soft and does not wear out easily. It can sustain aggressive tugging and pulling since it is KONG quality. The tennis ball dog toy is available in a range of sizes, made to suit most dog breeds.
The outer material is not abrasive either, therefore does not cause any harm to your dog’s teeth.
The packaging is very user-friendly that making it easy to store and carry the set of balls with you. These balls are extremely light and can be used in the pool as well.
Key Features:
- Size: 2”
- Pack of: 6 Tennis Balls
- Color: Neon
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: Yes
- Compatible with ball launchers
Pet parents complain that the product is not true to size and is not chew proof at all. Apart from this, the tennis ball dog toy is a fun way to indulge your pet in a game of fetch.
7. Franklin Pet Supply 3 Pack Dog Tennis Balls
The Franklin Pet Supply 3 Pack Dog Tennis Balls are tough and durable to play fetch with your pet. No matter how much of the slobbery dirt your dog puts through the ball, it still remains safe and dry.
Moreover, the ball also creates a squeaky sound that can drive your dog’s attention towards the ball and encourage him to play.
The color of the dog tennis ball is quite bright that making it easily visible from a distance. This facilitates easy spotting and playing fetch with your four-legged mate. Moreover, the tennis ball is extremely light that making it floatable in water.
The ball is best suited for outdoor play and is also compatible with ball launchers of all brands due to its uniform tennis ball size. The surface is non-abrasive and quite smooth. It also helps in gripping the ball easily while your dog wants to grab it.
Key Features:
- Size: 2.8”
- Pack of: 3 Tennis Balls
- Color: Neon
- Floats on Water: Yes
- Built in Squeaker: Yes
- Compatible with Franklin Ready-Set-Fetch launcher or any other ball launcher
The product is claimed to be quite durable, but it is not meant for aggressive breeds and dogs with sharp teeth. They would readily destroy it within minutes as the ball is too flimsy.
Rest, it is great for an overall game of fetch and catch and keeps your dog engaged all day.
Why Choose Tennis Balls for Dogs?
Amongst most other types of dog balls, tennis balls are the best and most preferred by dogs. Wonder why? We tell you.
Green Wool or Nylon Coating
Tennis balls have a patent wool coating that makes them unique and distinguishable from other dog toys. The green wool is extremely soft and in technical terms is known as the nap.
The woolen fibers allow your dog to grip and fetch the ball easily as they are soft and non-slippery as compared to other materials.
This feature especially helps small pups as their tiny jaws can easily grip the wool fibers and their sensitive teeth can hold them for a long time. Hence, dog’s love to grab them and play fetch with these balls.
The wool coating also offers an easy grip as the ball would not easily slip or fall off your hands unlike in the case of plastic or other types of balls.
Bouncy
Tennis balls have a superior quality hollow rubber core that all dog balls may not possess. This makes them extremely bouncy and exciting to play with.
Moreover, if the tennis ball is available in different shapes, it produces a random bounce that keeps your dog surprised and on his toes most of the time.
The ball bounces in any random unpredictable direction that makes for an exciting game of fetch or catches with your dog.
Suitable for most dog types and breeds
Be it a small breed or a large hound, one size fits all. Small pups can easily grab the balls with the wool fiber and the fuzz while large hounds can fit it well inside their jaws.
Therefore, dogs enjoy playing with them as they are compact, uniform and extremely bouncy as well.
Floats on Water
Tennis balls are made of hollow rubber that makes them extremely light and feather-like. This allows them to float on water and makes them a great toy to play water sports. Grab them for a perfect pool – party with your fido as they swim, float and play.
Good for Ball Launchers
Since tennis balls are available in a uniform size, they are a perfect fit for ball launchers. Ball launchers are specifically designed to accommodate these types of balls so you can launch them farther.
Therefore, tennis balls offer the convenience of playing with your pet by relaxing your arms when combined with a ball launcher.
Exercise and Training
Since tennis balls bounce excessively and can be combined with ball launchers for an exciting game of fetch, they also encourage your dog to run across farther distances which in turn encourages exercise.
This helps you teach your pet to obey commands, play fetch and understand as well as follow orders that stimulates them mentally as well as keep them agile and fit.
The unpredictable and random bounce in tennis balls keeps them excited and on their toes to easily run and fetch the ball.
Bright Colors
One of the best aspects of tennis balls is their bright color. The yellow bright or fluorescent color was specifically chosen by the International Tennis Federation because it was easily visible on home screens as well as by the audience on the tennis court.
Keeping this aspect in mind, tennis balls for dogs were made of bright and fluorescent colors being variants of green, yellow and orange to make it easily noticeable amidst bushes.
These colors are very contrasting and can be easily spotted by your pet while he wanders and searches for the ball.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Tennis Ball?
Here are the steps you must consider before choosing the best dog tennis ball for your furmate:
Size of Dog
Sure we all know that the tennis ball comes in a standard size. The usual dimensions of a tennis ball fall in the range of 2.5 to 2.7 inches. Based on the size of the ball, you must first check your dog’s dimensions.
As per the general dimensions, tennis balls should be the best suitable for small to medium-sized breeds. It can be dangerous for extremely large hounds as they can end up swallowing the ball which can be dangerous.
Swallowing Habits
You may also want to take your dog’s ingesting and swallowing habits into account in terms of other dog toys. If they act careless and reckless and swallow almost anything that comes their way, then it’s time to reconsider before getting a tennis ball for your dog.
The wool fiber of the ball can be extremely dangerous if ingested and can cause choking and intestinal blockage in pets. Avoid considering a tennis ball if your dog chews onto random, inanimate objects and gets aggressive with his toys.
Material
The general material of the tennis ball is known to be a hollow rubber core with nylon or woolen covering. However, the outer woolen material should not start shredding off with minimal uses or if your dog gets slightly aggressive with the ball.
This only means that the material is not up to the mark and the ball will start wearing off quite easily. Therefore, look for quality and brand before choosing the best tennis ball as they are bound to offer a good material and coating over the
Durability
Once the balls are devoid of pressure inside them, they make a thud on the floor which indicates that it is a dead ball and is not suitable for active bouncing.
Therefore, make sure that the tennis balls you choose are durable and of good quality to sustain aggressive behavior and bouncing during your dog’s playtime. Choosing a dog tennis ball belonging to a premium brand ensures maximum durability and quality.
Chew Proof
Dog tennis balls are not meant for hard and aggressive chewing. However, if your dog gets their jaws over them, then these balls may start shredding off easily.
Therefore, see to it that the balls are made of good quality outer fabric so that your dog does not chew upon the outer material and spoil the ball.
Moreover, if the ball is broken into bits and pieces and if your dog ingests the pieces by mistake, then it can lead to further more complications.
Choosing a quality tennis ball makes it fairly easy as the outer fabric, as well as the inner core, are of premium quality.
Number of Balls
It is always best to keep a pack of balls rather than purchasing one single ball. What if your dog ends up misplacing the ball? What if it gets lost amidst the bushes and your dog misses out on the ball.
Therefore, even if the balls are misplaced due to any reason, your pup should not miss out on the fun.
It is best to purchase a pack of balls to keep as a handy alternative rather than opting for a single ball. This also falls cheaper in terms of budget.
However, it all comes down to personal preferences as to the number of balls you would need. This also depends on the number of pets you have as each pet may require a different ball.
Things to Note Before Buying a Dog Tennis Ball
No matter how bouncy and fun dog tennis balls are, one should supervise their pet while they are playing with tennis balls.
If you are uncertain about purchasing a suitable ball toy for your dog, you may want to reconsider the points below before you make sure you get a tennis ball for your pet.
- Tennis balls can cause choking hazards if your dog has huge teeth and jaws and is an aggressive creature. If he swallows down on the small sized ball, it can cause intestinal blockage and other digestive disorders.
- The green fuzz around the tennis ball is not very strong and can wear out very easily. If not the ball, your dog may certainly chew up on the green coating around the ball which can be equally dangerous.
- Tennis balls may seem soft on the outside but upon constant rubbing and use, the surface becomes rough and may wear down your dog’s teeth. It can cause dental problems.
- Tennis balls are not very smooth on the surface, which means they invite sticking of dust and bacteria from the surroundings. These elements can stay on the ball surface for quite some time and can lead to harmful diseases if they come in contact with your dog’s mouth.
You may want to consider these above factors. Sure tennis balls are fun, but with proper supervision, you can also ensure they are safe for your pet.
FAQs for Best Dog Tennis Balls
1. What is the general size of dog tennis balls?
Dog tennis balls are no different from ordinary tennis balls and have a uniform size range of 2.5 to 2.7 inches as defined by the International Tennis Federation.
These are quite suitable for small to medium-sized dogs but require supervision and careful handling.
2. Are dog tennis balls safe?
Maybe! Dog tennis balls will not cause extremely dangerous consequences if you supervise your pet. However, lack of supervision may cause choking hazards or may cause a split at the back of their throat.
If your dog has fierce and sharp teeth and big jaws, he may even break the tennis balls down to pieces. Your dog may ingest the pieces and it can cause choking hazards.
3. How to clean tennis balls?
Make a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar and soak the tennis ball in the vinegar solution for about 30 minutes. Scrub it with a brush or rinse it under tap water and allow it to soak in the sun. Your dog’s tennis ball would be clean as new.
4. How much for Dog Tennis Balls?
Dog Tennis Balls are priced anywhere between $5-$35 depending upon the number of balls in one pack, to the size, color, quality, brand, etc.
While there are various types of dog tennis balls available, the most budget choice would be the Chuckit! Ultra Bouncy Dog Tennis Ball Toy that costs around $5-$7.
A premium range of dog tennis balls would be The Dog’s Balls, Dog Tennis Balls that costs around $30-$35. The best dog tennis balls are the Hyper Pet Tennis Balls For Dogs that are priced anywhere between $14-$18.
5. What is the Best Dog Tennis Ball?
According to us, the best dog tennis ball is the Hyper Pet Tennis Balls For Dogs that comes in a pack of 12, in bright colors with safe materials being used.
A premium range of Dog Tennis Balls would be The Dog’s Balls, Dog Tennis Balls that are also available as a pack of 12 with multiple size and color variants that make for a fun addition to your pup’s exercise regimen.
The best dog tennis ball under a budget would be the Chuckit! Ultra Bouncy Dog Tennis Ball Toy is available in fun and vibrant colors and offers an easy grip for your dog to fetch the ball.
Final Note
Dog Tennis Balls are not like ordinary balls.
Their range of bright colors makes them stand apart and dogs have a fondness for tennis balls due to their woolen surface that is easy to grip compact structure that fits into their jaws and bouncy nature with rubber core that makes their playtime fun.
However, choosing the ideal dog tennis ball can get tricky for which we decided to help you dog parents by providing an in-depth review and buyer’s guide on the best dog tennis balls.
Choose the best tennis ball toy for your dog to enjoy playing fetch and encourage him to run farther with each bounce!!
Dwana is our best team member when it comes to taking care of pets on daily basis. This is because she used to be a full-time pet sitter before joining DogLovesBest. Besides contributing her precious knowledge on dog care tips and everyday-use pet products, she still does dog walking as part of her hobby in her free time.
Contents
- The Best Dog Tennis Balls of 2023
- 1. Hyper Pet Tennis Balls For Dogs
- 2. The Dog’s Balls, Dog Tennis Balls
- 3. Chuckit! Ultra Bouncy Dog Tennis Ball Toy
- 4. KONG SqueakAir Birthday Ball Dog Tennis Toy
- 5. PetSport 12 Tuff Balls Industrial Strength Dog Tennis Balls
- 6. KONG Squeakair Dog Toy Tennis Balls
- 7. Franklin Pet Supply 3 Pack Dog Tennis Balls
- Why Choose Tennis Balls for Dogs?
- Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Tennis Ball?
- Things to Note Before Buying a Dog Tennis Ball
- FAQs for Best Dog Tennis Balls
- Final Note