The 5 Best Tennis Ball Dog Toys

There are lots of tennis ball dog toys out there. Some you can make yourself and some are available for purchase. Here are the 5 best tennis ball dog toys we’ve found!

Homemade Tennis Ball Dog Toy

These are three super simple and inexpensive ways to make your own homemade tennis ball dog toy.

This is a super easy project. It only requires:

• Tennis balls
• A clean sock
• A rope
• A knife
• A jingle bell
• A strong needle and thread

Version 1

You’ll want to stuff a tennis ball inside an old (clean) sweat sock and knot the socks open end.

Version 2

Cut two slits in a tennis ball, one on either side. Thread rope through and knot on either end.

Version 3

Cut a slit in the tennis ball, add the jingle bell to the inside. Sew the slit shut.

DIY: Tennis Ball Treat Dispenser

The video is pretty self explanatory, but I also always like written instructions. 🙂

Dog Toy Ball Treat Dispenser – Written Instructions

Materials:

• Tennis balls
• Treats
• Cutting tool / Knife

Instructions:

1. There are numerous ways to make this toy harder or easier depending on your dog’s determination, it’s likelihood of destroying the ball and the size of your treats.
2. Making a cut along the seam leaves a flap that can be tucked in for added difficulty.
3. Making a straight cut can lead to more crushed treats instead of “released” treats.
4. Cross cuts required only one or two chews before the treats fell out, but have an advantage in that they can release the treat when battled around.
5. Cutting only the felt and creating a deep pocket creates a good space for kibble to fit. Our dog tends to just rip the felt off.
6. Load ’em up and watch ’em go!

I’m planning on getting one of the really BIG tennis style balls.

I think that will be a bigger challenge for Lorelei in particular.

I barely blink and she solves most treat puzzles.

But with a ball larger than her head… I may get a few minutes to finish something before she does!

Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster

If your dog likes to run, this is a great choice for their toy. The Nerf Dog tennis ball blaster can be a great choice. Because of how far this blaster throws the tennis balls, it’s perfect for working breeds like Border Collies or Shelties.

They LOVE to run after the balls!

ChuckIt!

This classic dog toy is a fan favorite for dogs who love tennis balls! You can get some real distance on your ball with the ChuckiIt!

The ChuckIt has a reputation for being durable and throwing the ball a long way.

One word of warning! This comes in several different lengths from 12″ to 26″ – make sure you are getting one that works for you!

ChuckIt! Ultra Duo Dog Tug Toy

This dog toy is the cousin to the classic ChuckIt! And is a great way to play tug with your dog or for your dog to play tug with other dogs. Like the other ChuckIt! toy this one has a reputation for being quite durable.

Should Dogs Chew Tennis Balls?

For most dogs chewing on a tennis ball is perfectly OK as long as it isn’t all the time. Tennis balls can be bad for dogs’ teeth.

Some dogs, like most Bully breeds, have super strong jaws and will tear a tennis ball to shreds in just a few minutes.

For strong chewers, I recommend that you go with an interactive toy that’s specifically geared toward dogs with strong jaws.

It will last longer.

For heavy chewers I really like this West Paw treat dispenser that I found on Amazon. (paid link) It holds up well and it can dispense treats of multiple sizes.

For more DIY Puppy Love, check out Scout’s Honor! Dog-Themed Badges and DIY Craft: Rescue Proud Bandana!

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