Natalia is a veterinarian with 10 years of experience, specialising in topics related to responsible pet ownership, preventive animal health and nutrition issues that she is currently deepening in her master's studies. Unfortunately, not everyone is born an athlete. So for those of us who throw like a toddler on a bad day, we’re often a huge disappointment to our dogs. But a dog ball launcher could change all of that.

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 If you’re looking for an automatic ball launcher, this option from PetSafe has a lot to like. It’s easy-to-use, well-made, and includes a variety of safety features.Only play with a launcher in a safe location. Choose a wide-open space away from traffic and other hazards. 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. Larger breeds of dogs will really benefit from this ball launcher. They’ll receive the workout they need for best health. The gun accepts standard size tennis balls and measures 45cm long, 9cm wide and 20cm high. It’s suitable for anyone over 14 to use.

Automatic ball launchers are an increasingly popular and ever-present product, but this one from All For Paws is easily our favourite thanks to its wealth of dog-friendly features! 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. 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 Every kid's favourite toy weapons brand Nerfhave entered the dog market in a big way! This Nerf Dog delight has been flying off the internet's shelves with families the world over wanting a piece of the action.Other notable features include ball holders for gun-type launchers, as well as multiple charging options for automatic ball-firing stations. Look for stations that are both AC and battery compatible to ensure fast wall charging at home and endless launching capabilities down at the park. Exercising your best friend, especially if he’s a larger breed, can at times be a difficult routine to maintain. Some do need a lot of regular, ie daily, exercise for optimum health and fitness. And walking alone is not necessarily enough. Automatic launchers almost always have a set maximum distance. Through their tried and tested operating systems, manufacturers are able to give clear guidelines of where their balls are likely to drop. Look for station and gun types that have multiple distance settings ranging from 3 to 20 metres for pups, all the way up to feverish labs and such.

Although all dog launchers will launch tennis balls into the sky for the sole purpose of dogs chasing them, it doesn't mean that they're all built the same. When choosing, you'll need to decide whether a manual thrower or an automatic ball launcher is right for you. If desiring an automatic dog ball launcher, you’re going to have a very tough decision to make when considering power sources. Do you want the ease of being able to take you launcher everywhere with battery power? Or do you want the cost-efficient choice of a plug-in powered model if it will only be used at home? Ball sizeIt’s only fitting then that their dog ball launchers are just as hard-wearing and high-quality, with ergonomic rubber handles for comfort and grip, as well as a flexible plastic design for longer-lasting flinging action! They’re either automatic or handheld. Automatic launchers are electrical powered. They have a control panel that allows you to adjust the distance, position, and speed of the ball. This is the ideal ball-shooting candidate to help improve your dog's speed and reactivity. It sounds like a lot to boast about, but with this bazooka-style tennis ball launcher set to fire at 20 metres, it's likely to be true. Some may say a dog ball launcher is a pretty basic piece of kit. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You just have to be able to throw the ball far enough for a dog to find it enjoyable.