If your dog loves playing fetch, you know they can go on for hours and hours without ever getting bored. They jump around, wagging their tail at just the sight of you holding a ball. But as much as you love your dog, sometimes you don’t have the time or energy to play with them.
And not only does this make your dog upset, but you feel guilty for doing so.
Plus, it’s not entirely your fault.
We’re all busy and have a lot on our hands.
But does this mean we should just forget about playing with him? Should we let just them run off and chew on a tennis ball by themselves?
Of course not.
There’s an easy way to solve this problem. And many already have by getting themselves an automatic dog ball launcher.
It’s the best toy for a dog AND the owner.
When you get get one, you never have to feel bad about not playing fetch with your pup. He can now play on his own! And for as long as he wants.
Think about how much time and energy you save.
But since there are several dog ball launchers on the market, you probably don’t know which one to buy. And if you want to see your dog happy and with a big smile on his face, then you need to buy the perfect one for him.
Which is why I’ve compiled this list of the 5 Best Dog Ball Launchers for you to quickly and easily get yours now.
So without further ado, let’s get started…
The 5 Best Dog Ball Launchers
What you’ll find on this list is the 5 best dog ball launchers ranking from least-best to best-best. With its features, benefits, and cons. So by the time you finish reading this post, you’ll know exactly which one will work for you.
Here it is:
#5: DoggyFun Dog Ball Launcher
The DoggyFun Dog Ball Launcher is a simple yet unique one. Great for ONLY miniature dogs (you’ll see why). It takes the usual ball launcher but switches it up with a different type of ball.
Instead of regular tennis balls, this uses foam balls. Now, you might be wondering why. And if you’ve never used a dog ball launcher before, then you have every reason to ask.
Here’s the reason why…
The biggest problem with these launchers is it shoot the ball directly at your pup. And you can imagine the pain it causes when it’s with a hard tennis ball.
But with foam balls, it’s soft and light. And not only does this protect your dog from being hurt, but it prevents breaking things as well.
The DoggyFun Dog Ball Launcher is perfect for those who have small dogs (don’t worry, a launcher for big dogs is coming), and is just getting started. It’s safe, fun, and the most affordable one on this list.
Features
- 3 Distance Settings (Near, Middle, Far)
- Indoor play – comes with wall adapter
- Outdoor play – runs on 6 C batteries
- Comes with 3 mini-sized FOAM balls
Cons
- Foam balls can be chewed up depending on your dog
- Only good for small dogs
If you like this DoggyFun Dog Ball Launcher, you can read my full review. Or you can click here to get yours.
#4: iFetch Dog Ball Launcher
This launcher should be of no surprise to you. It’s what started it all. However, as popular as the iFetch is, it’s not the best of them all, for one reason…
It’s only for smaller dogs.
However, if you own a small dog, this will be your best option, especially in regards to price.
It’s simple, reliable, and effective.
And with hundreds of customer reviews, you can be sure of its performance.
It doesn’t have anything special or unique compared to the others on this list. It uses mini-sized tennis balls. And can be set on different distance settings.
Features
- 3 Distance Settings – 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet
- Indoor play – comes with wall adapter
- Outdoor play – runs on 6 C batteries
- Comes with 3 mini-sized tennis balls
Cons
- Ball can hit your pup
- Only good for small dogs
If you want to be safe on your purchase, the iFetch is the way to go. You can read my full review. Or you can click here to get yours.
#3: PetSafe Dog Ball Launcher
This PetSafe launcher is probably the most advanced of all. Why? Because it contains the most features out of every other dog ball launcher. But here’s the thing…
One of its features is terribly annoying.
And it’s a 15-minute interval break. After 15 minutes of play, it will shut down automatically for another 15 minutes. Now, I understand why they did this – to give your dogs a rest – but this feature isn’t able to be turned off.
So if you know your dog will play for a lot longer than that, this isn’t for you.
However, despite this flaw, it’s perfect for any sized dog. It uses regular-sized tennis balls. And can shoot at many different angles and distances, all with a slight turn of a knob. This makes it the best for adjusting to the environment you’re in.
What’s more, the PetSafe Dog Ball Launcher contains a safety motion sensor. So if any movement is detected within 7 feet in front of the launcher, it will pause for 5 seconds before shooting, giving your dog enough time to get out the way.
It’s this single feature that makes this PetSafe amazing. It’s the only one with it. But it’s still #3 on this list because of the inevitable resting period.
Features
- Great for ALL DOGS
- 9 Distance Settings – Between 8-30 feet
- 6 Angle Settings – 20°-45°
- Safety Motion Sensor – detects any movement up to 7 feet
- Indoor play – comes with wall adapter
- Outdoor play – runs on 6 D batteries
- Comes with 2 standard sized tennis balls
Cons
- Can be a bit noisy
- 15 Minute Rest Feature cannot be turned off
If your biggest concern is safety, the PetSafe Dog Ball Launcher is the one for you. You can read my full review. Or you can click here to get yours.
#2: GoDogGo G4 Dog Ball Launcher
Along side the iFetch, the GoDogGo is the other most popular dog ball launcher on the market today. Among all the launchers on this list, the GoDogGo is the most versatile. Except for one aspect…
It’s designed for OUTDOOR play only. This is why it’s at #2. Although it can be used indoors too, you’ll need a pretty high ceiling because unlike the other launchers, this shoots the ball upwards instead of straight forward.
Which is awesome because it prevents your dog from getting hit.
And the best thing about this launcher is you can use nearly any sized ball. However, there’s no manual distance setting with the GoDogGo. It all depends on the size and weight of the ball.
But there are time settings you can set to adjust the rate at which the launcher shoots. Or you can manually launch balls with the remote control. This is something no other launcher on this list has. And is one of the best features in my opinion.
But because it’s limited to outdoor play, it doesn’t take the number one spot.
Features
- Great for ALL DOGS
- Works with various balls sizes (1.75-2.6 inches in diameter)
- Shoots ball upwards instead of straight ahead
- 3 Time Settings – 4 seconds, 7 seconds, 15 seconds
- Wide bucket for easy drop-in
- Remote Control/Automatic launch
- Outdoor play – runs on 6 D batteries or wall adapter
- Comes with 3 regular sized tennis balls
Cons
- No distance setting
- Not suitable for indoor play
If you know you’re only going to play fetch outside, then the GoDogGo is the best one you’ll ever buy. You can read my full review. Or you can click here to get yours. However, if you want a launcher for indoors AND outdoors, keep reading…
#1: iFetch Too Dog Ball Launcher
And for the number one spot on this list, it’s the one and only, the granddaddy of them all, the iFetch Too. This was made because the previous iFetch was only fit for small dogs. And because of the many complaints, they came out with this amazing dog ball launcher.
It was made specifically for larger dogs, but any dog can play with it.
There’s no special unique features with the iFetch Too. It works like any usual automatic ball launcher, but what makes this different is its power to shoot super far. In fact, this one shoots the farthest out of all the launchers on this list (40 feet!)
And with its different distance settings, this is perfect for indoors and outdoors.
The way it works is safe and effective too. Once you drop a ball in, it’ll launch within one second. Giving your dog no time to move directly in front of the launcher and possibly getting hit.
What’s more, the iFetch Too comes with a built-in rechargeable battery. Which means you won’t have to keep buying and changing batteries. Wonderful!
Features
- Great for ALL DOGS
- 3 Distance Settings – 10 feet, 25 feet, 40 feet
- Indoor play – comes with wall adapter
- Outdoor play – built-in rechargeable battery
- Comes with 3 regular sized tennis balls
Cons
- Most expensive on this list
If you want an all-around great dog ball launcher, the iFetch Too is it. With the iFetch brand, you can expect nothing less than a great product. You can read my full review of it or you can click here and get yours now.
Training To Use Dog Ball Launchers
When getting a dog ball launcher, not only do you want to buy it for the fun and entertainment, but you also want your dog to be able to play by himself.
And to do that, you’ll need to train him.
Usually, some dogs will get it within just one day. While others may take a couple days (and some more treats) to have them learn to drop the ball in themselves.
Good news is there’s plenty of tips to help you speed up this process.
Just watch this video and you’ll learn step-by-step how to train your dog to start playing fetch by himself.
Summary
Ever since automatic dog ball launchers hit the market, it has made playing fetch more fun for both dogs and their owners.
It’s really one of the best investments you can make. Especially if you never have the time or energy to play with your pup, and you want to make sure he’s always happy.
Dogs love playing fetch.
And there’s no other way to make him filled with joy then a toy that allows him to play anywhere and at anytime.
So make sure you don’t waste another second because you don’t want to miss out on all the fun. Get your dog ball launcher today!
