Herding Balls for Dogs
A herding ball is too big to bite, so the dog has to push it — with nose, chest and paws — which is exactly what collies, shepherds, cattle dogs and most bored big dogs want to do all day. Pick by your dog's size and how hard they play: a covered inflatable for most dogs, a hard Boomer-style ball for the ones who puncture everything.
11 products
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Herding Ball with Handles & Pump for Dogs
A herding ball in three sizes with webbing handles sewn round it, a tough outer shell over an inflatable bladder, and a pump in the box.
From£19.99
Herding Ball for Dogs — 45cm Tough Oxford Cover
A 45cm herding ball with a tough Oxford cover over a separate inner bladder, with a foot pump in the box.
£29.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs — 25, 45 & 55cm
An inflatable herding ball in two prints and three sizes, with webbing handles and a concealed zip.
From£15.99
Coa Boomi Ball Teal 8"/20cm
An 8 inch teal ball for outdoor fetch, sized to stand out against grass
£19.99
Which size and type
| Your dog | Ball size | Type to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Small to medium, under 15kg | 45cm | Covered inflatable — light enough to shove around |
| Medium, 15–30kg (collies, spaniels, staffies) | 55–65cm | Covered inflatable with a 1680D cover, or a 15–20cm hard Boomer ball |
| Large, 30kg and over | 65–75cm | Covered inflatable, or a 25cm hard ball for dogs that puncture covers |
| A dog who destroys everything | Any | Hard polyethylene (Boomer-style) — no cover to tear, no air to lose |
What a herding ball actually does
Herding breeds were bred to move things that are bigger than they are. A ball they cannot pick up gives that instinct somewhere to go: they nose it, chest it, circle it and drive it across the garden, and most of them will keep going long after a fetch ball would have been dropped at your feet.
It suits more than collies. Any dog with energy to burn and a habit of chasing — shepherds, cattle dogs, boxers, huskies, lurchers — usually takes to one within a session. It is also the toy behind treibball, the sport where dogs herd large balls into a goal.
Inflatable with a cover, or a hard ball
A covered inflatable is a PVC bladder inside a tough fabric shell (1680D Oxford is the strongest common grade). It is light, so smaller dogs can move it, and the cover takes the teeth and claws. If the cover does get through, the bladder can usually be patched or replaced. Most dogs are best served here.
A hard ball — the Boomer Ball and its relatives — is solid polyethylene with nothing to puncture. It is heavier and louder on patio slabs, and a small dog will struggle to shift the bigger sizes, but for a dog who has already killed two inflatables it is the answer.
Getting the size right
The ball should be taller than the dog's muzzle can open around: if they can get their jaws on it, it becomes a chew toy and will not last. Go a size up rather than down. For inflatables, 45cm suits dogs under about 15kg, 55–65cm most medium and large dogs, and 75cm the big shovers.
Hard balls run smaller because the dog cannot compress them: a 15cm Boomer is fine for a spaniel, 20cm for a collie or labrador, 25cm for the giant breeds.
Introducing it, and keeping it safe
Roll it slowly the first time and let the dog investigate. Some dogs bark at it for a minute; that is normal. Reward any push. Keep the first few sessions short so the novelty holds.
Supervise play, especially with a new inflatable, and take it away once a cover tears so nobody swallows fabric. Store it out of the sun — UV is what ages both PVC and fabric. A herding ball is an outdoor toy; indoors it becomes a battering ram.
Everything here is chosen to be genuinely useful in everyday life with your pet — quality-checked, fairly priced and shipped tracked across the UK. For any health concern, your vet is always the best first port of call.
Common questions
What size herding ball does my dog need?
Bigger than they can bite. For inflatables, 45cm for dogs under about 15kg, 55–65cm for medium and large dogs, 75cm for the biggest shovers. Hard balls run smaller: 15cm for a spaniel, 20cm for a collie, 25cm for giant breeds.
Are herding balls indestructible?
No ball is. A hard polyethylene ball has nothing to puncture and lasts longest; a covered inflatable relies on the cover holding, and a determined dog can eventually get through it. Supervise, and retire a torn cover.
Will a non-herding breed use one?
Usually, yes. Any dog that likes to chase will push a ball it cannot pick up. Herding breeds tend to keep at it longest, but boxers, huskies and lurchers take to them too.
Can the ball be used for treibball?
Yes. Treibball uses large inflatable balls of roughly 45–75cm, sized so the dog pushes rather than carries. The covered inflatables on this page are the right kind; use several sizes if you want to train the full game.
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