A dog that is mad about fetch will outlast any human arm. A launcher takes over the throwing, and for a dog that learns to drop the ball back in the top it becomes a game it can run for itself while you watch.

This launcher has three set distances, about 6m, 9.7m and 13.7m, and a random mode that mixes them so the dog cannot guess. The panel shows which is selected. It runs from a built-in battery charged by the USB cable supplied, and a sensor with an on/off switch stops it firing when nothing has been loaded. It comes with three 5.8cm balls made of ETPU, a light, springy foam. The launcher is about 27cm across and 18.5cm tall.

• Distances of about 6m, 9.7m and 13.7m, plus a random mode
• Built-in rechargeable battery, USB cable included
• Three 5.8cm ETPU balls included
• Launcher about 27 x 18.5cm
• For small and medium dogs

On safety and balls: A 5.8cm ball is the right size for small and medium dogs and a choking risk for large ones, so this is not a launcher for a labrador or anything bigger. Use only the balls supplied, clean and dry, as wet or gritty balls jam the mechanism. Teach your dog to wait to one side of the launcher, never in front of the opening, and keep sessions short: repeated sprinting and sharp stops are hard on joints, especially in young dogs.

Who it's for: small and medium fetch addicts, owners with a sore shoulder or limited mobility, and wet days when the garden is not an option.