A ball only holds a dog's attention while it is moving, which is why the tenth throw goes down better than the fortieth. This one moves on its own. It jumps and wiggles unpredictably, so the dog is chasing something that reacts rather than something that rolled to a halt against the skirting board thirty seconds ago and has been ignored ever since.

The shell is silicone rather than hard plastic, so it gives on impact instead of cracking, and it is kinder to teeth when a dog pins it to the floor. Rope tails clip on and off, which means the same ball works two ways: bare, it is a chase toy, and with the tails fitted it becomes something a dog can grab and tug against. It charges over USB with the cable supplied, so there are no batteries to keep buying.

• Jumps and wiggles under its own power
• USB rechargeable, charging cable included
• Silicone outer shell
• Detachable rope tug tails
• Four colours: orange red, peacock blue, green and red
• Works as both a chase toy and a tug toy

Not a toy to leave a dog alone with. Anything with a motor and a battery inside belongs in supervised play only, and it should be taken away and checked if the shell is ever punctured. Silicone stands up to teeth well but it is not armour against a committed chewer.

Who it's for: Energetic dogs who lose interest in a still ball, and owners who want ten minutes of self-directed chase indoors or in the garden.