A herding ball works because the dog cannot pick it up. They nose it, shoulder it and drive it across the grass, which is what a collie, a kelpie or a cattle dog is actually asking for when a normal walk leaves them bouncing off the walls.

What the handles change is who else gets to play. Webbing loops sewn around the ball give you something to hold, so the game can be a tug, a lift and a roll, or a wait and release, rather than a dog shoving an object round the garden on their own. The outer shell is tear-resistant with reinforced seams where the handles are stitched on, and it sits over a separate inflatable bladder. A pump is in the box, so it goes up in minutes and folds flat again when you have finished.

• Three sizes: 25cm, 45cm and 55cm across
• Reinforced webbing handles for tug and lift-and-roll play
• Tear-resistant outer shell over an inflatable inner bladder
• Inflation pump included; deflates and folds away for storage
• Made for obedience work, herding practice and paddock play
• Used with horses as well as dogs

It is inflatable, so it can puncture. The shell takes claws and stepping well, but a dog who grabs and grinds rather than pushes will find a way in eventually, and a ball that is losing air needs taking off them rather than patching. Keep it a supervised outdoor game.

Who it's for: herding and working breeds who want a job, and owners who would rather play with the dog than stand and watch them play alone.