Interactive Dog Chew Ball on Braided Rope

Adding a rope to a ball changes how far you can throw it, and that is not a small thing when you are standing in a field in the rain. A ball thrown by hand goes as far as your arm allows; a ball swung on a rope goes considerably further for the same effort, which means a dog covers more ground per throw and you get home sooner with a properly tired dog.

The ball itself is textured rather than smooth, which gives a dog something to work against when mouthing and gnawing, and the braided rope gives you a firm grip for tug without your hand ending up in the dog's mouth. One toy therefore covers fetch, tug and chewing, and that combination is genuinely useful with an active dog, because switching between games keeps interest up far longer than repeating any one of them.

• Textured ball for chewing and mouthing
• Braided rope for longer, easier throws
• Doubles as a tug toy for two-player games
• Two designs: red or blue cookie style
• One toy covers fetch, tug and gnawing
• Six photographs of both colourways

Two things worth knowing. Rope toys shed fibres as they fray, and swallowed rope strands are a serious problem in a dog's gut, so check the braid regularly and retire the toy once it starts coming apart. Tug is fine for most dogs, but keep it low and horizontal rather than lifting the dog's front feet, and let go if the game gets too intense.

Who it's for: active dogs who chase, tug and chew in roughly equal measure, and owners who would rather carry one toy to the park than three.