A ball that only moves when you throw it stops being interesting the moment you stop throwing. This one drives itself: a motor inside makes it roll and wobble unpredictably around the floor, changing direction whenever it bumps into a chair leg or a skirting board, and that erratic movement is exactly what keeps a chase instinct switched on with no human in the loop.

The bird-call sounds are the second half of the design, and they do more than simply make noise. A chirp coming from something moving away from a dog reads as prey, and dogs who ignore a silent toy will often lock straight onto a squeaking, scuttling one. Rope tails hang off the shell so there is something to grab, tug and shake once it has been caught, and a switch on the outside turns it off.

• Motorised ball that rolls and wobbles on its own
• Bird-call sounds to trigger interest
• Rope tails for grabbing, tugging and shaking
• External power switch, with nothing to unscrew
• Keeps a dog occupied without a person throwing
• Aimed at boredom and long days indoors

Two things worth knowing. This is a motorised toy with electronics inside a shell, and it should never be left with a dog who dismantles things. Supervise the play, and take it away the moment the chasing turns into serious chewing.

Who it's for: Dogs who lose interest in static toys, and owners who cannot throw a ball all evening.