Despite the hard-wearing rubber, I was surprised that this ball had a good bounce once thrown. I couldn’t get any ball to squeak when bounced, but once caught by our testers, they were delighted to find that it squeaked. Our Australian Shepherd in particular was thrilled with this discovery.

Bouncy Balls – Manage classroom noise with bouncing balls! Bouncy Balls – Manage classroom noise with bouncing balls!

Unfortunately, if you want a soccer ball that squeaks, you need to compromise on size. Speaking of which, the Nerf Soccer Squeaker is available in three sizes… Type To select the best balls for kids, we reviewed guidance from Nemours Children’s Health on toys for every age and how children of all ages play differently, along with guidance from the AAP on how to buy safe toys. Moreover, we reviewed a study on the efficiency of exploratory play for infants and its relation to longer-term cognitive development. We also spoke with Heather Shafi, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in New Jersey, about what to look for in balls for kids and the benefits of ball play for children. If you want to play soccer with your pooch, then you need a dog-proof soccer ball. These hard-wearing balls are designed to stay strong, even when your dog bites down hard. Orbee Tuff Soccer Ball felt more like a throwing ball than a soccer ball. It isn’t a sealed ball. It has a hole in either end, something that isn’t immediately apparent when shopping online. I did appreciate that it is American-made, though.Once the game is over, the ball should be put away until the next playtime. Doing so will greatly extend the life of your dog’s soccer ball. While playing with balls can be super fun, it’s important to be safe and choose the right ball for your kiddo and their needs. According to Dr. Shafi, choking is the biggest concern. She doesn’t recommend any ball that’s small enough for a child to fit in their mouth because they’re choking hazards. Moreover, “be careful with using hard balls with young children that may not be able to catch well, or likewise, may not be able to regulate their own strength or distance when playing ball,” she advises.

Large Bouncy Balls - Etsy Large Bouncy Balls - Etsy

Because it’s so large, the few dogs that could carry the ball around chewed it with their incisors and canines – the sharp pointy teeth at the front of your dog’s mouth. If your dog loves to chase balls, your pooch might have even caused an early end to your game of soccer… Not that this should be an issue. Like any other fetch toy, the Jolly Soccer Ball should be used as a fetch-and-play toy only under supervision – not given to your dog as a chew toy. Material: Choose a material that works for the child's age and stage. Dr. Shafi says soft, stuffed balls and light, large rubber balls are great for infants and young toddlers. With younger children, like infants and toddlers, think “large” (toys bigger than your child’s mouth) to help prevent choking, and ensure all stuffed toys have secure edges and no loose ribbons or strings that can cause strangulation. For the older kids, typical multipurpose and sports-related balls are better. A soccer ball is a dog toy that is best used under supervision. They are designed to be chased and carried – not chewed on.We found the best toy balls for a wide range of uses, ages, and categories by studying the design and features of more than 30 balls on the market. We also surveyed 875 parents about the toys their children play with, how they play with them, and why they love them. To further our research, we reviewed guidance from Nemours Children’s Health on toys for every age and how children of all ages play differently, along with guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to buy safe toys. Moreover, we reviewed a study on the efficiency of exploratory play for infants and its relation to longer-term cognitive development. If your dog loves to play in the water, choose a soccer ball that floats. While most do, you shouldn’t assume it will unless the manufacturer specifically lists that it does. You don’t want to fish out a soccer ball from the bottom of a lake or pool, do you? Now, I must stress that this recommendation is only suitable for dogs that don’t enjoy chewing and ripping the stuffing out of plush toys or aggressively shaking their toys. Take our Golden Retriever, for example. She was happiest just holding the soccer ball in her mouth and carrying it around the house. Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. Maya’s kids are all super, super active, and her house, yard, garage, and even minivan trunk have a huge variety of balls. Since her kids are older, she makes all ball playing take place outdoors to keep her windows and TV safe. She loves keeping a ball in the car trunk. If she ends up at a park or open area, she can always give her kids a ball and know they will create some kind of fun game.

Giant Toy Ball : Target Giant Toy Ball : Target

While the glow-in-the-dark version held up just fine during our testing, I want to point out that users found this model less durable than the bright orange version. Perhaps this is why the glow-in-the-dark version is considerably cheaper. I’m happy to report that the durable rubber held up well to strong bites during play. Our Labrador tester loves crushing balls by biting them. She couldn’t crunch her way through the large size. The smell soon fades. We could barely notice it after a few play sessions. So, choose whichever color you prefer. It is worth mentioning that while dog soccer balls are durable, I wouldn’t go so far as to call them indestructible. You see, these are best used as a fetch toy under supervision.We didn’t have any punctures during testing. However, based on my observation of how the dogs carried the larger ball, I have a suspicion that the larger size will break first. I’ll add that traditional-sized dog soccer balls, which are around 8 inches, are best suited for medium to large breeds. Smaller dogs can have difficulty wrapping their jaws around the large ball size. While the small size was too large for our French Bulldog to carry, she still loved chasing them down… Fortunately, there is a wide range of soccer balls to choose from, even for your pint-sized pooch. Some soccer balls have grooves to make them easier for small mouths to grip. Others are miniature versions of a soccer ball. Whatever dog you have, there is a soccer ball toy to suit. Does your dog love soccer and things that squeak? Nerf combined the two into a heavy-duty toy that kept our dogs entertained for hours – wagging their tails excitedly every time they made it squeak.

balls for dogs of all sizes (13 tested!) 4 Best dog-proof soccer balls for dogs of all sizes (13 tested!)

If you do want to buy a traditional soccer ball, then I recommend choosing a size 3. This is the smallest regulation soccer ball and are generally used for children under the age of 8. At 24 inches in circumference, it’s is easier to grip than adult balls. You see, even the small size might be too large for your dog to wrap his jaws around. But that won’t stop your pup from trying… Incredibly disappointing and frustrating considering I selected this ball/manufacturer specifically for the soft materials construction to *not* wear/sand the enamel off their teeth. Not to mention the number of clients I have recommended this ball to for their own dogs over the years as a veterinarian. Despite everywhere you look online repeating ad nauseam that either rubber or nylon cover balls will not wear teeth, just the rigid plastics will, I am here to tell you the ballistic nylon covers will in fact do exactly that with regular use.Big, small, bouncy, squishy—balls are beneficial toys for kids. They can use them for open-ended playor directed games and sports, alone, with a buddy, or on a team. According to Heather Shafi, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in New Jersey, playing with balls is good for hand-eye coordination, muscle development, and social skills. Moreover, kids will be working on fine motor skills, spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and balance, too. For regular play, the seams held strong, and because the ball isn’t overstuffed, our dogs could easily wrap their jaws around it. Highly recommended. The dog soccer balls that Best of all, the Jolly Soccer Ball is manufactured right here in the USA. I wish more companies did this.