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. 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. Made from durable materials like rubber, these balls are puncture-resistant. Even if your dog’s sharp teeth pierce the surface of the soccer ball, it won’t deflate. 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.

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

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

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. 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. If your dog loves to chase balls, your pooch might have even caused an early end to your game of soccer… 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. When powerful jaws and pointed teeth that are as sharp as daggers bite down, a traditional soccer ball doesn’t stand a chance. It will puncture and deflate.Even worse – if your dog is a chewer, he will actually enjoy popping your soccer ball. Some dogs just love to destroy toys.

Bouncy Balls - Etsy UK Rubber Bouncy Balls - Etsy UK

Soccer Crunch Ball got rid of the squeaker altogether. Instead, it has a material that needs to be compressed in the right way to make a crinkly sound. In our tests, it didn’t always work. Our dogs preferred the older squeaky version. At first glance, a dog soccer ball looks similar to the regulation soccer ball used by Major League Soccer. A soccer ball is a dog toy that is best used under supervision. They are designed to be chased and carried – not chewed on. 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.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.