Tennis Balls - Dangerous?

[pomtzu]

Since any toy really, can be a choking hazard, it's best that they are supervised with any toy that they can chew pieces off of, or put the whole thing in their mouth. I wouldn't worry too much about those dollar store tennis balls when he is little - just watch what he does with them and take them away if he chews them, and don't let him play with them on his own. He should be fine with them otherwise.

[wolf_Q]

I don't think they are any more dangerous than any other toy they could chew up and eat. Just make sure you supervise him. The tennis balls made for actual tennis (buy them in the sporting goods section) are usually way better quality than the ones made for dogs/ones at the dollar store. Those are junk the dogs bite them in half in three chomps but I've had other tennis balls last for years without being destroyed.

[Jessika]

Most toys can be considered dangerous to be used unsupervised. If your dog uses tennis balls for "normal" play, ie for fetch with you, but does not have an abnormal obsession with them (will chew/eat them, etc), then I would say they are fairly safe to continue using as you were.

I echo the fact that the ones you buy at the pet store for $1 or so are very cheaply made and fall apart within minutes of using them, and Jamie is not hard on the balls. I can easily see how those would quickly become choking hazards, especially for the "ball obsessed" dogs. I usually fork out less than $10 to buy legit tennis balls from the sporting section at Walmart and they last months/years, provided she doesn't lose them!!

[cloverfdx]

Why not just get dog safe balls? The kong squeekers are fine for play. If you concerned about the size you can get them in bigger sizes.

I'd steer clear of the kong rubber balls, now there's a choking hazard.

My guys play ball everyday without any problems.

[CountryWolf07]

Interesting. I ended up buying Ryder a 6 inch Jolly Ball with a handle - He's going to be a big boy so I think he'll be fine with it.