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So, your pup has dreams of becoming the next Lionel Messi? Or should I say, Lionel Mastiff? If you are a soccer fanatic or your dog loves to chase larger-sized balls, then a soccer ball could be the
best dog toy for your pooch.
Table of Contents
But with so many to choose from, which is the best soccer ball for your dog? We wondered the exact same thing, so we tested 13 different dog soccer balls, playing hundreds of games of fetch and chasing our dog until we were pooped, day after day. Which soccer ball is best for your dog? See our findings.
| Best Overall | Best For Fetch | Best Squeaker | Best For Indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| Jolly Pets | Chuckit! Kick Fetch | Nerf Dog Squeak | T play Plush |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Best Dog Soccer Balls
It was a long journey, but eventually, we were able to narrow down the competition to 4 winners, each unique in their own way. We reviewed each soccer ball for its durability, quality, and suitability for different breeds.
To start, I’ll show you the best soccer ball dog toy for most pups. From there, I make recommendations for those of you looking for something a little more specialized, such as an easy-to-grip soccer ball, one that squeaks, and another that is plush.
Best Overall Dog Soccer Ball: Jolly Pets Soccer Ball Review
Jolly Pets is a heavy, sturdy soccer ball with give that holds up exceptionally well to rough play.
Let me be straight up. This ball is made from heavy-duty rubber. If you are looking for something lightweight to kick a long distance, then skip this pick.
I was actually shocked when I stepped up to kick the ball with all my might. I was not expecting the ball to be so solid; it doesn’t have the same give as a regulation soccer ball. Even so, it’s fairly effortless to kick.
The high-quality rubber makes it the perfect ball for toy destroyers and large breeds with a powerful bite, such as German Shepherds. This ball can take a LOT of abuse. Check it out…
Even with hundreds of punctures, it still kept its shape. No deflating or popping here! This is as close as you will get to an indestructible soccer ball.
The Jolly Soccer Ball is available in two sizes:
If you want the size to be close to a regulation soccer ball, choose the larger ball.
However, if your dog is a smaller breed, such as a Boston Terrier or even a puppy, you might want to consider our next pick.
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…
While the small size was too large for our French Bulldog to carry, she still loved chasing them down…
We didn’t have any punctures during testing. However, based on my observation of how the dogs carried the larger ball, I suspect that the larger size will break first.
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 their mouths.
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.
The Jolly Soccer Ball is available in 3 colors, and 2 are scented:
- Blue – unscented
- Green – apple-scented
- Orange – vanilla-scented
The smell soon fades. We could barely notice it after a few play sessions. So, choose whichever color you prefer.
I will also add that this soccer ball floats. If you kick the ball and it bounces into your pool, you won’t have to worry about it sinking to the bottom.
Best of all, the Jolly Soccer Ball is manufactured right here in the USA. I wish more companies did this.
If you are looking for a puncture-proof soccer ball for your pooch, then this is as good as it gets.
Price
- Starts at (6-inch ball)
Best Soccer Ball Dog Toy For Fetch: Chuckit! Kick Fetch Review
The Chuckit! Kick Fetch is a light-weight foam soccer ball with curved grooves that can be carried by all dogs, big and small. Straight up, it’s nothing like a traditional soccer ball.
It has these grooves that make this ball perfect for dogs of all sizes. But it’s particularly well suited for smaller dogs. The grooves provide your dog with something to bite while he carries it back to you. Even a puppy can get a grip!
Its canvas cloth and rubber exterior hide a foam core. It’s the foam that makes the Kick Fetch so easy to kick. I was able to get great distance with minimal effort.
I would add that if your dog is a chewer, you’ll be better off sticking with our first recommendation. The canvas will soon tear if chewed on by a large dog, such as a Boxer or Labrador Retriever. I’d also have concerns with energetic dogs that shake the ball around.
If your dog is gentle and carries it instead of chewing it, then the Kick Fetch is durable enough to last years. Besides a few puncture holes on the rubber area, the ball held firm during testing.
The Kick Fetch is available in two sizes:
If you are looking for something close to the size of a regulation soccer ball, I recommend the larger size. It gives you more surface area to kick.
Chuckit! also makes a glow-in-the-dark version for nighttime kickarounds. It’s fun watching the shadowy black shape of your dog chase after this glowing ball that appears to “carry itself back to you.”
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.
Whichever version you choose, both float. If you are looking for a soft and easier-to-grab soccer ball, then the Chuckit! Kick Fetch is unbeatable. Just don’t forget to take it away from your dog once playtime is over!
Price
- Starts at $21.24 (5.5-inch ball)
Best Squeaky Dog Soccer Ball: Nerf Dog Soccer Squeak Ball Review
The Nerf Dog Soccer Ball is designed to keep dogs entertained with its signature squeaky sound.
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.
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.
Given that the largest size is about half that of a regulation soccer ball, these are better made for throwing than kicking, especially the smallest size.
On that note, the smallest ball is roughly the same size as a tennis ball and fits in our Chuckit! Dog Ball Launcher. The large ball is about the size of a softball.
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.
Even so, if you have a hardcore chewer like a Pit Bull, this squeaker won’t last long. If your dog is a power chewer, check out the Planet Dog Outward Hound Squeak ball instead. This soccer ball is best used as a fetch toy and not a chew toy.
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.
If you want a soccer ball that squeaks, this is as good as it gets!
Price
Best Indoor Soccer Ball For Dogs: T play Soccer Ball Plush Review
T play’s soft soccer ball can be kicked around your living room without breaking a window.
Okay, so this isn’t a toy that is made for dogs. It’s actually designed for young kids who find firm soccer balls too hard to kick. But it outperformed the plush soccer ball we tested, which was made specifically for dogs, by a long shot.
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.
As a plush toy, this soccer ball isn’t really suitable for outside play. If you do, it’s going to get dirty really quickly. But for indoor play with your dog, there is no soccer ball I would recommend more.
It’s like kicking a pillow. Because it’s soft, you don’t have to worry about breaking a window or even marking up your walls. It’s great if you are snowed in and can’t take your dog outside for a kickaround – set up a game of living-room soccer instead!
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.
Price
The Dog Soccer Balls That Didn’t Make Our Top Picks
Although these balls didn’t make our top four winners, you may find one that’s better suited to your pup’s size or the type of play they prefer.
Gnawsome 3.5” Squeaker Soccer Ball Review
The rubber-spiked Gnawsome Squeaker soccer ball was a huge success. It had a louder squeaker than our top pick, which our dogs loved. However, the spikes that are glued into the ball began to peel away after just a few sessions of play. If this were better made, it would be our top pick.
Price
- Starts at $7.12 (3.5-inch ball)
Outward Hound Dog Soccer Ball Review
Ordinarily, we love Outward Hound dog toys. However, at 5 inches, their Planet Dog Outward Hound Dog Soccer Ball felt more like a throwing ball than a soccer ball. It isn’t a sealed ball.
It has a hole on either end, something that isn’t immediately apparent when shopping online. With that said, it’s proudly made in the USA and could be a fun choice for smaller dogs or indoor play.
Price
- Starts at $14.99 (5-inch ball)
Rensh Interactive Treat Dispensing Soccer Ball Review
This interactive soccer ball has a unique concept — dispensing treats while your dog plays. But we found it best suited for gentle chewers. Larger dogs may damage the soft rubber easily, and smaller treats can fall through the holes too quickly. Still, it could be an engaging toy for light chewers.
Price
- Starts at $7.99 (4.6-inch ball)
SPOT Soccer Ball Review
These 2-inch latex soccer balls have a bouncy texture that some dogs may love. However, due to their small size, they’re best reserved for supervised play for use with toy breeds. We found that the squeaker failed pretty quickly, but they can still offer some short-term fun.
Price
- Starts at $5.99 (2-inch ball)
SPOT Ethical Plush Soccer Ball Review
Ethical Pets made the only plush soccer ball designed specifically for dogs. At 4½ inches, it was a decent size. Oh, and it squeaks! While it’s not the most durable option and may shed a bit, it could be a hit with seniors, puppies, or couch-loving pups who prefer cuddly toys over rugged ones.
Price
ALL FOR PAWS Ballistic Handle Ball Review
This oversized soccer ball features tug handles for interactive play and is great for dogs who love to play with their humans. While it didn’t hold up to rougher chewing in our tests, gentler dogs may enjoy the combination of fetch and tug-of-war in one toy.
Price
- Starts at $17.99 (13.7-inch with handles)
What Is A Dog Soccer Ball, And Does Your Pooch Need One?
At first glance, many dog soccer balls looks similar to the regulation soccer ball used by Major League Soccer. However, as you will soon learn, dog soccer balls have one very important difference.
Your dog thinks he plays soccer like this…
But dogs don’t play soccer with their feet — they use their mouths. When playing soccer, your pooch actually looks like this…
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.
If your dog loves to chase balls, your pooch might have even caused an early end to your game of soccer…
Nothing brings a friendly kickaround to an end faster than a popped soccer ball. Even worse, if your dog is a chewer, he will actually enjoy popping your soccer ball. Some dogs just love to destroy toys.
A traditional soccer ball just can’t hold up to this kind of wear and tear — it’s too flimsy.
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.
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.
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.
What About Hard Plastic Balls?
You may have come across hard plastic balls that are similar in size to a soccer ball. Made from thick, rigid plastic, these could be described as indestructible. Why not use these as a soccer ball? Well, they have a couple of flaws…
First, when your dog bites down on hard plastic, it creates sharp edges and spikes. You can see this clearly in the picture above. These sharp bits can cut your dog as he carries the ball, so it needs to be sanded down regularly to prevent injuries.
Also, these plastic balls are too hard to kick.
That’s the very reason why I love using a soccer ball during playtime. It can be kicked! If you are sick of bending down to pick up balls to throw, kicking a soccer ball makes a refreshing change. Plus, you won’t get dog slobber on your hands!
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dog-Proof Soccer Ball
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?
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.
Fortunately, there’s 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.
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 is generally used for children under the age of 8. At 24 inches in circumference, it’s easier to grip than adult balls.
A soccer ball is a dog toy that is best used under supervision. They are designed to be chased and carried — not chewed on.
Need Some Chew Toys?
Once your game of soccer has come to an end, remove the soccer ball and give your dog something a little more heavy-duty to play with, like a good chew toy! And if you have a super chewer, see our reviews of the best indesctructible dog toys.
Which soccer ball do you use to play with your pooch? Let me know in the comments below!
