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Herding dogs such as Aussies, Border Collies, and Corgis share a major behavioral trait in common that’s not surprising given their breed class name — the strong inherent drive to herd. If you don’t have a livestock farm, the challenge of having a herding breed as a furry family member is satisfying this instinctual nature to keep them happy.
Herding breeds and many herding mixes have certain playtime needs to keep them stimulated and ultimately well-behaved family pets. Herding balls can help satisfy some of their requirements, but you’ll also want to keep a variety of indoor toys on hand for these intelligent dogs. I share your best toy options and herding balls to keep your high-energy pup physically and mentally engaged.
| Winner | Runner-Up | Third Place | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| Jolly Pets Push-N-Play | Race&Herd | Trideer | Horsemen’s Pride |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Why Do Herding Dogs Need Certain Toys?
Herding dogs were bred to control the movement of animal herds, such as cattle and sheep. Herding breeds are extremely intelligent and loyal, but because they were bred to work, they’re highly energetic and get bored easily. These characteristics make it so important to find the ideal toys to challenge them physically and mentally. Otherwise, they can become destructive and difficult to manage.
While The American Kennel Club recognizes more than 25 different herding breeds, the most popular in the U.S. include:
| Australian Shepherds | Australian Cattle Dogs | Bearded Collies |
| Belgian Malinois | Border Collies | Cardigan Welsh Corgis |
| Collies | German Shepherds | Miniature Australian Shepherds |
| Old English Sheepdogs | Pembroke Welsh Corgis | Shetland Sheepdogs |
What Is A Herding Ball?
Herding balls are used in the sport Treibball, where dogs compete to herd large balls into a pen within a set time period. But even if your pup doesn’t partake in the sport, these balls are excellent toys for herding breeds because their natural herding instincts are incredibly strong.
Herding balls are too large and heavy for dogs to pick up in their mouths. So, the only way to play with them is to push and chase them. And many dogs, not just herders, love them. The major factor in finding the best herding ball for your furry friend is to get one that’s durable and big enough for your pup.
While Treibball competitions have ball sizing requirements based on a dog’s height (e.g., 10″ for small dogs, 21″ for medium dogs, 25″ for large dogs), you don’t necessarily need one as large for backyard playtime. But these can be helpful when deciding what size ball to purchase for your pup. According to Treibball rules, “balls should be at least the same height as the dog’s height at the withers and may exceed the dog’s head height.”
Best Herding Ball For Dogs
I’ve chosen our top picks based on durability, customer feedback, size variety, pricing, and more. In our hunt to find the best, our canine team tested over 11 different herding balls.
Winner: Jolly Pets Push-N-Play Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
Arguably the best herding ball on the market, the Jolly Pets Push-N-Play is made from hard plastic to withstand hours of rough play. It’s heavy enough that dogs can’t pick it up and is virtually pop-free.
Made in the USA, it comes in three colors and five sizes, ranging from three inches to 14 inches in diameter. The 10 and 14-inch sizes have a plug so you can fill the ball with water, sand, or gravel to give your herder even more of a challenge. Most pup parents say their dogs absolutely love this ball.
Price
- 10″ ball: $23.95
Our Personal Experience With Jolly Pets Push-N-Play Ball
All our doggie testers loved this ball, small to large breeds alike. We found that pushing the ball around with our feet quickly caught our dogs’ interest. Once they saw the ball in motion, they couldn’t help but play with it!
When placed on a flat surface, our medium-sized breeds and larger ones had little difficulty bumping the ball with their noses and paws and chasing it as it rolled away. Smaller breeds found herding this ball a little more difficult.
Even our largest tester, a clumsy Mastiff, happily chased the ball around the yard. Although I must admit, his sheer size made even the 14-inch Push-n-Play look comically small. This Mastiff is well-known for destroying any toy you give him. However, this herding ball held strong even after weeks of him batting the ball around the yard.
My only complaint is that the Push-n-Play is not suitable for indoor use. This heavy plastic herding ball is like a bowling ball as it rolls around your floor, crashing into chair legs and off walls. This one is best for outdoor play only. You can fill the ball with water or sand for extra weight, but this wasn’t worth the extra effort for us.
Runner-Up: Race&Herd Herding Ball Review
Think your dog may enjoy a larger herding ball? Look no further than this Race&Herd product, which comes in 18-inch and 25-inch diameters. The ball is made from heavy-duty, thick PVC material and comes with a durable polyester and nylon protective cover. It even includes a herding ball training book. Customers say it’s easy to blow up with the included pump. However, a few report that the ball doesn’t hold air well. Still, many pup owners say their dogs spend hours of fun with this herding ball.
Price
- 25″ ball: $69.99
Third Place: Trideer Extra Thick Yoga Ball Review
This pick isn’t a traditional herding ball, but a regular exercise ball can be a fantastic alternative. In fact, they’re frequently used in Treibball competitions. This top-rated Trideer yoga and exercise ball is made from heavy-duty, burst-resistant, and non-toxic PVC material and is designed to withstand weights up to 330 pounds. However, it’s not entirely chew-proof so it may not be the ideal ball if your pup is a heavy chewer. It’s available in five colors and five sizes, ranging from 15 to 34-inch diameters.
Price
- Starting at $22.99 (15-18″ ball)
Best Large Herding Ball: Horsemen’s Pride Mega Ball Review
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If you need a larger, sturdy herding ball, the Horesemne’s Pride Mega Ball fits the bill just right. At 40 inches, this one is originally made for horses but works amazingly with large dog breeds. Based on our observations, it all came down to the Jolly Mega Ball being made from a thicker material, which was more resistant to popping and tearing.
Horsemen’s Pride originally developed the Jolly Mega Ball as a horse toy for them to push around their enclosures. Horses can be just as tough, if not tougher, on their toys than dogs.
Now, that’s not to say this ball is invincible. It certainly isn’t. But if you want the largest herding ball possible, then this is as good as it gets. As you might expect, these balls are strictly for herding only. While there are covers available for extra protection, non-herding behavior will soon see it deflate. Because it’s inflatable, the Mega Ball doesn’t have the same protection as a smaller rubber or plastic ball.
Price
- 40″ ball: $45.99
Our Personal Experience With Horsemen’s Pride Mega Ball
The ball arrived deflated, so we had to pump it up. I’d recommend an electric air pump rather than the foot pump that comes with the box. Both work, but the electric pump gets the job done much faster.
Once it’s inflated, step back and watch your dog go nuts. Our Australian Shepherd and Border Collie testers enthusiastically pushed and rolled the ball back and forth. The lightweight and large size allowed them to push and guide the ball much easier than the smaller herding balls we reviewed.
These two dogs played with the ball until they were lying on the ground, exhausted and panting but noticeably happy! Their owners reported that it’s one of the few times they have actually seen their high-energy pups tire out.
The larger the dog, the more enthusiastic they were to play and chase the ball around. Due to its large size, it’s a unique toy that dogs don’t otherwise get to experience.
Our smallest tester, a French Bulldog, had great fun pushing the ball around. That is until it bounced off a wall and came rolling back straight at her. She managed to avoid it, Indiana Jones style, but she wouldn’t go near it again since her narrow escape.
Our Jolly Mega Ball finally met its end when our Great Dane tester attempted to jump on top of it, scratching hard in the process. But for the 10 minutes he did get to play with it, he had the time of his life. I recommend using this outside, in a large space with no sharp rocks, nails, or bits of metal to protect it from popping. You need plenty of room for this one.
Honorable Mention: Boomer Ball Review
The Boomer Ball is worth an honorable mention. This one is super tough, floats on water, and comes in multiple sizes. Some of our testers bit into the dog motifs and brand name, but this one is very sturdy otherwise. It’s made of polyethylene, and dogs cannot puncture it. It does have harder plastic seams, so be careful not to let your dog get too tough on it to avoid injury.
Because the Boomer Ball withstands so much wear and tear, many owners report their dogs becoming obsessed. To avoid this, it’s best to keep this one out of sight and only bring it out for playtime. This one stands up to aggressive chewers and highly energetic dogs. If you have one of those pups who like to destroy toys, this one will give them quite the challenge. It comes in 4, 6, 8, and 10-inch sizes, so there is one for every size pup.
Price
- 10″ ball: $51.67
Best Toys For Herding Dogs
While a herding ball can provide hours of outdoor fun (and energy release), herding dogs need plenty of other mental and physical stimulation indoors and a variety of outdoor playtime to boot. Here are several types of toys that can keep your herder happy and occupied.
Puzzle Toys
Herding breeds are extremely intelligent and thrive on complex puzzle games. Interactive puzzles also give you a break from having to entertain your pup 24/7. While there are several different brands on the market, we recommend the sequential Outward Hound Nina Ottosson puzzle line.
These puzzle games come in various difficulty levels and sizes. You can start easy and then move up to more challenging levels. At each level, your dog will follow his nose to find hidden treats. Along the way, he’ll learn how to open and close compartments, move blocks, spin wheels, and master other tasks.
Our Personal Experience With Dog Puzzles
Although I don’t have a herding breed, my dog, Tiny, loves these puzzles. He gets bored easily, so they’ve been a fantastic addition to our toy collection. Even after he figures each one out, he still enjoys replaying them. I love Outward Hound’s puzzles because they have so many you can rotate with your pup. And they’re really affordable for a high-quality product.
– Sally Jones, Rescue Breed Parent, Canine Journal Editor & Writer
More Brain Games For Dogs
See more Brain Games For Dogs in our detailed article. We also explore video games for dogs and the best interactive dog toys.
Fetch Toys
For indoor fun, the bestselling ChuckIt! Ultra Ball encourages exercise and playtime. These balls are made from high-bounce and buoyant material and come in five sizes. For longer-range outdoor fun, they’re compatible with Chuckit! Launchers (but be sure to match up the ball and launcher sizes). This is one of our best dog ball launchers.
Outdoor Agility Kits
Herding dogs are excellent at agility games and competitions. Dog agility courses are a fantastic bonding activity for you and your furry friend, and they provide your energizer doggy plenty of physical and mental stimulation. It’s easy to get started right in your backyard.
Outward Hound has an affordable ZipZoom Beginner Dog Agility Training Obstacle Course that includes an adjustable jump, weaving poles, and a tunnel. For a greater challenge, you may want to check out this PawHut Agility Training kit. It comes with an adjustable high jump, tunnel, weave poles, a square pause box, and an adjustable jumping ring.
Chew Toys
Chew toys can also be important for some herding dogs. When they get bored, they’ll chew on anything in your house. However, having enticing chew toys on hand can help curb this behavior. If you have an aggressive chewer, you’ll want toys that can withstand those powerful jaws, like the top-rated Benebone Wishbone chew toy, which comes in five sizes. For squeaky fun, check out the Voerou Dog Chew Toy. The Goughnuts toy Gouthnuts toy is also a fantastic option for pups who love to play tug of war.
More Indestructible Dog Toys
See our reviews of more indestructible dog toys. We also cover the best chew toys for aggressive chewers. And, if you have ever wondered why your dog destroys his favorite toys, we cover that, too!
Would Your Pup Have This Much Fun With A Herding Ball? (Video)
Check out this Border Collie going nuts over his herding ball. Get all that high energy out!
Are There Any Risks With Herding Balls?
Like all toys, herding balls can be dangerous when not used correctly, especially if your dog is a biter. The surface is smooth and round when you first buy your dog a solid plastic herding ball. But if your dog aggressively pushes the ball with his teeth, bites into it, or scratches it with his paws, the surface will become rough and irregular.
When the ball rolls at a high speed, the coarse surface becomes as abrasive as an orbital sander. I bet you can imagine what happens to your pup’s teeth when they come into contact. They get worn down. This is particularly noticeable in the lower canines (the pointy teeth that stick out).
But don’t panic just yet. There is a good chance your pup won’t experience the same teeth damage – none of our testers did. After interviewing many owners who attributed their dog’s damaged teeth to a plastic herding ball, I noticed a trend. Dogs that experienced teeth issues herded the ball with their teeth.
They would run alongside the ball with an open mouth, attempting to bite, push, or grip the ball with their teeth. If your dog herds the ball with his body and feet or nuzzles it, they won’t experience the same teeth wear.
But if you notice your dog’s teeth continuously coming into contact with the herding ball as he pushes it along or bites it, then remove it. You don’t want a trip to the vet, and neither does your dog.
Some dog owners I spoke to regularly remove the scratches and bite marks using sandpaper. First, they use coarse sandpaper to get rid of the ridges and raised pieces before swapping out to a finer grade of paper to make the ball smooth and ready for playtime.
To minimize the likelihood that your dog will bite the herding ball, choose a ball that is as large as possible. This will make it easier for your dog to push with other parts of his body.
Keep Your Dog Toys Stocked Up
For herding and other highly intelligent breeds, it’s so important to invest in toys that help pups entertain themselves for those challenging hours during the day when you don’t have time to interact with your pup. See our top picks of the best interactive dog toys to keep your pup occupied when you can’t spend time with him.
For bright, energetic dogs, it’s still so hard to keep stimulating dog toys on hand. If you don’t have a lot of time to shop, you may want to consider a dog subscription box to receive toys and treats in the mail regularly so you never run out. You can even get a special dog subscription box for heavy chewers that comes with some of the toughest toys around, including mentally stimulating dog toys.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Danielle has over thirty years of experience in canine care. She has a passion for rescuing animals and has welcomed many into her home. Her two rescue dogs, Daisy and Falkor, are part of the Canine Journal tester team. With her help, Danielle has tested and reviewed hundreds of dog products, including food, toys, and health products. As part of the Canine Journal research team, Danielle strives to bring dog owners the best and most helpful information to better their pet’s lives.
