There’s a lot of variability with this auto ball launcher as you choose how far the ball goes and how far it goes up in the air. You can set it for nine different distances and six different angles, which all affect where the ball is thrown. There are training sounds to let your pup know that a ball is about to be tossed so he can be ready to run. We especially like the motion sensor in the front that protects people or pets that are standing as far as 7 feet in front of the launch area.

The toy holds up to three balls at once (but comes with two) and fits most standard-sized tennis balls as well as some that are smaller. To keep your dog from overdoing it, a sleep mode kicks in about 15 minutes of continuous play. It rests for another 15 minutes before it will start throwing balls again. It’s a useful feature for dogs prone to overstimulating themselves (common with puppies), but we do wish the PetSafe Launcher had a better way to indicate when Rest Mode is occurring and when it will end—only a two-tone sound indicates the switch between active play and Rest Mode.

The launcher can be plugged into a wall outlet or uses batteries.

Price at time of publish: $170

This manual blaster pops out one ball at a time with the flick of a trigger finger. The Nerf Dog Tennis Ball Blaster has an advertised range of 50 feet, though anyone familiar with Nerf blaster toys knows that they rarely achieve their maximum range. It’s lightweight and easy to stash in a backpack or the trunk if you’re hitting the road. You don’t need a charger or batteries to keep it working.

When (hopefully) your pup returns the ball, just pick it up from the ground with the end of the blaster, avoiding slobbery messes. The toy only holds one ball at a time, so you either have to stash a few extra somewhere or pick it up after each throw. It comes in three sizes, so choose based on the size of your dog.

Price at time of publish: $20

Sure, it’s about fun, but with an eager dog and powerful ricocheting balls, safety is a key priority, as well. The GoDogGo releases balls in an arc pattern so they aren’t shooting straight at your waiting pooch. Still, it’s a smart idea to train your dog (and people) to stand at least three feet away or off to the side.

The launcher comes with five balls, but it can hold up to 23, depending on size. And distance also varies from 10 to 60 feet, based on the size and condition of the balls being launched. In addition to setting different distances, you can alternate the ball launch intervals at 4, 17, and 15 seconds.

Price at time of publish: $150

If your pet cooperates, this interactive launcher really lets your pup entertain himself. Drop a ball in, off it goes, and then your dog can bring it back, plop it into the launcher and wait for it to be tossed again. You don’t have to play at all once your dog figures it out. You can set the distance (up to 30 or 40 feet, depending on the size launcher) or choose “random” to keep your dog guessing.

The launcher is available in two sizes: The small comes with three ping-pong-sized balls and the large with three tennis balls. The smaller version of the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher is perfect for indoor use, but should primarily be reserved for use by smaller breeds since the small balls could be a choking hazard for large dogs.

Price at time of publish (Small): $130

This launcher offers three angles and can catapult balls as far as 40 feet. There’s a hopper at the top so your dog can return the ball and wait for it to launch again. The large, open hopper makes this one a particularly good pick for dogs to be trained to load the launcher themselves.

While the Franklin Ready Set Fetch comes with one ball, it also fits standard tennis balls.

There’s a loud warning noise that scares some pets, but it can be turned off. However, the Franklin Ready Set Fetch operates noisily even without the indicator, so owners of skittish dogs may want to look elsewhere. Performance may also suffer a little with soiled or wet balls.

Price at time of publish: $107

This blaster works on manual power with a finger trigger. Load up a ball and pull back the lever to set the distance. The pull-back plunger can be ratcheted back a few notches, allowing you to change the distance a ball is fired. You can also pick up balls using the muzzle of the blaster so you don’t have to get your hands slimy with dog drool.

The Hyper Pet K9 Kannon Mini Launcher uses small balls that make it the perfect pick for smaller breed dog sizes. However, there’s also a larger version suitable for big dogs. It launches one ball at a time, but there’s storage for two more balls along the bottom of the toy.

Our one issue with the Hyper Pet K9 Kannon is its durability. Since this launcher uses a thick rubber band to fire its balls, the device will eventually wear down and become less usable.

Price at time of publish: $16

Although there might be a bit of a learning curve to figure out the remote for this launcher, you can opt for the balls to be hurled one of four distances. To keep your pup guessing, choose the variable setting and you’ll both wonder where the ball goes. There’s also a rest feature to give your canine athlete a 15-minute break every hour.

The small version holds balls up to 1.75 inches in diameter and the large launches those up to 2.5 inches, which includes standard tennis balls. The toy has an arced mechanism inside to keep slobbery balls from getting stuck. It comes with three balls and you can store two in the machine.

Price at time of publish: $210

Final Verdict

FAQ

• How do I train my dog to use the ball launcher?

  Work backwards, suggests Susie Aga, certified trainer and behaviorist and owner of Atlanta Dog Trainer. “It’s harder to teach a dog to drop a ball than to fetch one,” she says, “and sometimes they don’t bring it all the way back.” She suggests throwing a ball, and as they are running back to you, walk backwards. “Dogs follow what’s leaving them.”

  As they get close, teach them to “drop it” and reward with a treat or praise. It’s easiest to use a clicker that marks the exact moment they do what you’re asking. If you want to teach them to drop it in a launcher hopper, reward first as they get close to the launcher and then as they put it in.

  If your dog isn’t sure about chasing a ball, start by throwing it against a wall and catching it. That can kick in your dog’s prey drive so they want to chase and catch it too. Throw it to them and let them catch it. Then throw it past and let them chase it, she says.

• Why do dogs like to play fetch?

  Sometimes it’s breed characteristics, what they’re bred for, or sometimes it’s prey drive or play drive, says Aga. “It’s very instinctual for some breeds to chase and follow. Retrievers were bred to do that,” she says. “In dock diving, we have to have dogs with high chase, play, and prey drive for them to jump off a dock to chase after a ball.” A lot of working breeds and retrieving breeds have that drive.