July 25, 2025, 3:08 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Is it okay to throw a ball for dogs? “No, a cardinal sin,” some say. Other dog owners use balls and toys to keep their dogs entertained. So, what’s the verdict? Does chasing toys and balls harm dogs or not?
“And how do you play with your dog?” Another dog owner asked me this question recently at the dog park when my dog Pippa was running around wildly, living up to her terrier temperament.
“That’s really bad for the dog!”
“Well, I mostly throw,” I said, already sensing the faux pas I was making. Anyone who owns a dog knows that beneath the well-meaning advice of seemingly harmless people in rubber boots and jackets, there’s often an underlying competition about who knows the most about dog food brands or the correct leash length.
As expected, the response was: “You should stop that. It’s really bad for the dog.” My dog Pippa probably sees it differently. She loves anything that briefly flies through the air and then lands somewhere far away in the grass.
Also interesting: Expert warns: “Dogs can become addicted to play too!”
Throwing is considered an absolute no-go in many dog circles
When she fetches a dummy or a ball, she goes wild with joy, proudly takes a lap, and then brings it back to me. Since I started regularly throwing for her, I’ve had much better control over her in everyday life. Pippa no longer chews up everything in the house, which she used to love doing. She comes when I call her because she knows: Coming to me is exciting, as I might throw something for her again.
One would think that as a dog owner, you can best assess which activities have a positive effect on your dog’s mood. Yet, throwing is considered an absolute no-go in many dog circles. People talk about so-called “ball junkies,” and anyone who throws anyway quickly feels like they’re gradually ruining their dog. But why?
The Difference Between “Throwing” and “Retrieving”
“Most dog schools preach that you shouldn’t throw at all in the first year,” says dog trainer Torsten Bencke from Hamburg. This is mainly due to how dog owners have handled and overdone throwing in the last 50 years. “There’s this negatively charged term ‘ball junkie,'” Torsten Bencke notes. There’s some truth to it: “If the dog only has eyes for the ball and its breathing increases as soon as it sees the ball, that’s definitely not healthy,” says Torsten Bencke.
Still, dog trainer Bencke doesn’t view throwing entirely negatively. For him, throwing dummies is even part of the training–but only under certain conditions. “There are very different approaches to throwing. For me, it’s important to train retrieving when throwing.” Torsten is less a fan of throwing a ball so that the dog chases it. This creates an uncontrolled hunting instinct.
“The Hunting Instinct Goes Through the Roof”
“When a ball bounces and rolls, it looks like a hopping rabbit or squirrel,” says Torsten, “which sends the hunting instinct through the roof.” However, the dog trainer still thinks not throwing at all is wrong: “Some dogs have a hunting instinct. Why not use it?”
“It’s best not to throw a ball at all, but a dummy that stays put,” says Torsten. When the dog picks it up, retrieves, and brings it back, you can eventually place, hide, and ask the dog to search for the dummy. “That way, you don’t need any throwing energy and just place the object.”
How Do I Know if Throwing Is Good for My Dog?
“You can see it very well in the breathing,” says dog trainer Torsten Bencke. If it’s very shallow and the dog is completely fixated on the ball, that’s not a good sign. “The dog shouldn’t remain fixated while throwing and just wait for the next throw.”
How Do I Throw Correctly?
Ideally, so that the “throwing object” stays put. This works best with a dummy. “In hunting, you practice by placing things, and the dog gets the urge to bring objects,” says Torsten Bencke. You can also use the ball as confirmation of the action. “It can look like this: ‘Okay, you bring me the ball, and as a reward, there’s another throw.’ In this case, retrieving is rewarded with a throw.
What Do I Throw?
It’s best to throw a dummy instead of a ball. You can eventually place it and ask the dog to search for it.
Why Can Throwing a Ball Be Good for Dogs?
“Throwing alone doesn’t mentally exhaust the dog,” says Torsten Bencke. Those who throw with their dog or place dummies should regularly do intermediate and “stop” exercises. “A good exercise is to place an object here, show it to the dog, and move a few meters away.” Then the dog is sent off again.
How Do I Prevent My Dog from Becoming a “Ball Junkie”?
“For me, the rule is clear: ‘Even if the dog sees the ball, it must still be able to do something else.’
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Retrieving Training Instead of Ball Machine
Throwing balls for dogs should be viewed more nuanced. What I do is not hours of continuous throwing in the park, no ball machine, no mindless chasing. It makes a huge difference how you do it. I don’t feel that throwing dummies harms my dog. On the contrary: Since I started regularly throwing for her, her behavior in everyday life has changed significantly. She used to carry everything around, chew on things, and steal shoes.
Today, she is much more relaxed–both at home and outside. She comes when I call her. She looks to me for guidance. And she has learned: If she cooperates well, there might be another throw at some point. But maybe not–and that’s okay with her.
Conclusion: Throwing Balls for Dogs Is Not a Black-and-White Issue
I think the topic should be viewed more nuanced. Yes, mindless continuous throwing is not a good idea and can make dogs even more nervous. But it can also be the start of targeted, controlled retrieving and a huge benefit for some dogs.
Anyone who throws with their dog should closely observe their behavior. Does throwing benefit my dog? Or does he fixate on the ball and seem stressed? Pippa, in any case, is more balanced, attentive, and content than ever before. Not despite, but because of the throwing. And a well-intentioned piece of advice to the woman at the park: Maybe we don’t always have to categorize everything as “right” or “wrong”–but more often as “works for us.”