The Best Dog Ball Launchers in 2022

For sheer ease of use, price and throwing distance, you can’t go wrong with this tough dog ball launcher from Chuckit! Our Best Choice is portable and lightweight, meaning it can be easily carried when out on a walk or popped into the back of the car ready for the next fetch session with your dog. And boy, when you need to chuck a ball, this effective manual dog ball thrower can go some! The 26-inch length stick enables you to throw further and faster, keeping your happy pooch totally on his toes. It also has a convenient cupped end to pick a ball back up without having to bend down. The launcher comes with one brightly colored tennis ball that’s easy to spot and the ergonomic handle is comfortable to use. A great value product that’ll give your dog endless throw and fetch fun.

The ever-popular iFetch is a smart-looking automatic ball launcher for dogs that is super-easy for your pet to play throw and fetch without his human! With a little training your pooch will soon be dropping the ball back into the wide top funnel in this sturdy motorized device. The throwing distance can be easily adjusted to suit your pet or the space available, from 10 – 30 feet. The iFetch ball launcher has been designed with medium to small dogs in mind, and the three balls provided are sized for smaller mouths. The mini-balls are well made, although the makers do advise not getting them too dirty or wet as it can affect the machine, so the iFetch is probably best suited for indoor or dry yard use. Charging is either via battery or power cord so it’s a flexible device to use. Fun and well-made, your smaller pooch will be happily entertained by the iFetch. 

OK, this may not be a straight-up dog ball launcher but for the family with dogs, this electronic baseball pitching machine will keep the kids and canines doubly entertained.

This is a rapid pitching machine at a good price and is tough enough to cope with regular use. It can hold six balls, pitching them out every 10 seconds and the height can be adjusted. Set it up in the garden and watch your kids and pooch scatter to catch the ball. You will need a human to reload the ball cage but as a family activity, you’ll have plenty of ball catching fun. The balls are plastic so may not last as long as conventional tennis balls and you would do well to buy extra balls, so you’re not constantly reloading. But for supervised family and pet play, you’ll have a blast.

If the safety of your pet is a concern when considering an automatic fetch machine, then check out this smart-looking device from PetSafe. Automatic and motion sensor-equipped, this launcher prevents your pup from getting too close to it when a ball is about to be launched. It also includes a built-in rest interval, meaning the unit pauses after 15 minutes of play to give your dog a rest before powering up for another session. As one of our best automatic ball throwers, the PetSafe can also throw in a range of adjustable distances, from 8-30 feet.

What we particularly like about the PetSafe are its alarms which your dog should quickly pick up on, including a tone to alert that a ball is about to be launched and a ‘uh-oh’ sound if your pet is too close. The hopper is also a good size for your pet to learn how to drop a ball into. The PetSafe automatic ball launcher for dogs is perhaps best suited to medium or larger sized pets as the balls are standard tennis size. It also makes an audible sound when a ball is launched, so maybe not ideal for the more sound-sensitive pet, although with a little patience and training, most dogs will get the hang of playing with this launcher on their own.

This ball launcher from Hyper Pet is your go-to if your dog likes to run as it can shoot a ball up to 200 feet – a perfect workout for the most energetic of pooches!

With some other manual dog launchers, if your dog is fast, they can outrun your ball, no matter how hard you try to throw. But with the Hyper Pet, your fast dog will have met their match. Made from a rust and chip resistance steel frame, this dog ball throwing machine acts like a sling shot, to power out the ball without too much effort on your part. What we also like is the cup on the end enables a hand-free pick up of the thrown ball – perfect if you struggle a little to bend down. Due to its construction, it is bulkier and heavier than a simple throw launcher, but the frame is collapsible so easy enough to transport and there is a comfort handle for a secure grip. The only real downside is your proximity to any slobber on the ball as you need to pull back the ball in its sling by hand, so don’t forget the hand sanitizer!

Now here’s a dog ball thrower that’s set to be a blast for both you and your pet. Styled on the popular Nerf Gun toy, this semi-automatic ball launcher will add a whole new level of fun to playtime. Compatible with any standard sized tennis ball, it’s super-easy to use. Just pull back the handle to load the ball into the barrel and click the trigger to launch. The launch distance can be adjusted back from the maximum of 50 feet to suit your environment, although it’s best used outdoors. Plus, you can make the most of the slobber-free/hands free pick up by rolling the barrel back over the ball, although this does mean you need to bend down. If you have a dog that will retrieve and bring the ball back to you, then this Nerf-powered tennis ball blaster works a dream and will keep your energetic pooch totally entertained.

The Franklin Pet Supply Dog Fetch Toy is a straightforward, no-nonsense manual dog ball launcher which will have you chucking decent distances every time, with no shoulder strain.  The long handle has a flexi-section for extra control while flinging and the handle has been designed to stay comfortable in your hand. The end cup is also good at picking up the thrown ball, so no more bending down or having to wipe muck and slobber off your hands. This manual dog ball thrower is great for use on your four-legged friend’s daily walk as it’s light and easy to carry. It is also small enough to store away in the trunk of your car. It comes complete with a squeaky tennis ball for added interest for your dog but can also be used with any standard sized ball if the squeak gets too much!

This fun ball launcher from Hyper Pet is a cannon-style hand-held dog ball thrower than can easily shoot a ball up to 75 feet, sufficient for the largest and most energetic of dogs to have a great game of fetch.

The K-9 Kannon is a well-made dog fetch machine and can withstand some serious use, so it’s ideal for a day out at the park or quality time with your pet in the backyard.  It is also easy to use – load a ball in the barrel and then pull the trigger to launch and watch the ball and your dog go! The distance is adjustable so you can match the launch to the space you have. We also really like the pet-safe ball it comes supplied with. Made from grade A rubber, it’s kind on your pet’s teeth and doesn’t contain any potentially harmful coatings. For when you want to release your inner kid while you play with your canine, the K9 Kannon will come up trumps.