*This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links.
When choosing a new ball for your Pug, you should take into consideration many elements.
Things like material, size, durability, and even color all come into play.
Pugs are Brachycephalic (flat-faced), which means they have special needs most dog breeds don’t face (pun intended).
For example, the best ball for your Pug needs to allow good air flow so your dog can breathe.
This best ball toys for Pugs guide will help you make an informed decision about how to choose a ball toy.
Best Ball Toys for Pugs – Key Takeaways
- Your Pug’s sweet flat face may pose some challenges when choosing ball toys. Choose 2.5” balls to avoid the risk of suffocating.
- When the weather gets hot, make sure you exercise your buddy indoors. Soft fabric balls make a great choice for indoor play since they won’t destroy your home.
- Mental stimulation is as important for your dog as exercise is. Balls with cavities for treats are a great way to relieve your pug’s boredom.
- Another great way to mentally stimulate your dog is by using a ball that bounces randomly, so your pug can’t anticipate the direction in which it needs to run.
- Material choice is extremely important for the safety of your dog. Avoid plastic balls, because pugs are predisposed to developing plastic allergies.
The Best Pug Ball Toys in my Checklist
1. Best overall – Chuckit! Ultra Ball
2. Best bang for your buck balls: Chew King Supreme Fetch Balls (two-pack)
3. Best ball for easy grabbing: Chuckit! Kick Fetch Ball Small
4. Best ball for smooth breathing: Chuckit! Breathe Right Fetch Ball
5. Best ball for indoor play: Chuckit! Indoor Ball
Things to Consider When Buying a Ball Toy for Pugs
- Size
Being small and flat-faced means Pugs can’t handle large balls.
Make sure the ball toys you choose are no bigger than 2.5”.
In this guide, you’ll find a few balls that are larger in size, but all have unique properties that make them easily grabbable.
- Material
The world is your oyster when it comes to materials.
There are many to choose from and your dog’s preferences will come into play when choosing the best ball toy for your pug.
That said, there are some general guidelines you can follow.
For example, if your dog mouths a lot he might need more dental stimulation, in which case a ball made of durable material is needed.
In addition, different textured balls might help satisfy your four-legged friend’s different oral needs.
- Type
Between textures, sounds, colors, materials, self-launching balls, foraging balls (where you can insert treats), and even glow-in-the-dark balls, it may be hard to choose what to get.
Let your dog guide you on this. Does he like soft plushies? He will love a soft chewy ball.
Does he love squeaky toys? He’ll love whistling balls or other sound-making ball toys.
- Washability
If you’ve ever tried to wash a tennis ball after a game of fetch, you know very well it’s near-impossible.
Make sure the ball toy of your choice is washable so you can lengthen its lifespan.
- Safety
No matter which ball toy you choose for your pet, make sure the material it’s made of is natural and safe for dogs.
What Are The Best Ball Toys for Pugs?
1. Chuckit! Ultra Ball
The Chuckit! Ultra ball has it all.
If your dog was Cinderella, this ball would be the glass slipper to its feet.
To begin with, it’s very durable. So durable, in fact, that it can last for years, even with a heavy chewer like my dog.
Yet, due to its unique design, it is soft on your best friend’s teeth.
It’s also squeaky, which makes it very engaging for your pug and ensures long play-time and a great bonding experience.
Technical details:
- SIZE: 2.5”, perfect for your pug’s mouth.
- ULTRA BOUNCE BALL: This ball bounces hard. How hard? Harder than your average tennis ball, which makes it very enticing for your pug to chase.
- SQUEAKY: This ball entices play, mental and auditory stimulation with fun sounds that keep your dog engaged and in the game.
- BUOYANT: This ball is safe to play by the lake or pool, so you can pencil in your next dog-beach party.
- LAUNCHER-READY: This ball fits with most launchers, so you don’t have to touch slobber ever again.
- WASHABLE: The material allows for easy washing, which is crucial for your happiness and your dog’s.
- DURABLE: Made of durable rubber, textured surface, and a thick rubber core for aggressive chewers.
- SOFT CHEWING: Despite its durability, a unique design ensures the ball is soft to chew.
Overall, this ball does a great job of providing endless entertainment for you and your pug with a great bounce, auditory stimulation, and ease of cleaning.
Compared to how long it will last you, I’d say that the price point is very fair, possibly even cheaper in the long run.
Pros:
- Extremely durable, even to aggressive chewers, and yet soft in your dog’s mouth. This ball toy will last you a long time.
- It bounces, it floats and it squeaks, which makes it the perfect combination to get your dog’s attention and keep it, lengthening playtime and bonding time.
- Fits perfectly into a launcher, so you don’t have to bend over to pick up slobbery balls.
- Easy to wash, so you can use it again and again.
- Its ridged design makes it easier on your pug to grab and fetch.
- It is easy to find, featuring bright blue and orange colors.
Cons:
- It’s more expensive than your average tennis ball, but it also lasts that much longer, which makes it very cost-effective for aggressive chewers.
- The ball is made of a single unit and a plug. With time, this plug may be dislodged and the ball no longer usable. However, this is most likely to happen with very aggressive or orally-fixated dogs and is easily mitigated by periodically checking your ball for signs of wear.
2. Chew King Supreme Fetch Balls (set of 2)
The greatest thing about Chew King Supreme Fetch Balls is the fact that they have a treat-dispenser built-in.
This means that on top of the physical exercise and fun your dog is having, his brain is also working out, and that is priceless.
This ball toy has a hard, high bounce so it’ll keep your dog asking for more, and if all that was not enough, it’s also dishwasher-safe.
Technical details:
- SIZE: 2.5”, easy for your pug to grab.
- HIGH, HARD BOUNCE: This ball bounces hard and high, and will bounce on the most impossible surfaces like sand, grass, and mulch.
- TREAT DISPENSER: This ball features a hole you can stick treats through, so your dog is self-rewarded for exercising.
- WASHABLE: This ball toy is dishwasher safe, perfect for keeping your dog in good health.
- DURABLE: Made of durable rubber and able to withstand the worst chewers, this ball is guaranteed to last you years and years. This is one of the most durable balls I’ve ever encountered, surpassing even the famous KONG ball.
- SAFE: This ball toy features a safety air-vent that ensures your dog’s tongue never gets stuck in it.
Overall, if your pug spends most of his hours at home, this set of balls is the perfect way to exercise him while getting him excited about receiving treats.
Also, as bouncy as this ball is, your dog is going to enjoy chasing it no matter where it lands.
The best part about it, though, is that you get two balls.
If your dog thinks that fetch is a game where he gets the ball and keeps it, this set will help you convince him otherwise, lengthening your playtime.
Pros:
- One of the most durable balls on the market, by far. This set is perfect for aggressive chewers.
- It bounces on almost any surface, creating interest for your dog and ensuring you can play in any setting.
- Dishwasher washable means that this ball is a breeze to clean.
- It is easy to find, featuring bright yellow colors which facilitate playing in low visibility conditions. Perfect for late evening exercise.
- Features extra safety measures so your dog’s tongue can never get stuck in it.
- Fits classic ball launchers so you don’t tire your arms.
- Set of two, so you always have an extra ball to convince your pug to play with you more.
Cons:
- This ball is very heavy, which makes throwing it for longer periods of time. This is easily mitigated by using a ball launcher.
- Another downside of the ball being heavy is that sometimes it is inadvisable to throw it around the house for fear of breaking something. That said, it makes a perfect ball for outdoor play.
3. Chuckit! Kick Fetch Ball
Nothing has prepared me for the unique design of the Chuckit! Kick Fetch Ball.
It is uniquely designed for your pug’s ease of grabbing, which can be a major deciding factor since pugs’ jaws are not designed for easy grabbing.
It’s also very unique in that the small-sized ball is quite large. It’s about the size of a small bowling ball.
However, because of its unique ridged design, the ball is still easy to grab for your four-legged friend.
Technical details:
- SIZE: 6” x 6”, perfect for kicking and punting, and even throwing the ball.
- RANDOM BOUNCE: This ball features deep grooves called “bite-zones”, which promote random bouncing, keeping your dog’s interest on the ball and ensuring uninterrupted play.
- EASY GRABBING: With designated “bite-zones” this ball is easy to grab even for your flat-faced friend, despite its relatively large size.
- WASHABLE: This ball toy is easily wiped off.
- BUOYANT: This ball’s foam and rubber construction allow for play around water sources. Great added fun for your pooch with no extra worries for you.
- DURABLE: The Chuckit! Kick Fetch tough dog toy features durable construction that combines canvas, rubber, and foam.
Overall, if your pug spends most of his hours at home, this set of balls is the perfect way to exercise him while getting him excited about receiving treats.
Also, as bouncy as this ball is, your dog is going to enjoy chasing it no matter where it lands.
The best part about it, though, is that you get two balls.
If your dog thinks that fetch is a game where he gets the ball and keeps it, this set will help you convince him otherwise, lengthening your playtime.
Pros:
- One of the most durable balls on the market, by far. This set is perfect for aggressive chewers.
- It bounces on almost any surface, creating interest for your dog and ensuring you can play in any setting.
- Dishwasher washable means that this ball is a breeze to clean.
- It is easy to find, featuring bright yellow colors which facilitate playing in low visibility conditions. Perfect for late evening exercise.
- Features extra safety measures so your dog’s tongue can never get stuck in it.
- Fits classic ball launchers so you don’t tire your arms.
Cons:
- This ball is very heavy, which makes throwing it for longer periods of time. This is easily mitigated by using a ball launcher.
- Another downside of the ball being heavy is that sometimes it is inadvisable to throw it around the house for fear of breaking something. That said, it makes a perfect ball for outdoor play.
4. Chuckit! Durable Breathe Right Ball
The biggest obstacle in the way of your pug’s playtime is breathing.
His ever-so-cute flat face is just not built for extended periods of playtime or for grabbing balls.
That’s why I love these Breathe Right balls.
They feature a hollow design that allows your best friend to breathe right, run longer, and play more.
Technical details:
- SIZE: At 2.1”, these petite balls are easy for your bud to grab.
- EASY GRABBING: The hollow, mesh-like design allows your dog to easily grab this ball and breathe right through it while carrying it.
- BUOYANT: This ball floats! This means it’s safe to play around with water sources.
- DURABLE: While no ball is indestructible, this ball is made of durable material, built to last.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: This ball is hollow, so it’s extremely lightweight.
- AERODYNAMIC: The hollow design of the ball allows it to be thrown farther than normal balls. Another added bonus: you can fit treats inside.
Overall, if your pug spends most of his hours at home, this set of balls is the perfect way to exercise him while getting him excited about receiving treats.
Also, as bouncy as this ball is, your dog is going to enjoy chasing it no matter where it lands.
The best part about it, though, is that you get two balls.
If your dog thinks that fetch is a game where he gets the ball and keeps it, this set will help you convince him otherwise, lengthening your playtime.
Pros:
- Great airflow design allows your dog to breathe right while carrying the ball, which helps him play for longer periods of time.
- Hollow and lightweight, this ball can be thrown to longer distances than most, helping keep your pug fit and strong.
- This ball can fit treats inside, allowing for better mental stimulation.
- This ball is easy to find, featuring a bright orange color.
- This ball is a set! Perfect for the deal-hunter, this set is more affordable than most ball toys.
Cons:
- This ball’s mesh-like design means you’ll likely get slobber over your hand when you pick it up. That said, a launcher is a great way to avoid this problem and ease the strain on your arms.
- Since this ball is hollow, it’s not very durable and easy for power-chewers to break. It’s still great as a fetch toy, just don’t let your dog chew on it for extended periods of time.
5. Chuckit! Indoor Ball
My living room is where my life happens. It’s where my collectibles are displayed but also where my dogs sleep and play.
This means that throwing balls is out of the question, for fear of something breaking.
Durable balls that withstand my aggressive chewers are even worse – the struggle is real.
So when I found this indoor ball by Chuckit I was ecstatic, finally a ball I could throw around the house and not fear for my invaluable valuables!
Technical details:
- MATERIAL: Textured chenille fabric with multi-layered BounceFlex core.
- SIZE: 4.7”, while normally I wouldn’t recommend this ball size for pugs, this ball’s outer layer features a soft chenille fabric that makes it easily grabbable even for the smallest pugs.
- WASHABLE: This ball toy is easily washable.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: This ball was built for indoor use, so it’s extremely lightweight.
- BOUNCE: Its Bounceflex Core Technology protects surfaces in the home from impact and creates an exciting bounce.
- GROUND PURSUIT: Rolls easily on hardwood and tile floors for pets that enjoy the ground pursuit.
While all other balls are perfect for outdoor play, some days the weather (or your time) just won’t allow it.
On those days, it is advisable to have an indoor play ball that is easy to grab, soft on your dog’s teeth (and your valuables).
So you and your four-legged friend could still exercise, bond and enjoy each other’s company.
Pros:
- Super lightweight so you can feel safe throwing it indoors.
- It bounces enough to get your dog’s attention but not enough to break every vase in the house.
- It’s washable, which means slobber-free playtime for you!
- It’s quite big for a pug, while still being easy to grab (thanks to the textured chenille outer), so it’s rather hilarious to watch your dog carry this oversized ball around.
Cons:
- Its fabric outer means playing outdoors is out of the question, but this ball isn’t meant to do that anyway.
- While more durable than a plushie, this ball’s soft chenille fabric tends to entice avid chewers and should be avoided if your pug has an oral fixation.
Conclusion
That sums up our best ball toys for Pugs picks.
I hope you’ve made your choice already, so you and your buddy can start bonding immediately.
My personal favorite is the Chuckit! Ultra Ball, but they all make great choices, and honestly, with such versatile options, I think I might just get myself one of each.
What’s your favorite?