Rottweileronline.net

Hi
I just build a quite large exercise run for my dogs in the woods to free run and exercise themselves non supervised. Looking to get a tough non destructible but also very safe toy so they can physically and mentally exercise themselves and have a good time while doing so.

It has to be chew proof and safe so they won't break their teeth or harm themselves in any other way ... choking etc.

What are other Rottweiler-friends using.

Thank you in advance for any good hints as well as links to Web-pages where to purchase them.

I use a couple different things but it depends on the dog.

Most of my Rottweilers play with the instructable dog ball (aka Bully Ball or Best Ball) which you can find here:

http://www.topdogsupplies.com/store/mcart.php?ID=156

I had my last one for probably 7-8 years and gave it to a friend when I moved. Got another one recently at an agility trial. They have a cap where you can fill it with water to make it heavier to push around. My dogs usually disable the cap pretty quickly and carry it around that way. I suppose a dog could break its teeth doing that but I've used them for 4 Rottweilers so far with no issues.

The other ball I use a lot is the Jolly Ball. Not as heavy duty and a heavy chewier will go right through the handle in short time. My dogs love the satisfaction of gripping into it (versus the Bully ball that they just push around). Never had any issues but my Malinois is a little more destructive than my Rottweilers so he doesn't get to play with it unsupervised.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/horse-stal ... n--5008427


My dogs have also had a great time playing with old tires from the side of the road. My male who just passed away last year LOVED to push around this big old tire. We had it hanging from a tree for awhile and he'd bark and it and push it around and eventually chewed the rope off and would roll it around the yard. You would find him wrestling with it...sometimes it would pin him and then he would flip over and pin it. He had a LOT of fun .... but I imagine a dog who was a heavy chewier would try ripping up the rubber.

I had previously used bowling balls from the thrift store but the dogs seem to have them roll and pinch their feet too much ... and basket balls/soccer balls have no longevity with my dogs.

Just some thoughts of what has worked.

I have found that the Jolly ball is the best. I have 2 different sizes, the mid and large one. The handles make it easy to throw and gives the dogs something to bite / grip. The large one is lots of fun, our female hits it so hard that it gets under belly and she ends up surfing it. The dogs really like these balls and they last. But like any toy and rottweilers our dogs do not have unsupervised play with the balls.

I will never buy another jolly ball! Thor bit a piece out of one and ended up with an obstruction, and complications with the surgery. He ended up with three operations, trip to Iowa State vet clinic. That stupid ball cost me a total of $8,000.

I was thinking about maybe one of these.

http://boomerball.com/boomerballs/22-20 ... -ball.html

I've had one of these for around 20 years (14" ball)....lots of scratches and and the plug on top has been gone for probably 19 years and 364 days but otherwise works as good as new. All my dogs have had fun with it over the years. The dogs get pissed off because they can't really bite it and pick it up which in turn brings a big smile to my face for a bit of pay back for all the stupid stuff I put up with a times!


http://www.petsupplies.com/item/the-vir ... e=GPPETSUP

I only use Boomer balls. I'm only on my second large one in 27 years (the first one lasted about 20 years). The area around where the plug used to be is a little abused and they have deep scratches but good. I bought a hard Jolly ball (not the handle one) and it did not even make a year before it had a fist sized hole

I have smaller ones for pool floaties and pups and the bigger basket ball sized ones for gernal beating up

http://boomerball.com/

I have gone through a LOT of jolly balls. They get the handle end and tear it off and then it gets a hole they can stick their head in. Last week I found jolly balls without the handles and bought a couple. So far so good. I had thought about using bowling balls untill I found these so maybe they will work out. I have two that will play all day with just a flat rock. They push them all over the yard.

Thank you everybody for your postings.
This forum offers a wealth of information. Based on what I have been reading the Boomerball is the way to go, may be a little bit costly, but appears to be safe. Well worth it considering the potential consequences. Thanks again everybody for your postings.

One more question , what is the ideal size for active driven adult Rottweilers (females and males ranging from 90 lbs thru 120 lbs),

I have the large (10 inch) boomer ball and it has been through a few very high drive dogs and it's still in one piece. I just ordered another just so both dogs could have their own ball.

I will 2nd the Boomer ball. I have one, either 24" or 30" can't remember but it has lasted almost 2 years now. It was designed for Lion's and Bear's so that should give you an idea of how tuff it is.

For unsupervised play, the Jolly Egg is awesome, and I would think pretty near indestructable. I got mine from Overdrive K9