Retriever Rescue

I have heard yet again of a dog choking to death after catching a tennis ball and it sticking in it's throat. This was a Golden the last one was a Springer Spaniel. It is so dangerous. People do not realise that a fast moving tennis ball caught by a fast moving dog and the ball keeps going down their throat and as it goes in it changes shape and fits into the throat and then changes back to it's original shape and there is no way can you get it out. It is horrific. I wish these balls would be banned for dog owners. These balls are perhaps suitable for a dog as small as a chihuahua. certainly no larger.

An yet, watching the programme on ITV last night about the Police Dogs, the reward they use most often is a tennis ball thrown with great force by a burly police officer

We have lost so many tennis balls, that now we use a ring, which comes with its own launcher, best toy ever, and when you throw it, it bounces , it also floats in water, it did cost £ 7.00, so we don,t throw it when other dogs are about, but well worth the money. we bought it in a garden centre. Its called a Ring Zinger.

We live right next to one of the police dog training schools, so quite often on a walk we see the dogs of the TV.The dogs are usually very friendly and come to us to say hello, Jasper is such a wimp and always runs and hides in the bushes, mind you they are very big dogs.

Your Ring Zinger sounds like fun on a beach....might get one for our holiday in May.

The only time our two play with tennis balls is in the house, where they pass it backwards and forwards to each others mouth whilst they are upside down....
until Ginnie decides it has to be plucked... then it gets binned.

I don't like those 'ball throwers' where you fling the ball as far as possible, I've watched people using them on the beach and across a field, the dog runs as fast as it can, usually going so fast, that they pass the ball, then turn very quickly...Ginnie's cruciate ligament 'went' many years ago, she was just chasing after Abby, who had something in her mouth,Abby could turn on a sixpence, Ginnie couldn't and she turned very quickly, her scream as it happened was awful and to watch her leg just hang was even worse. It also drives me nuts when thoughtless dog owners fling it towards us, as Ginnie is usualy on a long lead and she pulls me !!! and the owner thinks it funny that Ginnie is on a lead, Ginnie is part golden, part water diviner and nothing will stop her in her quest for a splish and splash about, so it's a long lead unless it's a dip, swim or paddle.

I like Rufus to have a really good run about in the park, but hate tennis balls and won't let him have one. I won't buy one of the ball-thrower things either because the ball is so small. My first golden, Oscar, nearly choked on a tennis ball, but coughed it up just as screamed up to the vets after shooting three red lights! I can't throw like I used to, but Rufus needs something in the park, otherwise he grabs a drinks can - not always empty and starts chewing it up. I've resorted to sticks, but they aren't ideal, because he just tears strips off them and eats it. However, if there are no other dogs in the park to run around with, the only exercise he gets is where I call him and he comes to within 6 feet of me, at which point I am lulled into a sense of false security. That's when he runs off laughing. I like the sound of the ring thing, though. Is it destructible, because if so, he will destroy it? The only ball he refuses to play with is an indestructiball, which is large enough to be picked up, but too large to get stuck. He shreds rope toys in something under 30 minutes. Raffles was the same, so I know he will grow out of it in time. Each day, I thank the powers that be that I picked up Cesar's Exercise, discipline affection mantra. It has certainly worked for Rufus.

Hello there!
Sam has a "rope ball" which he loves. I only let him play with it in smallish spaces (our inner hall is ideal, but the carpet is suffering!!) and take it off him when we have finished throwing and fetching. Any other kind of ball gets the destruction treatment immediately so I don't get any other kind. He has had this one for months, and I have to admit, the smell is getting a little high although I have tried to wash it several times. It does seem safe though.
Best wishes to all - Samsmum.

The ring thrower is fairly tough, but its made of hard rubber, thats why it bounces, if the dog sat there and started to chew, it would get destroyed, luckily Jasper learnt very quickly if he brings it back and drops he gets a treat.. I will see if they have a web site and post it on

Going off thread slightly here.

Years ago, on a stay over on the East Coast, we took Timber to North Beach at Scarborough. I had taken his chucky ring with us, and after a few throws along the beach threw it into the water. Well, it SANK without trace much to Tims' disgust. The poor lad he just stood and stared out to sea looking for it. A few days later we went again, straight back to the same spot looking for his ring. Now this is where it gets a bit strange. The following year we were back again, and guess what...same area, same searching. That dog had a memory like an elephant, but then he was a dog that if you had been somewhere, maybe only once, he remembered what the sequence of events were going to be and off he would go doing the same as the previous time.

Well You always knew he was clever & special but that is quite amazing.