Is is bad to throw the ball? How to safely play fetch with your dog

While scrolling through Instagram the other week, I saw post after post about playing fetch with our dogs. They weren’t just cute retrievers frolicking through fields, though. The clips and carousels were strong opinions centered around one pressing question: Is it actually bad to throw the ball?

Fetch is one of the most common games we play with our pups. It’s ubiquitous in television, books, and even commercials—Lassie the rough collie retrieves sticks; mythical Cerberus gets distracted by a ball in Percy Jackson; Aaron Rogers throws a frisbee for a blue heeler on a beach to advertise insurance. Dogs love to chase and humans love to throw! What combination could be better?

Well, some dog trainers, vets, and guardians argue that it isn’t great at all.

As usual the truth is somewhere in the middle. Let’s take a look at fetch pros, cons, and ways to mitigate risk—so you can make the best decision for your individual dog.

Benefits of playing fetch with your dog

“Physical exercise, mental stimulation, and bonding opportunities between dog and handler” are all good things that can come from fetch, according to Emily Muench, CPDT-KA and Owner of Barkology Dog Training. She also mentions the potential to use chasing games as training reinforcement: “You can use the concept of fetch to teach impulse control, drop it, and retrievals.”

Muench notes that fetch can help fulfill some dogs’ natural instincts—especially retrievers and other working breeds. “It can be super rewarding when done with structure.”

When played thoughtfully, fetch can:

• Provide dogs with high intensity physical exercise
• Offer modern pets an opportunity for biological fulfillment (enrichment)
• Be an accessible way for you to play with your pup without expending too much of your own energy
• Strengthen your relationship with your dog

Personally, my Australian cattle dog and I love playing fetch. And it’s not just about immediate enjoyment: Play has been an integral part of our training journey! Teaching Scout to cooperate with us in a state of high arousal has done wonders for her fear-based dog reactivity. We use fetch to fulfill her chasing instincts, help keep her physically fit, and destress after challenging situations (like a neighbor dog charging over in a misguided attempt to stay hello).

“Just remember,” says Muench: “Fetch is one piece of the enrichment puzzle, not the whole thing!”

Cons of playing fetch with your dog

Trainers and vets aren’t misguided when they caution pet parents against willy-nilly fetch. Repetitive motion—like chasing the same Chuckit throw again and again—can put our dogs at risk of physical and behavioral problems.

Physical risks

Fetch is a leading cause of torn cruciate ligaments in modern dogs, according to Elk Lake Veterinary Hospital. This is both because of the fast-paced nature of the game and because many pups become fixated on the chase. A hyped-up dog isn’t moving their body carefully—and adrenaline can prevent our pets from noticing early signs of pain.

“Guardians should be cautious when playing fetch with dogs who slam and twist their bodies trying to catch the toy,” says Liza Rader, KPA-CTP CDBC. “Almost all dogs can learn safe ways to chase a toy, but the amount of training, environmental management, and body language awareness required to achieve that varies.”

Mental and behavioral risks

Mindless chasing games can be bad for our dogs’ brains, too. “The biggest immediate risks are socially inappropriate obsessive behaviours and frustration and arousal-based behaviours,” cautions Rader. Muench agrees: “I often see issues with resource guarding, overarousal, and the rehearsal of inappropriate behaviors such as jumping, keep away, and demand barking,” she says.

Obsessive fetch behaviors might look like:

• Refusing to drink water or eat around fetch toys
• Being unwilling to move from the area where toys are kept
• Resource guarding fetch toys
• Appearing unable to focus on anything but the potential to play fetch

Frustration and arousal behaviors might look like:

• Grabbing or snatching at the toy or human
• Barking or shrieking at the toy or human
• Redirecting aggressively onto other dogs in the presence of the toy

In severe cases, repetitive fetch can even contribute to behavioral problems outside the context of the game. Rader says they sometimes see “increased reactivity, inability to settle, increased fear of noises, and obsessive or compulsive behaviours starting to generalize [to other areas of life with your dog]”.

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Is your dog a good candidate for healthy fetch?

The risks of fetch can be a lot to take in. (Full disclosure: I started to panic a little while researching this piece!) “Some dogs are naturally better candidates for healthy fetch,” though, says Muench. “It really depends on the individual dog’s temperament, physical condition, and behavioral tendencies”—like most things in the pet parenting world!

Dogs who are good candidates for healthy fetch:

• Enjoy chasing and retrieving (within reason—Rader notes that this can be an increased risk factor, too. “Dogs who were originally bred to chase and control prey or livestock, as well as dogs who were originally bred to hunt birds, warrant extra caution when teaching toy chasing games,” they say. “Somewhat ironically, the dogs who are most likely to love fetch are the ones we have to be most careful with.)
• Have good impulse control or are actively working on it
• Are physically healthy with no joint or mobility issues
• Don’t have a history of obsessive behaviors

Dogs who are not good candidates for fetch:

• Show obsessive or compulsive tendencies, especially around toys
• Resource guard anything, especially toys
• Struggle to settle after periods of high arousal
• Suffer from joint issues or physical conditions that could be worsened by fast stops and turns

“Some things to look out for are increased excitement in locations where fetch has been played before (even if a toy is not present); reluctance to take treats before, during, or directly after toy play; and moving to grab or snatch the toy when a person is holding it,” cautions Rader. “Also look out for barking or screaming before the toy is thrown, or reluctance or refusal to bring the toy back.”

How to mitigate risk before, during, and after fetch

Individual dog temperaments aren’t the only thing that determine whether chasing games have more pros or cons. The way we play fetch with our dogs makes a big difference, too!

Include physical warm ups and cool downs

“Warm ups, cool downs, and muscle conditioning are great ways to prevent injury in active dogs,” says Leyla M, VT. “Dogs are not that different to humans when it comes to physical exercise. You want to increase activity gradually and avoid over doing it.”

• Take your dog on a walk before and after playing fetch
• Start with a lower impact game first, like a gentle round of tug
• When in doubt? Consult your veterinarian for help creating a personalized warm up plan!

Play fetch on safe surfaces

Throwing the ball on surfaces with plenty of traction can help reduce the risk of your dog hurting themselves during a sharp turn or leap, advises Muench. You can also limit the physical impact on their joints by playing on softer surfaces.

• Avoid slippery indoor floors
• Don’t throw the ball in wet grass
• Try not to play too much on pavement or concrete

Keep fetch sessions short, especially if your dog plays hard

“Limiting the duration of vigorous activity is also a good way to avoid overuse injuries in dogs,” says Leyla. “If you have a high drive dog that will keep bringing the ball back for more, you have to know when to end the session.”

• Take breaks during games of fetch to go on short sniff walks, scatter feed a few treats, or simply rest (Muench says this can also help dogs learn to pause and self-regulate)

“If your dog can’t focus on anything but the ball, that’s your cue to mix in other types of play or training games,” says Muench.

Time your dog’s food and water intake

Always make sure your dog has access to water—but avoid letting them eat or drink too much around playtime. “Intense activity around meals can increase the risk of bloat, especially in deep-chested breeds,” Muench warns. “It’s best to wait an hour after eating before playing fetch.”

Add impulse control training

Instead of a mindless game with the same old throw each time, add structure to your dog’s next game of fetch. “Ask for easy win behaviors like sit, down, or wait before throwing the toy,” suggests Muench. “This builds impulse control, allows you to practice your skills, and can help prevent the game from becoming too chaotic.”

Help your dog understand when the game is done

Consider giving your dog a cue that ends play—like saying “enough” or teaching a specific hand signal. This can take time, so be patient! The most important thing is that you’re consistent: “Be clear with your dog when the game is over, and don't reward barking or pestering with more play,” Rader says.

Can’t decide if you should throw the ball? Ask yourself these questions

• How does your dog feel after fetch? “Guardians should pay attention to what their dogs’ behaviour is like immediately after the game, and in the next 24 hours or so,” recommends Rader. “Exhaustion, increased reactivity or fear, moving stiffly or being more sensitive to touch are all concerning.”
• How strong is your dog physically?
• What types of activities most fulfill your dog? (Sniffing, running, digging… most dogs have a few strong preferences)
• What else do you do with your dog besides fetch? (Need enrichment ideas? Check out this guide!)

Muench says to “say yes” to fetch if “your dog loves chasing and retrieving, can manage excitement and follow cues (like sit or wait), is in good physical health, and can regulate their energy and calm down after play.” You might play fetch on occasion if “your dog has high energy but struggles with impulse control (try structured play in short bursts) or they get overstimulated (use fetch as a reward during training for better focus) or your dog has physical limitations (keep fetch low-impact and safe).”

She advises choosing a different game entirely if your dog “becomes overly fixated or frantic during play, shows signs of resource guarding (growling, snapping), or has joint issues or physical concerns that could be worsened by high-impact activity.”

My personal fetch risk assessment with my own dog

When making a risk assessment about anything with Scout—from whether we should let her run around off leash to if it’s okay for a stranger to pet her while out at a patio—I consider three main things. First: How likely is it that something goes wrong? Second: How big of an impact would something going wrong have? Third: How hard is it to avoid or mitigate that risk?

For fetch, the answers to those questions look like:

• The probability that Scout gets injured while chasing or jumping after a toy is moderate. (It depends a lot on the throw and playing surface.)
• The impact of an injury could be mild to severe. (Some fetch-related injuries, like torn CCLs, can require surgery.)
• The opportunity cost of no longer playing fetch is high because we all find it so fulfilling.

So even though fetch could be dangerous, it’s a worthwhile activity for us. We’ve decided to keep playing it with Scout—but we take careful steps to mitigate the risk. An extreme tolerance for risk might look like willy-nilly fetch on cold muscles. An extreme intolerance for risk might look like never throwing the ball or frisbee at all. Instead? We tone it back in ways that are easy to implement, like going on a brisk walk first to warm up and practicing our throws so they’re reliable.

“There is no one right answer. The important things are to be mindful of your dogs' behaviour, clear about your goals, and ask for help if you need it,” says Rader. We couldn’t agree more: Every pet parent gets to make decisions for their own dog. You’ve got everything you need to think it through.

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