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. The clips and carousels weren’t just cute retrievers frolicking through fields, though. They were strong opinions centered around one pressing question: Is it actually bad to throw the ball?

Fetch is ubiquitous in television (Lassie the rough collie retrieves sticks), books (mythical Cerberus gets distracted by a ball in Percy Jackson), and even commercials (Aaron Rodgers tosses a frisbee for a blue heeler to advertise insurance). Dogs love to chase and humans love to throw! What combination could be better?

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

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 likes the potential to use chasing games as training reinforcement: “The concept of fetch can teach impulse control, drop it, and retrievals.”

And throwing a toy can help fulfill some dogs’ natural instincts—especially retrievers and other working breeds. “[The game] can be super rewarding when done with structure," Muench notes.

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 de-stress 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.”

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Cons of playing fetch with your dog

Even with its benefits, trainers and vets aren’t misguided when they caution pet parents against willy-nilly fetch. Repetitive motion—like sprinting for 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 pet dogs, according to Elk Lake Veterinary Hospital. This is both because of the fast-paced nature of the game and because many pups fixate on the chase to the exclusion of everything else. 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 of Focus Dog Training. “Almost all dogs can learn safe ways to chase, but the amount of training, environmental management, and body language awareness required to achieve that varies.”

Mental and behavioral risks

Mindless chasing games can harm our dogs’ brains, too. “The biggest 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 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 balls and frisbees 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 you or the toy
• Barking or shrieking at you or the toy
• Redirecting aggressively onto other dogs or people 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, fear of noises, and 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?

When you put it like that, throwing the ball sounds pretty dangerous. (Full disclosure: I started to panic a little while researching this piece!) But "some dogs are naturally better candidates for healthy fetch,” explains Muench. “It really depends on the individual dog’s temperament, physical condition, and behavioral tendencies." That's true for 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 watch for barking or screaming before the toy is thrown, or reluctance or refusal to bring the toy back.”

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How to mitigate risk before, during, and after fetch

Our dogs' individual traits aren’t the only things that determine whether chasing games have more pros or cons. The way we play fetch with them 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 veterinary technician Leyla M. “Dogs are not that different to humans when it comes to physical exercise. You want to increase activity gradually and avoid overdoing 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 or searching for hidden treats
• When in doubt? Consult your veterinarian for help creating a personalized conditioning 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 your pup's joints by playing on softer ground.

• Avoid hard, slippery floors
• Consider setting up mats or rugs for indoor fetch
• Don’t throw the toy in wet grass
• Try not to play too much on pavement or concrete
• Think about the best running surfaces for humans—the same concepts apply to fetch with your dog!

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
• Pause to go on short sniff walks, scatter feed a few treats, or simply rest

These interruptions can also help dogs learn to 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,” notes Muench.

Time your dog’s food and water intake

Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water—but avoid letting them eat or drink too much around playtime. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, exercising immediately after eating or drinking can increase the risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). While this life-threatening condition most commonly affects deep-chested male dogs, it's possible for any pet to suffer from bloat.

It’s best to wait an hour after eating before playing a fast-paced game.

Add impulse control training

Instead of mindless fetch with the same old throw each time, Muench suggests adding structure to your dog’s next chasing game. “This builds impulse control, allows you to practice your skills, and can help prevent play from becoming too chaotic.”

• Ask for basic behaviors your dog already knows well—like sit or down—before throwing their ball
• Slowly increase the difficulty of what you ask
• Work up to where your dog can hold a stationary position while you throw their toy, waiting to be released

Help your dog understand when the game is done

Consider giving your dog a cue that ends play, like saying “enough” (this is what we do with Scout) or using a specific hand signal. This can take time to teach, 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.

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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 aroused does your dog get during fetch? Do they ever try to guard the toy? Can they settle down once the game is done? Mental state matters just as much as physical exertion.
• How strong is your dog physically? If you're worried about your pup's muscles or joints, fetch probably isn't a good idea. Opt for lower impact games.
• What types of activities most fulfill your dog? Think sniffing, running, digging… most dogs have a few favorites. Some pets get more enjoyment out of chasing games than others. Priorize what your own pup loves best.
• What else do you do with your dog besides fetch? High intensity play should never be the only way we fulfill our dogs. (Need enrichment ideas? Check out this guide!)

Here's how Muench recommends pet parents choose:

Say yes to fetch if your dog...

• Loves chasing and retrieving
• Can manage their excitement and follow cues (like sit or wait) during the game
• Is in good physical health
• Can regulate their energy and calm down after play

Say sometimes to fetch if your dog...

• Has lots of energy but struggles with impulse control (try structured play in short bursts)
• Gets overstimulated (use fetch as a reward during training for better focus)
• Has mild physical limitations (keep fetch low-impact and safe

Choose a different game entirely if your dog...

• Becomes overly fixated or frantic during play
• Shows signs of resource guarding (growling, snapping)
• Has joint issues or physical concerns that could be worsened by high-impact activity

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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 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 while others heal with a few daysof rest.)
• The opportunity cost of no longer playing fetch is high because we all find it so fulfilling.

Even though chasing toys can be dangerous, it’s a worthwhile activity for us! So we’ve decided to keep playing fetch with Scout—but we take careful steps to mitigate the risks. An extreme tolerance for risk might look like willy-nilly throwing the ball on cold muscles. An extreme intolerance for risk might look like never throwing toys 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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