As a dog owner, especially If you own a large dog breed, you have probably asked yourself at least once, “Why do dogs love tennis balls this much?”
This irresistible bond between the two is something worth our attention as owners. The minute they see a small yellow tennis ball, they go absolutely crazy about it.
It is unknown what actually happens in the dog’s brain when they see this toy. But I imagine some fireworks and rollercoasters all at once the minute they see the yellow toy.
Except for professional tennis players, I think nobody in the world can be as happy as our canine companions when they are in the presence of this yellow ball.
Believe it or not, there are some actual reasons why do dogs love tennis balls as much as they do. After reading this article, I am sure you’ll get a clear picture!
What Are The Reasons Why Dogs Go Crazy Over Tennis Balls?
A dog’s excitement when seeing a tennis ball is one of the cutest things you’ll ever see. Their front paws begin to march in place, their vision becomes extremely focused, and their tails are ready to support them in the run of their life.
We can agree that this is one of the best toys that exceptionally sharpens their natural instincts. Therefore, playing fetch is beneficial not only because of the physical exercise they get but also because of the mental stimulation.
Physical fitness is very important for all dog breeds, whether chasing a yellow ball, walking, running, or just socializing with other dogs.
As there might be many potential reasons for dogs loving their tennis balls, these five are the most logical ones.
1. Because Of The Thrill Of The Chase
Some people believe that dogs’ tendency to chase moving objects is due to their prey drive or, simply put, their natural impulse to chase, hunt, and catch something that is running away from them at a very fast pace.
Tennis ball chasing can serve as a form of hunting live prey, and as different breeds have different levels of prey drive, some dogs may get more entertainment out of tennis ball chasing than others.
The ball’s quick movement can motivate dogs, and catching it can have the same thrill as catching a small wild animal.
Dog reward centers can be activated by successfully catching a moving target. Whether the prey is a tennis ball or a real animal, dogs love the excitement of the chase as much as the moment of capture.
And no, it doesn’t matter how many times they have caught it, they want to do it again.
2. Because Of The Yellow Color Theory
As we know, dogs can only see certain colors. They are not color-blind; their world is not completely black and white because there are some blues and yellows in their world!
And guess what – one of the reasons for their obsession with the yellow tennis balls might just be that they are excited to see something in color rather than in black and white!
The visual appeal they get from seeing something that sparks up their black-and-white world is an event in itself. A dog’s life is just more colorful and happy when yellow tennis balls are included!
This makes a positive association with excitement!
3. Because Of The Physical Activity And Their Hunting Instincts
Similar to the thrill of the chase dogs enjoy, exercise and physical activity are two highly important components of one dog’s life.
They make them feel more relaxed, balanced, and equally mentally stimulated as physically stimulated.
Thanks to their instinctual behavior, chasing fast and small things isn’t something strange to them. Their ancestors did that for a living, you know.
That’s why chasing tennis balls is considered one of the essential skills for many dog breeds. Of course, large dog breeds that were bred for herding and hunting will have this skill as a more highlighted one compared to small dog breeds.
Dog breeds, such as retrievers, pinschers, and terriers, can have this feature as a more prominent one and enjoy chasing the tennis ball as their regular play routine.
Just as there is nothing better than lying down after we ate a good meal, there is nothing better than doing physical activity and exercise for dogs at any given moment. We enjoy different things, but the love and the excitement are the same.
4. Because It Is An Interesting Texture They Can Mouth
Just as babies explore everything with their hands and mouths, our canine friends also explore using their mouths (without the hands part). You will often see them biting their paws when they are young and exploring or whenever they are bored.
There is a kind of unconditional love between dogs and chewing on to… well… anything. It’s not that they don’t nibble on you from time to time, let alone on chewy toys!
Dogs are drawn to the interesting texture of tennis balls. They love to mouth on tennis balls when they bite down on them. The sound of the ball squeaking and the sensation of biting into it combine to create an incredibly exciting and fun experience for them.
For dogs’ teeth, chewing on a tennis ball can be beneficial as well. Better oral health can be encouraged by having their teeth and gums cleaned. It is an excellent form of exercise and also a great way to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
5. Because They Can Find Some New Info
Did you know that if two or more dogs play with the same tennis ball in the dog park, they are able to gather some information based on the smell that they can sense on the surface of the yellow ball?
Let’s start with the fact that dogs have one of the best senses of smell in the animal kingdom. Considering that their sense of smell can “be as much as 10,000–100,000 times that of the average human,” it says a lot about how much they can rely on this sense.
Every single dog that, for example, plays with a tennis ball in the dog park will be able to pick up the smell of saliva, oil glands, and many other information that they use as a form of communication.
Through sniffing, dogs can gather info about the “identity” of another dog, making their communication way easier.
And What Can We Do About Excessive Love For Tennis Balls?
Tennis balls are a great reward toy for your dog and an item dogs love, but it’s crucial to keep an eye on them when they’re playing. The tennis ball itself and the fuzz covering it present a choking risk.
Make sure you teach your dog the “drop it” command so you can swiftly take the tennis ball away from them without putting yourself or your dog in danger. A tennis ball might not be the best toy for your dog if they can’t stop chewing it compulsively.
Their “love affair” with tennis balls can even come to a point that you are considering searching for professional help. Therefore, let’s see what are some of the things you can do on your own when it comes to this more obsessive behavior.
1. Switch Things Up A Bit
Okay, your dog goes crazy whenever it sees a yellow tennis ball. But did you ever think of… changing the dog toys for a bit?
Okay, your dog might not be head-over-heels for new toys, but as much dogs benefit from the small yellow ball, they can also benefit from a small light blue ball.
The physical activity will remain the same, but you, as the dog parent, will be a bit more relaxed when the obsession is controlled at least a bit.
You know what they say – out of sight, out of mind.
2. Say Hello To Alternative Activities
Shifting their focus to alternative activities can lead to good behavior. In such cases, where the obsession over the tennis ball becomes a bit too much, re-focusing might just be the thing for you and your canine companion.
Introduce some new activities in your dog’s everyday life, such as – going for a run, visiting the dog park, walks with other dogs, interactive dog toys, or going for a drive (having their heads stick out the window is a must, let them catch all the juicy gossip from the outside).
As they tend to form an emotional connection with their favorite toys, this technique would be a great way to distance themselves from chasing the little ball.
Any social activity that includes you or other dogs would be fun for them and would definitely shift their focus.
3. Reward Them Any Time They Do Good
The positive reinforcement techniques revolve around rewarding the dog whenever they do something good. Doing so will make your dog remember that they will get something anytime they do a certain action!
So, if your dog has this obsessive fixation on yellow tennis balls, you can use this technique to promote a behavior that is more balanced.
I would highlight doing this behavior training at an early age or just as soon as you notice this obsessive behavior. Because having a dog that has these kinds of problems in its senior years is not fun, let me tell you that.
Having a dog trainer help redirect this behavior is the last option, but it can be the most effective one if you are not experienced with correcting your dog’s behavior.
Now, Let’s Get This Situation All Sorted Out
After having informed yourself about the reasons why do dogs love tennis balls this much, I think you have got a clear picture in your mind now.
The thrill of the chase, all the new information they can get from it, the dopamine rush after physical activity, the chewy texture – all of these components make their beloved yellow tennis ball a holy grail of their everyday life.
However, if their obsession and fixation on that one toy become out of hand, enough to make your dog put your paw on you, look you deeply into your eyes, and tell you in their own way, “Gimme the yellow ball, or else…”, you might have to pull a few tricks from your sleeve to solve this.
However, keep in mind that this structured nature of fetch can have many wonderful benefits for your dog’s health, of course, if it is healthy limits.
Read next: Why Do Dogs Lick Your Feet? 11 Surprising Reasons
Zerina is an experienced content writer who found her passion for writing while pursuing her degree in English language and literature.
Growing up with a beloved dog as her companion, Zerina developed love for canines from a young age. Inspired by her bond with her furry friend, she decided to combine her writing skills with her love for dogs.