Al & Gwynnie's Experts' Ball Review.  Rather technical, sorry.  Posted in "Corgi Health" because exercise is critical.    Purchased at rummage or yard sales.  The most expensive ball was $2.

A.  Basketballs are too big.  Corgis like to take it on the nose.  I fear this could hurt their necks.  Get something less massive.  These went to the school.  But we did use a skinless basketball inner tube for a long time.

B.  A volleyball is nice, light and lively -- but this one's padding invites teeth.  The smaller radius also makes it vulnerable to teeth.  It's too good for dogs, brand-new.  It went to the school.  Larger balls are more tooth-resistant.

C.  Same as "B", but the padding isn't so soft, and it might survive.  Volleyballs are much lighter than basketballs.

D.  This is a childrens' basketball marketed as a "yoga ball".  It comes close to the ideal, which is a Nike Jr. children's basketball which says "500" on it (not pictured).   It's 7-8" diameter, has a toothproof basketball skin, and adequate momentum, but soccer balls are faster and go farther.  

E.  A thin rubber playground ball.  These are soft, light, don't carry far, and won't last 5 minutes.  Give them to the school.  But give one a try.

F.  Water polo balls are small enough to be tooth-vulnerable, but the smooth skin seems to protect them.  Very light, so they don't go as far, but they're lively and unlikely to hurt the dog.  Alas, this brand-new one leaks overnight.  I like to overinflate them, tight as a banjo-string, which eventually makes them leak.  They're worth a try.

G.  Soccer ball.  These are the fastest, carry well, perhaps our favorite; their speed and momentum give the corgi a good workout.  Look for ones without soft padding, but the dogs will soon tear off the offending padding anyway (which lightens the ball considerably).  Their larger radius discourages teeth.

You will need an air pump and filling needle.  Write your name and number on them if you want to keep them.

It's a personal foul to kick the ball directly into the corgi. Al often bites his tongue, it bleeds disconcertingly but quickly stops.

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Well, I came home with a soccer ball tonight and it looked for 30 seconds like it might be a winner until she started chewing it. What exactly happens when they actually pierce it? Kaboom or ppfffft?
They go ppfffftt.
It helps to keep them highly inflated -- more difficult to sink the teeth in, also faster, livelier. It may not say so in the manual, but you gotta get an air pump and a ball needle when you get a corgi.
Our first soccer ball lived a long happy life after being skinned alive, twice -- it had a double layer of skin -- the skin is fairly massive, so a skinless ball is lighter, quicker. Never pass up a yard sale or pay more than $1-2 for a ball. Nike Jr. basketballs are perhaps the best, even though soccer balls are faster and go farther.
Ah...somebody should update that Corgi manual. :) I'll take the ball to the park and maybe she'll butt it, not bite it. Thanks for the yard sale tip John.

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