Is the Chuckit Ball Launcher Any Good?

The Chuckit Ball Launcher is a plastic flexible shaft that has a ball holder attached to the end of it. This toy isn’t exactly a toy for your dog as much as it is a way to help you out when playing fetch with your pooch.

If you have ever injured your shoulder attempting to throw your tennis ball far enough to tire out your active dog, the Chuckit will be a huge benefit. The same can be said if you really hate picking up the
ball your gorgeous pup has brought back covered in drool.

What benefit does a Chuckit Ball Launcher have for your dog?

If you have a dog that is highly energetic and never seems to slow down, you will easily see the advantage of a Chuckit. By having the ability to throw your tennis ball further with the Launcher, you will be able to give your pup more exercise with less throws of the ball. Generally you can throw your ball up to roughly 140 feet using this however it does depend on how you use it and the type of ball. Just try not to throw the ball so far that your active friend cannot see it, otherwise you will be the one doing the fetching!

The other benefit we have found highly valuable when using this toy is that you don’t need to pick up the ball with your hands. No doubt if you have played fetch before, you have noticed a fair bit of drool and other things that come back when your loving pup retrieves the ball. Using the Chuckit you can pick up the ball without getting your hands dirty and without the need to bend over much. This makes playing fetch more enjoyable and requires less effort on your part.

What are the different ways to use the Chuckit Ball Launcher with your dog?

The Chuckit Ball Launcher is pretty basic and doesn’t have many uses apart from playing fetch. To first pick up a ball with the ball holder, you simply put the claw over the top of the ball and press down. The ball firmly sits in the holder. From there you draw back your arm whilst holding the Chuckit and swing it in an action similar to a tennis serve. By the way, you don’t need to be great at tennis to use this toy, a tennis serve is just the best way to describe the action. It may take a few throws for you to get used to it but after a while you will surely get the hang of it.

What sort of dog does the Chuckit Ball Launcher suit?

Let’s be honest, you won’t need a Chuckit to throw
a ball for your Chihuahua. It’s just not necessary. You also won’t want one for your pup if they are a
bit of a couch potato and simply watch the ball with disinterest as you throw it in your yard.

Before investing in one of these toy’s you will want
to make sure your dog actually enjoys playing fetch. The best way to find out is to throw a ball for your dog and if they chase it and pick it up, it is a good sign they are interested.

The next step is to get your pup to bring it back to be thrown again, that is sometimes a bit harder to do! Even then you will only want a Chuckit for you pooch if they love to chase a ball long distances and this is usually seen in bigger dogs like Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. You will no doubt be able to see whether being able to throw the ball further will be a benefit to your dog.

What are the negative points to the Chuckit Ball Launcher?

The Chuckit is made of a hard plastic but isn’t the strongest thing in the world. Although we are yet to see it happen with our own Chuckit, using anything heavier than a tennis ball could result in it snapping in half. Also if the ball holder part snaps at all, it renders your toy useless. These are really things that you can prevent by using the toy according to the instructions and making sure your pooch doesn’t chew on it!

Also you may think throwing the ball further is an automatic bonus however as we have found out, there is such a thing as too far! If you throw your ball too far, your pooch may not see where it has gone and you will be the one to get the ball! This commonly happens when you first start using the Chuckit Ball Launcher but after a while you get the hang of it.

What is the general cost of the Chuckit Ball Launcher and where you can find it?

Buying the Chuckit will likely be cheapest via eBay. If you don’t like the idea of buying things through eBay, there are a few online stores that have good reputations. At these stores the price will roughly be around $11 - $12 US Dollars. This could be more expensive for countries outside the USA. Alternatively you may be able to find one at your local pet store.

Some reputable online stores and their prices are below:

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