PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher Dog Toy – Tennis Ball Throwing Machine for Dogs – Indoor or Outside Play – Easy-Open Packaging

This is the best purchase ever if you get tired of the dog asking for a ball throw while you're trying to dig your borders or enjoy a quiet cuppa in the sunshine. As someone with a dicky body as well, throwing constantly just gets too painful. And that's not the fault if an excitable pooch now, is it.The tennis balls that come with the launcher go quite far, distance is easily adjustable on the machine too, as is angle. But my dog has a favourite rubber ball and although smaller it works brilliantly and flies a heck of a distance.The catapult mechanism is quite loud, but you do start to tune it out. The unit is easily knocked off course if the dog decides to give it a kick to hurry up, so watch out for your windows! It does take a little break as well to give dog time to catch their breath, which is when it's most likely to get a kick.It takes 6 D batteries that are not included but it also has a mains lead if you prefer.It took about 3 or 4 days for our dog to understand how to use it, and that he didn't then need us nearby to give him permission, but now he's a total pro.Just a great dog toy all round.

I bought this to keep my dogs occupied while at work, they love it, but I haven't been able to train them to drop the ball in the top. They are used to spitting the ball at me and me picking it up and they do this to the machine, sometimes it lands in, others it doesn't - hope to get them trained up sometime LOL. Other than that, it is fun and the dogs love it, the motion detector works but then my dogs just stand still in front of the machine waiting on the ball being launched and try to get it as it comes out with hilarious results at times. The machine has been savaged a few times too and has survived. It does make a loud bang when it launches but my pups are not phased at all. They are aware of what all the different beeps buzzes and whirs mean, I just wish I could get them to use it without my input.... someday....

Would be nice if could throw the balls further and don't like the 15 minute timer. Was delivered in original box and not even taped down. As this was a birthday present for my daughter to give to give to her dog, the surprise was ruined as she had to sign for it when delivered. I was so upset:(Update: our dog is so upset as tbe launcher stopped working after 5 months of light use. He loved his toy and really misses it. But reluctant about getting another one in case the same thing happens. It is not a cheap toy.Ozzie learn't very quickly how to put the balls in but got impatient when it did not fire the balls quick enough so he would paw it and then knock it over as it is very lightweight. Therefore we had to sit beside it to hold it so he could not knock it over:(As soon as we would bring it out to play our other dog would run away and hide in his bed. It is quite noisy but at least you know when NOT to walk in front of it.Really disappointed:(

Ok but very noisey

Was eager to get this as it'd give me a break from my border collie constantly hassling me to play fetch. So my dog being the dog he is, very quickly learned to put the ball in the machine for it to 'launch'. I wished I'd looked into this a bit more as it just isn't up to speed with my dog. Firstly it takes a while to launch the ball after being dropped in to it. It's like it goes through a sequence before it launches which frustrated my dog as he is eagerly awaiting the ball. This frustration leads to him pawing at the machine and its quite a lightweight thing so 9 times out of 10 he just topples it over. Its sensor thing isn't really accurate either as he could be far enough back from the machine and it's still beeping to alert him being too close. He has not understood the concept of being far away from the machine yet so it ends up being me constantly giving him commands 'BACK' or 'AWAY' most likely to the annoyance of my neighbours. Then after about 15 times of launching the ball, (if we even get that many times) it'll switch itself off and not launch the ball anymore until around 30mins have passed. Which also frustrated my dog as he is high energy and can chase the ball more than 15x. Not to mention this machine is loud as! So I worry we can't use it after a certain time incase my neighbours get upset. This machine, in my opinion, isn't worth the price tag and I just find myself switching it off after a bit as my dog gets more stressed at it than anything.

My dog had lots of fun with this item

The idea behind this is great, the distance the ball goes and the ability to change the angle are fantastic. However, there is an inbuilt time-out function that means after 15 minutes of play the device pauses for 15 minutes. The only way to override that is to turn it off for 10 seconds and then turn it back on. While I can understand the need for some safety features like this to prevent a dog from overworking itself. The lack of the ability to cancel it or change the length is a deal breaker for me. Every dog is different and this does not allow for that in the slightest.This makes training with the device nearly impossible for active puppies (like mine!) and is also no where near enough time to keep them entertained or active. The feature is, unfortunately, the only thing you cant change. After several, frustrating hours, I've made the decision to return mine.I wouldn't recommend to anyone with a dog that is going to want to play for more than 15 minutes or if you are planning on using this for short distances indoors. However, if this does not bother you. Its a great device that works well out the box.2 stars - only because of the time-out feature. Without this I would have given it a 4/5

The media could not be loaded. The dog loves it. He’s not yet got used to putting the ball in the hopper but he loves it when it launches the ball down the garden. The bleeps and sound as it launches doesn’t phase him and he’ll soo learn what they mean. Took a little bit of time to work out the best placement & settings so it stays within the garden but easy to use