Sizing
What size herding ball does my dog need?
Measure the shoulder height, from the ground to the top of the shoulder blade. Then check the size guide, which lists breeds and heights for all four sizes. If your dog is between two sizes, go bigger. The size finder will do it for you in two questions.
My dog is a mixed breed, or not a herding breed at all. Will it work?
Herding breeds take to it fastest, because the pushing movement is what they were bred for. But drive matters more than pedigree. French Bulldogs, Staffies, Labradors and mixed breeds with energy to burn all use it. If your dog invents its own job when you do not give it one, this is a job.
The inner ball looks too small for the cover
That is normal before it is fully inflated. The inner ball is designed to fill the cover under pressure rather than arrive at full size. Keep inflating until the cover is firm and the seams are taut.
The product
What is the difference between a gym ball and a herding ball?
A gym ball is one sealed piece of PVC, so a single puncture ends it. CollieBall is two parts: an inflatable inner ball with a needle valve, and a ballistic fabric cover over the top of it. The cover takes the teeth and the claws. Both parts are sold separately, so each layer can be replaced on its own. The full build is here.
How is CollieBall different from the copies?
CollieBall launched the first fabric-covered inflatable herding ball in June 2021, and the first copies appeared on Amazon that November. The copies we have seen are a single sealed layer with a printed pattern, without a separate inner, a ballistic cover or a double zipper. The shape got copied; the build did not. The full story is on the about page.
How durable is it with a rough player?
The cover is 1680 denier ballistic fabric with double-stitched seams and heavy-duty nylon thread. It is built for the toughest chewers we have met, meaning dogs that push it hard and bite it harder. We will not call it indestructible, because nothing a dog can reach is. What we will say is that both layers are sold separately, so each one can be replaced on its own.
Why does it use a needle valve?
It holds air far longer than a standard push valve, which matters more over months of use than the ten minutes it costs you at the start. Use a compressor, or a pump with a needle adapter. The adapter is a standard part from any sports shop. For the 95 cm, a compressor is the only realistic option.
The ball will not hold air
Check three things, in order. First, the needle: a bent or blunt needle can widen the valve. Second, temperature: air contracts in the cold, and a ball inflated indoors will feel soft outside. Third, the valve itself, which usually seals better with a drop of water or valve oil on the needle before you insert it. If it still loses air overnight, contact us.
How does it handle snow and cold?
The cover handles snow and cold without trouble, and winter is usually when a high-drive dog needs the outlet most. The inner ball loses pressure in low temperatures, like any inflatable, so top it up when it gets cold and let it warm up before you over-inflate it indoors.
How should I store it?
Deflated in the drawstring bag if you are putting it away for a season. Inflated and out of direct sun if you are using it regularly. UV is harder on the materials than the dog is.
Using it
My dog is scared of it. What now?
Common, and it passes. Start with the ball still and let the dog approach it on its own, with no encouragement and nothing pushed toward them. Reward any interest, however small. Once they touch it, roll it slowly away from them, never toward them. Most dogs go from wary to obsessed within a few sessions. Do not force it, and do not turn it into a game of chasing them with it.
Will it calm my dog down?
We are not going to promise it fixes behaviour problems. A ball is not a training plan. What it does is give a working dog a job that tires the head as well as the legs, and a properly tired dog is an easier dog to live with.
Can I use a herding ball for treibball?
Yes. All four sizes work for treibball practice and competition. The ballistic cover gives the right push-grip without letting the dog get a jaw around it.
Can two dogs share one?
Yes, and most dogs push harder with company. Size for the larger dog. Watch the first few sessions, because the ball moves fast with two dogs behind it and the real risk is them colliding with each other rather than with the ball.
About CollieBall
Who made this?
Dog owners rather than entrepreneurs. After the 2020 Santa Cruz fires and six months displaced with Huckleberry, an Australian Shepherd × Border Collie who does not switch off, nothing on the market survived her. So we built one. San Francisco, 2021. The longer version is here.
Ordering in Europe
Can I order now?
We are not taking orders yet. Everything on the site reads sold out because the Zagreb warehouse and the paperwork behind it are not finished. Leave your email on the launch page and we will write to you the day that changes.
What currency will prices be in?
Euros, including VAT where it applies. Shipping is included as well, so the price on the product page is the price you pay.
Do you charge for shipping?
No. Shipping is included in the price, in every country we deliver to, with nothing added at checkout. The shipping page has the country list.
Where will orders ship from?
Zagreb, Croatia. Delivery times vary by country and will be published on the shipping page before we open.