The original herding ball, built in two replaceable layers. Designed in San Francisco in 2021, coming to Europe from a warehouse in Zagreb.
4.8★ customer rating · 1,000+ orders worldwide · 4 sizes · Original design, 2021
Global rating across collieball.com
Why a gym ball doesn't last
If you own a dog with drive, you already know how this goes. You buy a big ball, it looks about right, and then a tooth finds the seam or a claw finds the surface, and inside a week there is a flat sheet of PVC in the bin.
The gym balls sold for this cost between five and forty euros. They are made to be sat on by people, not pushed across gravel by a Malinois. Rigid plastic balls survive longer, but they are hard on a dog's nose, which is why the standard German Treibball handbook advises against them.
A proper herding ball sits between the two. CollieBall launched the first fabric-covered inflatable one in June 2021, and the copies started turning up on Amazon that November. The longer version of that story is here.
What is a herding ball?
A large ball the dog cannot pick up or carry. To move it at all, the dog has to lean into it with the nose or the shoulder, which is the movement herding breeds were bred to make. It gives the dog something to do rather than something to chase.
Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds work it out within minutes, and so do most high-drive crossbreeds. Dogs without a herding background usually just enjoy the chase, which is fine too. French Bulldogs, Staffies and Labradors are among the most common owners we hear from.
A dog that digs, nips, fence-runs or paces is often not badly behaved so much as under-employed.
How CollieBall is built
| Layer | What it does |
|---|---|
| Inner ball | Inflatable, with a needle valve. Holds the air and the shape. Softer than rigid plastic, so it gives against a dog's nose. |
| Outer cover | 1680 denier ballistic fabric. Takes the teeth and the claws and the ground underneath. Double-stitched seams, heavy-duty nylon thread. |
The zipper is heavy-duty with a detachable puller, so once the ball is closed there is nothing loose left for a dog to work at.
Why both layers are sold separately
Buying the layers on their own makes the ball repairable instead of disposable. Years in, if you want a fresh inner ball or a fresh cover, you buy that one part and keep the rest. It is built for the toughest chewers we have met, and if one layer eventually earns its retirement, the other carries on.
That is the difference from every sealed ball on the market, and it is the reason the price sits where it does. See the spare parts.
The same two-layer build, from Aussies to Malinois.
Four sizes
| Size | Suits |
|---|---|
| 45 cm | Corgi, French Bulldog and similar |
| 55 cm | Border Collie, Poodle, Beagle |
| 75 cm | Australian Shepherd, Labrador, Boxer, Husky |
| 95 cm | German Shepherd, Malinois, Rottweiler, Dobermann |
Each size page shows the current price, including VAT and shipping. Size is the one thing worth getting right. Use the size finder, or read the full size guide, but measure your dog's shoulder height first either way.
Common questions
What is in the package?
Ballistic fabric cover, inflatable inner ball with needle valve, and a drawstring carry bag.
How do I inflate it?
A compressor, or a pump with a needle adapter from any sports shop. The FAQ has the detail, including why the 95 cm really wants a compressor.
Is it safe for my dog's nose?
The inner ball is inflatable, so it gives under pressure instead of staying rigid. That is the main reason we did not use hard plastic.
Can I use it for treibball?
Yes, all four sizes. There is a little more on that in the FAQ.
How do I clean it?
Wipe it down or rinse it off. The fabric handles wet without trouble.
When can I order in Europe?
Not yet. The Zagreb warehouse is not running, so everything reads sold out for now. Leave your email and we will tell you the day that changes.
Give your working dog a job
Find your dog's size → · See the four sizes · Spare parts · Read how it started