Size is the one thing worth getting right before you order. Too small and the dog gets its jaw around it. Too big and it sits in the garden, ignored.
In a hurry? The size finder on the home page asks two questions and gives you an answer. This page is the longer version, worth reading if your dog is a mixed breed, sits between two sizes, or is stocky for its height.
How to measure your dog
Measure the shoulder height: from the ground to the top of the shoulder blade, with your dog standing normally. Not to the top of the head. Dogs raise and lower their heads all day; the shoulders stay where they are.
No measuring tape? Stand your dog next to a door frame, mark the shoulder height with a pencil, then measure the mark.
Find your size by breed
| Ball size | Typical shoulder height (weight) | Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| 45 cm | up to 37 cm (up to 11 kg) | Corgi, French Bulldog, Jack Russell |
| 55 cm | 38–50 cm (over 11 to 23 kg) | Beagle, Border Collie, Poodle |
| 75 cm | 51–62 cm (over 23 to 34 kg) | Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Husky, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer |
| 95 cm | 63 cm and up (over 34 kg) | German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Dobermann |
Why some breeds sit outside their range
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier at 40 cm is on the 75 cm ball, while a Beagle at 35 cm is on the 55 cm. That is deliberate.
Height is not the only factor. A short, heavy, powerful dog moves a ball with its chest and shoulders, and will get its jaw around anything smaller. A lighter dog of the same height pushes with its nose. Build and drive matter as much as the tape measure does.
If your dog is stocky and strong for its height, size up. If it is light and fast, the smaller size is usually right.
Between two sizes?
Go bigger. A ball the dog cannot get its mouth around lasts longer and works the whole body, while a ball that fits in the jaw turns into something to chew.
The exception is a puppy or a small senior dog. There, a ball that is too large is simply unmanageable and gets ignored.
Breed not listed?
Use the shoulder height column and the build note above. Mixed breeds vary far too much for a lookup table, so measure first and decide after.
Still unsure? Write to us with your dog's breed, shoulder height and weight, and we will tell you which size we would put them on. We would much rather answer an email now than have you unpack the wrong ball later.
What is in every size
All four sizes are built the same way: a ballistic fabric cover over an inflatable inner ball with a needle valve. Both parts are sold separately, so each layer can be replaced on its own. If you want the detail on how that works and why it matters, it is on what a herding ball is.