Chew Test A Nerf Blaster For Dogs? Yes, Please!
The Nerf Dog Ball Launcher is a toy gun designed to launch fetch balls at the press of a trigger. It comes with two felt Nerf tennis balls with squeakers in them.
Fun Factor
Cocking and shooting the nerf ball blaster has a nice sound and feels satisfying. Given that this is intended as a family & pet toy and not a full-on American Gladiators tennis ball cannon, it does a fairly good job at launching fetch toy balls. You can even pick up balls with the barrel of the gun, so you don’t have to bend right over to pick it up with your hand. This is a great feature when the ball is wet or dirty.
The nerf dog gun shoots in a straight line and you’ll eventually be able to do trick shots with it which can boost the element of fun for you and your pup. It shoots around the 50-feet range in the air as described, if you arc your shot. I would imagine the large model to pack a bit more power as well.
Positive note: My dog has never shown interest in treating the gun itself as a chewing toy.
Quality & Durability
This nerf dog gun is well-built as you would expect from a long-time toy company like Nerf. The cocking mechanism requires you to pull back a sturdy tab that spans the whole width of the top of the gun. It makes some stress sounds as you pull it back, but it does not creak and squeak as cheap toy guns would. After more than a year of use there are no cracks or signs of wear and does not feel like screws or parts are loosening.
Safety
The nerf tennis ball launcher is very easy to use and operate. As with any toy gun you should never look down the barrel when it is loaded or cocked. It is made of high-quality plastic that has a slick finish, so it doesn’t really pick up dirt or fingerprints.
Indoor Use: The somewhat limited range makes it safe enough to use indoors. While I would like to have a little more range on the launch distance, I also understand a need for safety for the dog and the families that use the toy. Just be careful not to hit fragile objects on counters.
Note: This is the medium version, there is a large version claims to be able to shoot over 50ft in the air.
Using the supplied Nerf Dog Tennis Balls work great since they are lighter than tennis balls and ChuckIt! balls, standard tennis balls and ball hockey balls also work with this gun.
Outdoor Use: Great for outdoors and have had no issues. I’d imagine that there is a risk of jamming if dirt and water found their way inside the gun causing things to rust and/or interfere with the mechanism. Though that risk is low because all of the mechanical parts are located at the very back of the gun housing.
Value
Since it is well built and will last for a while, I think this toy is a great addition to any dog that plays with tennis balls. My dog gets excited every time when I pick up and load the gun as he waits with eager anticipation for a launch. It is a nice alternative to just throwing the ball with my hand. While you might not use this thing all day, it is very nice to have in your dog toy collection.
Final Thoughts
The Nerf Dog Tennis Ball blaster is a versatile indoor & outdoor ball launcher for dogs that is good for short to medium ranges. With a bit of practice, you can get a feel for how far the ball will go and start doing some trick shots off things that will really get your dog going. Kids will have even more of a blast with this (pun intended), just make sure they play safe. Recommended for all sized dogs that can fit a tennis ball in their mouth and like to play fetch.
Overall Score
