When people ask us for the one thing that makes or breaks a herding ball, the answer is always the same: size. Not color, not brand, not price. If the ball is the wrong size, none of the rest matters — because a herding ball only works when your dog has to push it. Get the size right and the toy basically sells itself. Get it wrong and you've bought either a chew toy or a boulder your dog ignores.
Here's a simple, honest guide to picking the right size.
The one rule that matters most
The ball must be too big for your dog to pick up in their mouth. That's the whole mechanism. A herding ball works because your dog can't carry it, so instead they nudge, push, and chase it — the exact motion a herding breed is wired to love. The second a dog can grab the ball, it stops being a herding ball and becomes a chew toy, which is a different (and shorter-lived) product entirely.
So when in doubt, size up, not down. Too big still works — they just push a bigger ball. Too small fails completely.
A rough size-by-dog guide
Every dog is different, but here's a sensible starting point:
- Small dogs (under ~25 lbs) — think Corgis, small terriers, Shelties: a ball around 10–14 inches is often easiest to move, though many small-but-mighty herders happily push a bigger one. Light weight matters more than anything here.
- Medium dogs (~25–60 lbs) — Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Blue Heelers: 15–18 inches is the sweet spot. Big enough they can't grab it, light enough to move fast.
- Large dogs (60 lbs+) — German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, big Labs: 16–18 inches or more. Powerful dogs need a ball they genuinely can't get their jaws around.
Our own OG Herding Ball is 17.7" (45cm), which lands right in the range that works for most medium and large herding breeds — the majority of the dogs people buy these for. For a small dog, read the honest note below.
The honest note about small dogs
We'll be straight: a 17.7" ball is large next to a Corgi or a small Sheltie. Because it's a lightweight inflatable, plenty of small herders push it around just fine and love that it's bigger than they are. But a very small or senior dog may struggle to get something that size moving, and a smaller ball may simply be more fun for them. We'd rather you have a dog that's actually playing than one staring at a ball it can't budge. (More breed-specific detail in our Corgi herding ball guide.)
What about puppies?
Puppies grow fast, and their play should stay gentle while joints and teeth develop. For a young dog, err toward a lighter, softer ball, keep sessions short, and don't turn it into a rough, high-impact game. Buy for the size they'll be, not the size they are today — but let them grow into really going for it.
Weight matters as much as diameter
Size gets all the attention, but weight is the quiet second factor. A ball can be the perfect diameter and still be a dud if it's so heavy your dog can't push it, or so heavy it hurts when it bumps them. This is a big reason we went with a fabric-covered inflatable rather than a solid ball — big enough to herd, light enough to move fast and stay gentle on contact. (We compare inflatable vs. hard balls honestly in our Jolly Ball alternatives guide.)
Quick decision checklist
- Can your dog fit it in their mouth? If yes, it's too small — size up.
- Can your dog actually get it moving? If no, it's too big or too heavy for them — size down.
- Is it light enough to move fast and not hurt on contact? Good.
- Between two sizes? For medium and large dogs, go bigger.
The bottom line
Size is the spec that decides whether a herding ball becomes your dog's favorite thing or another ignored object in the corner. Get one too big to grab but light enough to push, size up when you're unsure (for most dogs), and be honest about a very small dog's limits. Nail the size and the rest — the tired dog, the burned energy, the peace and quiet — takes care of itself. Our OG Herding Ball is built at 17.7" for exactly the medium-to-large herders most people are shopping for, at $34.99 with a pump included.