Need a sensor to make ball roll away from pet but which sensor? Having recently entered the world of Arduino I am seeking to make, as my first project, a ball that will sense my dogs approach and roll away. 

I can handle the rolling part but I have been unable to find a sensor that will work when fully embedded in the ball (so the dog cannot bite or swallow it). This means no ultrasound or infra red or normal proximity sensor will do.

My best bet - an inductive proximity sensor (with a metal object attached to dog's collar) is only effective at a maximum distance of 8 cm and that is far too little. I need something that activates at say 1 foot.

Any ideas anyone?
Perhaps an RFID tag on your dogs collar and a reader inside the ball will work.
You will just have to find a reader and tag combination that can work from the range you need, I think some RFID can work from over 1ft.
EDIT: You will need active tags (battery powered) to get over a foot range.

PIR sensors detect heat given off by humans and animals, so they make work through the ball. (not totally sure though).

Edit: i think PIR that is capable of detecting small animals may be your best bet you would just have to calibrate the range of detection some how