Love the Chuckit! brand and we use this size thrower for our Border Collie. I've had this one for about a month. We use it daily, at least twice a day. I thought the ball that came with it would be dead by now but I'm pleased that it's still in one piece (we only play with it with the non-destructive dog, but occasionally the English Bulldog has gotten a hold of it). It's been through it all--mud, bodies of water, the English Bulldog's slobbery and destructive jaws. The thrower has also been through a bit, as our teacup poodle likes to grab the Chuckit! by the "neck" and "kill it" whenever we're grabbing the ball off the ground. It carries on.