We have a standard poodle with a ball fetish. She loves (and this is not a strong enough word) tennis balls or anything that can be thrown and returned. We have a large backyard but when I throw the tennis ball (without the Chuckit), she just looks at me with an exasperated, "Really?" The Chuckit allows me to throw the ball clear across our (did I mention large?) yard. I can throw it for a long time without ever getting a sore shoulder or arm and the BEST PART is that I never have to touch a slobbery, muddy ball. Picking the ball up with the Chuckit is very easy, as long as the dog isn't attacking the ball while I'm trying to get it off the ground.