Video: Tennis Ball Launcher Provokes Endless Dog Play

Jerry the daschund enjoys playing with this automatic tennis ball launcher, which shoots off the ball every time Jerry puts it back in the hopper. (Thanks, David!)

[#1 posted by RyanH , March 17, 2008 7:35 AM]

Now that is two minutes of pure joy.

[#2 posted by Benny , March 17, 2008 7:36 AM]

Dogs may be men's best friend, but clearly, a machine with a ball feeding baby is a dog's best friend.

and it'll never trick the dog by making it think you threw the ball, even though you didn't.

[#3 posted by Frank_in_Virginia , March 17, 2008 7:45 AM]

I love the wagging tail.

[#4 posted by Kestral , March 17, 2008 8:12 AM]

I'd so want to build that if I had plans and a dog. I'd probably want to upgrade it a bit.. build a new base that would allow it to change horizontal and then have a program that throws it with different power levels, altitudes, and azimuths just to keep the dog a bit more interested. Well.. and myself as well.

But yeah, it's like 2 minutes of pure, unadulterated joy.

[#5 posted by Maneki Nico , March 17, 2008 8:44 AM]

And they say animals are dumb. Jerry there has not only figured out how to reload the machine, he also knows it won't throw the ball until the mechanism cocks the launcher.

Kestral, it's only a matter of time until Jerry figures out how to program it himself.

Nevermind endless dog play, I could watch that all day.

[#6 posted by Kestral , March 17, 2008 9:32 AM]

Yeah, I notice that the dog has certainly figured out how to use it. Smart dog. I wonder how long it took him to learn how to load and cock the machine.

Seriously, if I had a dog and thought that the dog would learn how to use the machine to throw their own tennis balls for games of fetch, I'd seriously consider building it for use when I'd be away from the house and the dog would be home alone. It seems like a perfect way to help keep a dog from getting bored. Only thing I'd worry about is that the dog might snap one of the parts and hurt himself.

[#7 posted by Kid , March 17, 2008 10:11 AM]

(Thanks for keeping Boing Boing a directory of *Wonderful* things, not a directory of political angst.)

Hehe, it's like a tennis machine for humans, but now dogs have machines designed for them as well!

[#8 posted by Skep , March 17, 2008 10:27 AM]

Really, is there anything safer than the combination powerful automated homebrewed robotics and un-attended dogs and children?

Better count those toes, fingers and cute sobery tongues...

(i.e., neat device, but dangerous for dogs and children because of the powerful motors used to automatically elevate and retract the sling shot.)

[#9 posted by jasperzelf , March 17, 2008 10:31 AM]

Jeee! Made me giggle with glee!

[#10 posted by Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator , March 17, 2008 11:00 AM]

Skep, it can't have been used unsupervised; otherwise, who's shooting the footage?

[#11 posted by Skep , March 17, 2008 11:27 AM]

Skep, it can't have been used unsupervised; otherwise, who's shooting the footage?

Yes, you are right of course.

I wasn't being completely literal in my mockery. However, even attended, this device could snip off a finger faster than the camera operator could react. That, and it seemed implicit to me that such a device could be left on for the dog unattended--but that could just be me.

[#12 posted by Freddie Freelance , March 17, 2008 12:02 PM]

I'm in LUUUUUUUUV! All the joy of a dog chasing a Tennis Ball, none of the Slobber.

[#13 posted by strider_mt2k , March 17, 2008 12:03 PM]

Pure smiles!

(Yes yes as long as it doesn't hurt the children, of course.)

(THEY screw up EVERYTHING fun.) ;)

[#14 posted by w000t , March 17, 2008 12:04 PM]

I can only imagine what would happen to this machine if my English Bulldog went to play with it after getting some water.

[#15 posted by strider_mt2k , March 17, 2008 12:43 PM]

@ WOOOT: -and your walls, and your ceiling...

[#16 posted by semiotix , March 17, 2008 1:53 PM]

"and it'll never trick the dog by making it think you threw the ball, even though you didn't."

That's a bug. Version 2.0 will correct this.

[#17 posted by Skep , March 17, 2008 3:24 PM]

BTW, not to belabor the point too much but here is a still of the adorable munchkin where he puts his foot in the path of the scissor -like descending catapult arm.

http://aycu15.webshots.com/image/49254/2003872810869307195_rs.jpg

Granted, the maker has taken some precautions as can be seen by the clear plastic safety covers protecting some of the mechanics but the exposed pinch points are still appear to be an amputation hazard, as can be seen in the video.

[#18 posted by stagueve , March 17, 2008 3:38 PM]

Thats curious, i've suggest this vidéo to, i recieved a backlink with my name into it but i can't see it on BB? Whats happened?

[#19 posted by captainvw , March 17, 2008 7:38 PM]

AMPUTATION hazard?!?!?! To me, the machine doesn't look all that heavy. Plus, we see the mechanism reset when Jerry *almost* replaces the ball (but doesn't quite). Who's to say the machine doesn't sense obstacles in its way and stop, similar to an automatic garage door?

This looks like a pretty lightweight machine; I wouldn't be too worried about it hunting down Sarah Connor, or clipping a wayward toenail. GREAT invention. Now we just need a robotic string-swinger for lonesome cats!

[#20 posted by leonjacobs , March 17, 2008 7:47 PM]

Possibly, the most depressing video I have ever seen on teh interwebs.

[#21 posted by Justin Ried , March 18, 2008 11:57 AM]

I love the use of the classic Wrist Rocket slingshot! That's some pretty amazing DIY on all levels.

[#22 posted by Kevin , March 18, 2008 4:33 PM]

I've been accumulating parts to assemble something along the same lines for cat amusement, based on the mechanism from one of those cheap "USB missile launcher" toys and fuzzy catnip balls as ammo.

Biggest problem will be convincing the cats to reload it instead of letting their slaves do the work.

[#23 posted by Anonymous , March 23, 2008 8:21 PM]

I want one of these! My dog has more energy than I do and she would be so happy. Are they available somewhere? Sylvia

[#24 posted by Anonymous , April 10, 2008 1:25 PM]

Where can I get one of those?

[#25 posted by rezill , April 19, 2008 9:21 PM]

I would love the plans for this too... I have a super active dog that I need to keep occupied so she stops digging and taking the clothes off the line. Hope someone may have some ideas

[#26 posted by FetchFanatic , April 28, 2008 10:49 PM]

Someone already invented an automatic fetch machine and you can find the ball launcher at www.GoDogGoInc.com. It may even become your dog's new best friend!! Go to the video page to see some great videos of GoDogGo in action.

[#27 posted by adriennejenkins , March 23, 2009 2:13 AM]

The University of Victoria in British Columbia Canada also invented an automatic tennis ball launching machine for mobility impaired dog lovers. Here's the specs...
http://www.squidoo.com/tennis-ball-machines-for-dogs