Chuckit! Ultra Ball and Launcher Bundle, Sport 18in, 2 Pack Medium 2.5in

Why it's worth it

This bundle pairs an 18-inch Chuckit! launcher with two medium Ultra Balls, sized for dogs between 20 and 60 pounds. It throws farther than anyone can by hand, and it picks the ball up off the grass so nobody has to touch it.

If you know nothing about the dog except that it likes to fetch, buy this. The launcher scoops the ball off the ground, so your recipient never handles a slobbery tennis ball again, and it extends their reach enough that a tired arm stops ending the game early. Chuckit! rates its Ultra Launcher for throws up to 140 feet. That means fewer throws for the same amount of dog exercise.

It's also a genuinely kind gift for someone whose shoulder isn't what it was. Owners in their sixties describe finally being able to tire out a young shepherd without bending over a hundred times. If the person on your list has a high-energy retriever or a herding breed and a bad rotator cuff, this quietly fixes their afternoon.

From our review of 8 gifts for dog lovers

What we like

• +If you know nothing about the dog except that it likes to fetch, buy this
• +It's also a genuinely kind gift for someone whose shoulder isn't what it was
• +The Ultra Ball itself is the better half of the bundle
• +This unwraps well, too

What to know

• –The 18-inch launcher throws far enough that it really wants open space
• –The balls aren't chew toys, and Chuckit!
• –The sizing is specific: medium balls for dogs roughly 20 to 60 pounds