Clutch Ball

by Emily Lux

Finnegan is ball obsessed so it's no surprise that he couldn't wait to get his little paws on this bounce-able clutch ball.

And it's a cool ball at that. It's designed for ultimate playability: indented grooves cover the 6" diameter. So your Kerry can grab, toss, roll, tug, catch – no matter which way the ball falls. It's made out of a soft, squeezable flex-material that's supposed to be tough and puncture resistant. And if that wasn't enough entertainment, there are built-in squeakers, too. (Important note: these squeakers are molded in rather than the separate "bladder"-type).

Finn eagerly grabbed the ball and took it to the family room to examine. Within seconds he began shouting gleefully at his ball and – with true Kerry athleticism – started "hiking" it from one end of the room to the other. It quickly became his go-to toy of choice, accompanying him to dinner, potty breaks and bedtime.

The ball was fun to toss. I admittedly have bad aim and appreciated the lightweight design as the ball collided into tables and walls. My aim was not improved by the fact that the ball tends to get a little "slick" after a lot of Kerry licks. Another drawback: color. Teal is fine for indoors, but it seems to get lost in my lush New Jersey landscape.

So, how did the clutch ball fare? Well, it had a good month of intensive Kerry fun. Finn played HARD with this ball...a rough and tough 3-4 hours a day. When I had to retire it, after he finally managed to put a tiny hole in it, he was devastated. A replacement was ordered that very afternoon. Overall, this clutch ball is a great toy, but if you're looking for "staying power" it's better suited for less enthusiastic Kerry players.

Purchased from dog.com for $8.19.