Hi Megan - first things first
Years ago my Chizziewink (rip- I will love you forever) had what I called OCBD Obsessive Compulsive Ball Disorder. She was a fetcher - she would fetch anything, anytime, anywhere with anyone. Chizzie was simply obsessed. Ignoring her didn't work - she would oof at you and throw the fetchy item at you until she got her way. As she aged, she did calm down a bit, but until her last breath she was obsessed with ball playing.
We could probably exchange some pretty intense fetching stories.