Cool stuff to distract (or save) a pet

I'M ALWAYS on the lookout for great new products that can make life with pets easier and better. When I find them, I want to share them with you, and I ran across some doozies in July at SuperZoo, a pet retailer trade show in Las Vegas. I asked some of my colleagues about their favorites as well. Some are brand new and some are tried and true. Here's a sampling of what we like best.

*  Poochie Pee Cup. If you own a tiny dog or one who stands low to the ground, you've probably been frustrated over and over any time you've been required to get a urine sample to take to the veterinarian. I feel your pain. It's not an easy task.

Dogs don't like being followed around by an owner who's crouching down with a container and trying to stick it beneath them while they're in the middle of a good pee. Enter the Poochie Pee Cup (makes me smile every time I say the name). It has a long telescopic handle that allows you to collect a sample from up to 5 feet away. Just set it to the appropriate length, attach the disposable plastic cup, and slide it beneath your dog as he starts to urinate.

There you have it: a clean urine sample with no muss, no fuss. $29.95 for the device, plus $15.95 for a pack of 250 disposable cups from poochiepeecup.ca.

*  Tuggo Dog Toy. It sounds simple - a hard, hollow plastic ball with a rope through the middle - but it's a super plaything for big, strong dogs who are difficult to wear out. The rope allows the dog to pull from either side, providing a tug-of-war effect. Adjust the weight of the ball by filling it with water. Fully loaded, it weighs 20 pounds. The 10-inch ball is available in red or blue. $29.99 from TuggoDogToy.com.

*  Safety Turtle Pet Kit. It's devastating to lose a pet to drowning. Dr. Patty Khuly's French bulldog, Marcel, drowned a dozen years ago, and she vowed that it would never happen again. To protect her pets, she has them wear this cute and effective water safety device. The Safety Turtle attaches to a pet's collar. If the pet goes in the water, an alarm sounds to alert you.

"I'm adamant about the effectiveness of products like these for both kids and pets," Khuly says. The kit includes a Safety Turtle base, an AC adapter, a Velcro strap and a Safety Turtle to attach to your pet's collar. $149 from safetyturtle.com.

* iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher. Has your arm just about fallen off from endlessly throwing balls for your dog? I know I've been there. Load this battery-operated device with miniature-size tennis balls (or better yet, teach your dog to load it) and watch his excitement as it shoots them 10, 20 or 30 feet away. Right now it's best suited to little dogs because of the small size of the balls, but a version for big dogs is in the works. $99.95 from goifetch.com.

*  Want to see what's down at your dog's eye view? A new harness from Kurgo lets you attach a GoPro, Sony Action Cam or similar device to your dog's chest so he can produce his own videos. It comes in four sizes, but fit varies from dog to dog, so you may need to make adjustments. $35 from kurgostore.com.