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Your dog probably loves to chase and fetch toys, but your play is limited by the scope of your tossing ability. How would you like to be able to launch toys much farther?

A new toy called Longshots adds plenty of distance by providing you with a special launcher and toys made specifically work with it because of the way they're weighted. Just load the toy, launch it into the air, and your dog will have a blast tearing off after it.

Great Toy for Exercise

So many dogs have boundless energy, and they don't always get the opportunity to burn it off. The obesity epidemic is just as bad for pets as it is for humans, so I like any toy designed to increase physical activity for canines.

I encountered the Longshots launch toy for dogs at the Global Pet Expo earlier this year. It was an intriguingly simple idea: make a launcher that works basically on a slingshot principle, design toys to fit into it, and let the fun begin.

So many dogs love to play fetch, and the farther you can throw a toy, the more exercise your canine companion gets as he chases and retrieves it. Longshots lets you consistently get a good distance once you get the hang of how it works, and you have your choice of different kinds of toys.

Stuffed Toys or Balls

My favorites are the cute nylon toys, like the duck and dog you see in the photo accompanying this article (a frog is also available). They're colorful and durable, and they load easily onto the launcher.

Their design allows them to gain a good distance. It only took me a couple of tries to get the hang of sending them whizzing through the air. You can use the nylon toys for water play if you have a retriever who loves to chase things into a lake when you're playing in the great outdoors.

If your dog likes squeaky or crinkly toys, opt for the swirl felt version. It has a crinkle squeaker inside.

You can also get a special ball that comes with a loop designed to make it easy to launch. The ball bounces erratically when it hands to keep your pooch guessing and its grooves are designed to help clean teeth when your dog chews it. The balls come in several different colors and can easily be cleaned with a quick rinse.

The Next Step in Dog Toys

I like this current direction in dog toys that goes beyond simply tossing a ball or playing tug of war with a standard plush plaything. Longshots reminds me of Chuckit balls, although the latter are meant for indoor use, while the former is definitely an outside toy due to the distance you can get on your launch.

The nice thing about Longshots is that once you buy the launcher, you can use it with any additional toys you purchase. Start out with one, and if your dog likes it, or if it gets too drooly and worn from overuse, simply buy new stuffed critters or balls to use with the launcher. You'll only be able to use Longshots toys because of their design; other playthings won't work with the system.

You might find that your pup enjoys the Longshots toys even when you're not using the launcher. My test dog loved carrying the duck around and playing tug of war with it. He quickly learned what the launcher meant and got very excited when he saw me get it out.

Watch for Availability

Longshots dog toys are very new, keep an eye on the manufacturer's website to find out about availability and pricing information. It's linked at the top of this article.

Manufacturer's Site

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.