- Dog toys, particularly those resembling cultural icons like Lamb Chop, are increasingly popular.
- This trend of integrating pets into human social spheres has historical roots, dating back to ancient civilizations.
- Ultimately, these toys serve as a form of family bonding and reflect the human desire to share interests with their pets.
My last dog had a favorite toy, and it was my favorite as well. As part of a team at a former job, we found an Etsy seller who made a tiny plush replica of the product we produced, but for dogs! A chewable newspaper for dogs with a strikingly similar design of our newspaper. A tiny version of the product I spent my days working on, now in the soft paws of my standard poodle.
Its length and shape made for the perfect fetching toy, fitting directly in my dog’s mouth as she ran across the patio, and we spent many afternoons throwing the plush newspaper back and forth. Since her passing, it’s the one item I’ve decided not to donate. It sits in my closet and I tucked that beautiful playtime memory into the back of my mind, until recently when I read several fascinating articles and discussions about America’s cult favorite dog toy, Lamb Chop.
Shari Lewis’s beloved 1960’s lamb puppet has solidified a space in our dog’s lives, from seasonal outfits, to jumbo versions, to tiny birthday hats, and even entire boxes of different sized lambs. Lamb Chop is a staple part of toy bins, even securing the nickname “lamby” amongst fans. Again, this toy has a shape that lends itself to fitting into animals mouths making it a great fetching toy, but there’s more to it when pet parents on TikTok are throwing Lamb Chop parties.
As referenced by the New York Times, with some 32% of pet owners currently in the millennial generation that grew up watching Lamb Chop’s Play-Along on their TVs throughout the 90’s, let’s be honest, it’s the owners who really love tossing around a tiny Lamb Chop puppet. Beyond everyone’s favorite stuffed lamb, a search for dog toys reveals so many obscure references, anyone can find a toy that fits the exact personality you’d like to impart on your fur baby. Lamb Chop is not alone in this feel-good nostalgia kick.
New Yorker’s can grab a bagel and coffee (“Packed with fluff!”) or Philly folks can find a cotton water ice and pretzel for their dogs. LA dogs might enjoy a “Hollywoof” set. Pets of gamers might find a “game bone” player toys or gaming dice in their holiday stockings.
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Foodies can guide their dogs to charcuterie board interactive games or a seafood boil with several toys within a plush pot. There are a plethora of options for Disney adults. Even more oddly specific are Malort bottles, a Dolly Pardon all-access tour pass, even the iconic cookie tin filled with grandma’s sewing materials. Each toy speaks to a different human community, a trend you want people to know your dog is a part of, even as far as the great millennial stereotype of brunch dates.
Of course, dogs don’t understand the cultural connotation of a large burning hemp joint. And some of the shapes leave legitimate questions as to how playtime will go; how do you toss and fetch an entire bowl of ramen noodles? But none of that matters since these toys are for us. These toys speak to our own activities and fandoms, and they create a cultural bond between us and our pets, pulling them deeper into our families, and imagining them as enjoying the same pop culture references that we love. This idea isn’t new.
Research into ancient pet relationships tells us a similar story about integrating our animals into our communities. Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, the type of collar or amulet around a dog’s neck would indicate its owner’s status and place in local communities.
In research on the burial process of ancient animals, University of Alberta’s Robert Losey discusses in-depth the funerary traditions of leaving human items like spoons with your pet for their journey into the afterlife. These items did more to help other humans understand the owners place in society than they did appeal to the pet, also helping owners include their animal into their familial unit. It’s not such a different exercise as buying your dog a soft roll of film because you have an affinity for photography.
Considering the records of Victorians creating what we’d now call enrichment toys for their beloved songbirds, it doesn’t seem so strange that we’d gravitate toward tiki plush toys and doggie dentist activities. Lamb Chop represents us as much as it creates enjoyment for our pets, and what could be better than family bonding.
Do you have a “lamby”? Share your favorite pet bonding toy with me at adooling@gannett.com.
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