Zhu Zhu Pets

Andrew Hawnt asked:


With Christmas 2008 looming ever closer, the race is on to find the items that kids are going to be craving. The trick is to find them at the best prices and with enough time to spare to get them under your tree before the big day itself. Of course, half the problem is solved simply by shopping online and beating the mad crowds and the crush of the festive High Street. Everyone knows how stressful this time of year can be, so advice is always a good thing To help you along with your Christmas shopping, here is a handy guide to the most sought-after items for children this Christmas.

As ever, TV and film items are popular, but there are also some great new additions to the market for Boys Toys at Christmas 2008. Here are some of the items that kids are wanting this year:

Transforming WALL.E: the definitive WALL-E toy based on the adorable robot from the hit film.

Bakugan Starter Pack and battle Arena: The starter set and huge battle arena from the hot new trading game.

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro: A micro radio controlled car that is capable of incredible stunts.

Transformers Animated Roll Out Command Optimus Prime: Here is Optimus Prime from the new Transformers cartoon, standing 12 inches tall and featuring 'Auto Spin' conversion.

Cars Walkin' Talkin McQueen: McQueen comes to life with lights and sound, and he walks and talks just like in the animated film.

Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer: This full-head replica helmet features technology that will transform kids' voices into the processed rasp of a Clone Trooper.

Ben 10 Deluxe Omnitrix: A great toy replica of Ben's wrist-mounted device from the TV show, used for calling aliens to do battle.

Power Rangers Overdrive Tracker: great toy replica of the Morpher from the TV show, with lights and sound.

Gormiti Island of Gorm Playset: A superb playset designed to display Gormiti figures on in an action setting.

Indiana Jones Sounds FX Hat & Whip: The title4 says it all. Now kids can dress up as the movie adventurer.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars AT-TE: The formidable vehicle from the Star wars: Clone Wars movie and TV series comes with articulated legs, lights and sounds.

WWE RAW Arena Playset: The wrestling phenomenon comes to your living room! A superb playset for fans of the theatrical wrestling movement.

GIRLS TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS 2008 The girls are also very interested in media tie-in merchandise, but some old favourites are still going strong too, along with some great new items on the market.

High School Musical Sing Together Dolls: From the Disney hit come Gabriella, Troy and Sharpay dolls with microphones. The dolls sing their signature song from the film and sing along with kids.

Barbie Princess Liana Singing Doll: The Princess Liana comes in a day dress, which transforms into a ball gown. Her necklace lights up as she sings songs from the accompanying DVD.

FurReal Biscuit, My Lovin' Pup: One of the biggest hits this Christmas for kids is the FurReal Biscuit toy dog, a life-size golden retriever puppy with some fantastic interactive features, movement and sounds.

Littlest Pet Shop Tail Waggin' Fitness Club: This great play-set gives your toy pets a fun fitness workout, with a spinning hamster wheel, hurdles and more. The play-set also includes two pet toys.

Littlest Pet Shop VIPs: These cute plushes include a code that allows you to play your favourite characters online in the Littlest Petshop Virtual environment.

Sylvanian Families Old Hollow Oak Treehouse: The classic toy line returns with this beautiful new play-set, featuring multiple indoor rooms and outdoor living spaces.

I Love Ponies Honey, My Baby Pony: Honey, My Baby Pony is a lap size interactive pet foal including real pony sounds and movement.

BABY born with Magic Potty: Baby Born with Magic Potty is one of the most wanted dolls on the market this year and features eight different movements, lights and sound.

CHOU CHOU My First Tooth: Another hit doll this year is the CHOU CHOU - This 48cm doll comes with a teething/nurturing play modes and realistic baby sounds.

Rescue Pets Swim to Me Puppy: The Rescue Pets Swim to Me Puppy is a cute stray puppy that will swim when placed in water.

Bratz Girlz Really Rock Dolls: The famous toy line is back with the Bratz Girlz Really Rock Dolls, which come with 2 outfits and 2 musical instruments each.

Camp Rock Gift Pack: the new TV musical sensation comes to the toy world with this great double pack of characters.

There's countless other items on the market for Christmas 2008, but these are amongst the most desired by kids at the moment, and hopefully this will give you some pointers on finding the perfect gifts for Santa to put under your tree this year. You can reduce your stress levels (and the cost of the festive season) by shopping online, and also reduced the headaches by checking out some of these great examples of the current toy market. Merry Christmas one and all.



Shelby

Tom James asked:


'Tis the season for glitter, tinsel, toys, and delectable food. But did you know all of these things can be hazardous, even deadly, to your pet?

Gift wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and faux snow are pretty to look at and may be particularly intriguing to your pet, but they can also be swallowed or caught around your pet's neck. Tree tinsel and small parts from children's toys can also end up in the wrong mouth and become lodged in the throat, causing your pet to choke to death.

Be sure to hang tree decorations out of reach, as ornament hooks can also be a choking hazard. And make sure your Christmas tree is well secured. Cats are inquisitive and love to climb. They can easily become entangled in strands of lights, knocking the tree over.

Holiday plants such as mistletoe, holly and poinsettia can be deadly to animals. Make sure these are well out of reach of pets. Holiday candles should also be kept out of harm's way.

While there may be plenty of food in your home this time of year, avoid feeding your pet things such as turkey or other types of poultry that may have bones. And never give your pet chocolate. A substance called theobromine is in chocolate and can be toxic to pets.

Be careful when winterizing your automobiles. Spilled anti-freeze can have a sweet taste to pets, but can be especially dangerous if ingested, even fatal. The location of other household chemicals should be checked to be sure they don't pose a potential hazard.

By keeping these tips in mind and using common sense, you can help keep your pets safe during the holidays.



Camren

Florian Ross asked:


Pets like their toys, and guinea pigs are no exception. However, they do get bored easily if they only have the same toys to play with over and over again, so it's nice to give them a lot of variety.

There are some toys made just for guinea pigs, such as Bounce Back toys (you place a treat inside the toy and the cavy knocks it down to get to the treat, then it bounces right back up again). At only $6 or so, it's an affordable purchase and most guinea pigs seem to like it.

Besides toys made just for guinea pigs, you'll also find that many items designed for rabbits and ferrets can be enjoyed by your pet as well. Some guinea pigs also enjoy playing with cat and bird toys, but you must be cautious when using these items since they can be easily broken and swallowed by your pet.

Of course, you don't have to go out to your local pet stores in order to gather toys for your guinea pig. Many items that you have lying around your house would also be perfect. Let me give you some examples:

- Paper - Guinea pigs love to chew on and play with any kind of paper, including the newspaper. If you do give them paper to play with, make sure it is as plain as possible since the cavies will probably be ingesting some of it.

- Cardboard spools - You know those spools inside your rolls of toilet paper and paper towels that you normally just throw away? Don't throw them away any more. These are great toys for your guinea pigs.

- Old Clothing - Socks, towels, even small shirts can be added to your pet's cage so that they can hide in them or use them as pillows.

- Small balls - While guinea pigs usually love those cat balls with the bell in the center, they aren't the best toys for your pet. A tennis ball or ping pong ball will deliver the same fun but without the danger.

- Some children's toys - Small stuffed animals, old-fashioned wooden blocks, and similar items can be passed down to your guinea pig for hours of amusement. Be sure to watch the guinea pig so that he or she doesn't start eating the inside part of the stuffed animal which can be dangerous.

- PVC Tubing - If you have some old pieces of plumbing pipe around, you can put it into the cage. The guinea pig will usually hide under it or push it around the cage.

There are two things you should not allow your guinea pig to play with even though they are regularly sold in pet stores and may seem ideal for your pet: exercise wheels and balls.

While smaller versions of both of these are commonly enjoyed by hamsters, gerbils, and rats, the larger versions are not good for guinea pigs. Both can actually cause serious injuries to the cavy's feet, legs, even back. Plus, the exercise balls have a habit of popping open which could give the guinea pig enough time to escape.

If you want to safely allow your guinea pig to get exercise while staying in a confined area, you are much better off purchasing a small pet playpen which you can set up in any room of your house, then covering the floor with newspaper, and allowing your pet to run around or to play with their ordinary toys inside of the fenced in area. Its much safer for the guinea pig.



Jalen

John Samson asked:


All dogs, especially puppies, thrive on stimulation and enjoy playing. Although it\'s great to play with your dog, it\'s not always practical or possible to do so all the time. That\'s where specialized dog toys come in - they can help keep your dog busy and ensure his mind is occupied. But what types of toys are right for your dog and how do you go about choosing a toy for your furry friend?

These days, there are a range of toys available to suit all preferences and tastes. Some dogs love chasing things, so balls that can be thrown are ideal, whilst others thrive on huge amounts of chewing or time spent puzzling over a strange looking toy. Finding out what would be best for your dog may be a case of trial and error. If you notice, for example, that he seems fond of chewing your slippers, then a toy to chew would be a good starting point. If you\'re not sure, buy a selection of different toys and try them out one by one. It may be that he appreciates the variety and enjoys them all, or you may find one in particular appeals more.

Ensuring you purchase a safe toy that won\'t harm your dog is just as essential as making sure toys bought for young children are safe. Each year many dogs suffer accidental injuries that can be nasty and painful as a result of swallowing small pieces of toys, broken off pieces of sticks or even the squeaky parts from inside novelty squeaky balls. So before you buy, make sure that the toy is well made, sturdy and doesn\'t have any parts that might come off and end up injuring your pet.

Some of the common types of dog toys include toys that can be tugged, chewed, thrown or offer some form of puzzle or novelty factor. Find out more about them below.

Toys to tug

Dogs that love to play tugging games are bound to enjoy tug toys! These come in various forms, such as rubber rings or hoops, and are generally designed to be held by a human on one side and by a dog on the other. A good quality, durable tug toy should last for ages, despite plenty of tugging activity, so remember to look for a well made option. When you\'re not there to aid in the tugging, they can often double up as great chewing toys.

Toys to chew

Whilst dogs would be happy to chew your slippers, furniture or anything tasty looking that comes into view, it\'s not always so great for owners to have anything and everything chewed to threads! That\'s where toys to chew come in and can be an absolute joy to your beloved pet. Toys designed to be chewed are usually made of strong, hard rubber, so that they last for ages and give your dog plenty of amusement.

Toys to throw

Many dogs traditionally love having a stick thrown for them to chase after, but sticks can pose a danger if bits break off and get stuck in the mouth or throat. If your dog enjoys toys that are thrown, choose alternative options such as balls or rubber objects that can be safely thrown and chased. Standard tennis balls are great, but you can also get specialised balls designed with attachments. As well as being great exercise for your dog, this type of play doubles up as good exercise for you, too!

Novelty toys

A quick peek in a good pet shop or online store will reveal a huge selection of novelty dog toys on offer, from things that squeak and make noises, to furry toys and strange toys to give dogs something to puzzle over. If your dog responds well to noises, then squeaky toys could provide hours of fun, plus they\'re good to chew. Do take care to ensure the squeaky part doesn\'t come loose easily though, as they\'re not designed to be swallowed. Toys that are puzzling are ideal for dogs that like quieter, drawn-out entertainment and those that are happy playing on their own.

As a whole, dog toys can provide hours of fun and enjoyment, and help your dog develop into a playful animal, so why not treat your pet today?



Louis

James Oscar asked:


Will The Family Survive Without Go Go Pets Toys?

The new Go Go Pets (or as they are called now 'Zhu Zhu Pets') are cute little furry hamsters.

Each of the Go Go Pets come with a line of fun accessories like a car, a surfboard, a wheel etc… and also, they each behave like a hamster, too.

Each hamster is programmed to behave and respond like a hamster.

There are four hamster toys in all. Each one has been given a name and a personality. 

You might be asking yourself right now "What makes Go Go Pets a good toy option for my children?"

I can think of three reasons why Zhu Zhu Pets are a good toy option for your child.

Go Go Pets are a great compromise to owning and caring for a real animal.

They help your child develop a creative imagination.

Mechanically they work well and are durable.

Let's look at each of these.

Let's face it. Most children soon discover dogs and cats, turtles and hamsters. 

It doesn't take long before your child falls in love with one of those pets and really wants one. But as parents, we know that perhaps our child isn't yet old enough or disciplined enough to properly care for the pet.

It is true that owning and caring for a pet can help teach your child a lot of valuable things.

The counter argument is that if you get your child a pet before they are ready to care for it, then you yourself will end up taking care of it.

A Go Go Pet is the answer! Your child can care for and take that first step towards pet ownership without any unforeseen disastrous consequences!

If you don't want the hassle of pet ownership, and yet you want your child to somewhat experience what a pet is like, then Go Go Pets toys are the answer.

In addition to the above, Go Go Pets are durable and are interactive.

If your toy hamster scurries into the bathroom it will make little 'bathroom' sounds, like brushing teeth or a soft flushing sound. It can make the sound of running water or teeth brushing. When it scurries into the bedroom, it will make soft snoring sounds.

One of the shortcomings of your Zhu Zhu (Go Go Pets) pet is that when you first get it, most likely you will need to replace the batteries.

Finally, each Go Go Pet inspires your child to pretend and imagine on a grand scale. 

If you have the go go pet products that go along with the hamsters, like a car, skateboard, etc… then your child will have hours of pretending that their hamster is surfing, bike riding, flying,

… in short, they will develop a whole living world in which hamsters are exciting and adventurous. It is very healthy for a child to develop an imaginary world. It's normal and healthy for your child to create their own world… one with exciting and lovable hamsters! It is a hugely better benefit than having them sit hypnotized in front of a mind numbing television show. 



Teresa