Puppy Surprise
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| Type | Stuffed toys |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | Playskool |
| Company | Hasbro (1991–2012) Just Play (2013–2023) |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1991–2023 |
| Materials | Velcro |
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Puppy Surprise is a toy franchise created by Playskool in 1990. The toy consists of a twelve-inch mother dog and a number of four-inch puppies (a minimum of three and a maximum of five. The gimmick of the toy is that the puppies are contained inside the dog's tummy pouch, fastened by a velcro strip.[1] The number of puppies, their appearance and their genders are a complete surprise until released from the pouch.[2] Every set of dog and puppies were sold separately.[3] Another feature was that the puppies' eyes could be opened or closed by wiping them with water.[4] The franchise would become an inspiration for similar toys such as Little Live Pets Mama Surprise manufactured by Moose Toys.[5]
Marketing[edit]
1990s[edit]
By early 1992, Puppy Surprise marketed by Hasbro and sold commercially in stores.[6][7] It was one of the biggest successful selling toys on the toy market along with the G.I. Joe doll.[8] According to Toy Manufacturers of America, the toy was one of the top winners in toy sales next to the Barbie toyline.[9] It even made record sales in Target and Walmart stores.[1] By 1993, there were similar products by the same manufacturer, including Kitty Surprise and Pony Surprise.[10]
Some critics have claimed that the toy encourages careless breeding, while it helped outline how reproduction and overpopulation works.[11] Adding to the Puppy Surprise merchandise were puppy outfits, cots, baby bottles, diapers, and bibs.[12]
2010s[edit]
By Fall 2014, the toy line was revived by the manufacturer Just Play and sold out relatively quickly.[13] It was so popular that it was sold out for many weeks. [14] A new brand of multicolored dog and puppy toys came out, along with other animals such as the Unicorn Surprise and the Llamacorn Surprise. Squeezing a puppy would trigger a barking sound, powered by non-replaceable batteries. An additional feature of the toyline is that one of the puppy litter would be smaller than the rest, being the runt.[15]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Discounters to Get Bigger Slice of Christmas Pie". Discount Store News. 31 (22). November 16, 1992. p. 58.
- ↑ Playskool (2005). Puppy Surprise Manual (PDF). Hasbro. Search this book on
- ↑ "Puppy Surprise Plush". Just Play. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Kids! Mark Your Toys". Albuquerque Journal. December 4, 1994.
- ↑ "The Hottest Holiday Toy of 2022 Is a Baby-Making Guinea Pig". The Wall Street Journal. December 19, 2022.
- ↑ Hunt, Kimberly N.; Sheldon, AnnaMarie L. (1999). Notable Corporate Chronologies – Volume 1, A-K (Second ed.). United States: Gale. ISBN 0-8103-9501-0. Search this book on
- ↑ Epperson, Patricia C. (2001). Federal Trade Commission Decisions, Volume 126. United States: United States Federal Trade Commission. p. 450. ISBN 0-16-050968-8. Search this book on
- ↑ Hoover, Gary; Campell, Alta; Spain, Patrick J. (1993). Hoover's handbook of American business 1994. United States: The Reference Press, Inc. ISBN 1-878753-21-5. Search this book on
- ↑ "Talking Dolls Head Toy Fair". Discount Store News. 32 (5). March 1, 1993. p. 42.
- ↑ "Christmas Toys 1993". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 7, 1993.
- ↑ "The Animals' Agenda". No. 3. United Kingdom: Animal Rights Network, Inc. April 1992. p. 10.
- ↑ "Argos Superstore Catalog Autumn/Winter 1993 – Nursery & Toys". United Kingdom. 1993. p. 612.
- ↑ "Simple, Even Retro, Toys Gain Favor This Christmas". The New York Times. November 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Discounters to Get Bigger Slice of Christmas Pie". CNBC. October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Products: Puppy Surprise". Just Play. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
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