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Two of the items briefly trailed in my Dream Toys report, first Street Muttz and then Insect Cage Gallery, the first stated as 4+ while the latter is 3+.

Street Muttz

This mongrel has sat patiently in my hall since arriving, an occasional rub of it’s ear produced a pant or other such sound with the occasional friendly growl and I found this sweet. I hasten to add I am approaching my second childhood - some would say I’m already there - and the occasional head movement is also very acceptable.

It sits around 24cm tall and is described by Radica as one of five ‘homeless puppy-eyed pooches looking for a loving family to adopt them’. Mine was long haired mainly mid brown with a cream face. The long hair needs to be carefully brushed (it is provided) to reveal a pair of bright brown eyes. By then a bark, yap and other sounds will be familiar, leave it alone for a few minutes and it becomes quiet again.

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Apart from your chance to see if the child will really care for it as a test to see if the real thing will be cared for or just forgotten and that task falls to you for the next fifteen years, this with it’s collection of noises and movements is a real joy. Radica are committed to donate £10,000 generated from sales to the Dogs Trust.

As a lifelong dog and dare I say cat lover should you decide to get a dog then there are many rescue charities and while not all rescue dogs are suitable for children a lot are my last dog Tessa was the most docile animal you would ever find. She caught a squirrel one day and then was at a loss what to do, let it go and it quickly departed up a tree. Street Muttz are available for £20 or less from a range of stores and batteries are included. www.radicauk.com and click on Street Muttz.

Insect Cage Gallery

Once again batteries are included with this product from TOMY. It is a 8x7x6 aquarium with a handle. I am told there are three colours (mine was green) it has a yellow handle as no doubt it will be carried around to show all and sundry.

Inside the tank is a brown covering looking like wet sand with a couple of reeds three rocks and a dead tree branch. In the centre is a rather nice six legged green insect, to me I would guess it was a grasshopper but the instructions are non specific.

A switch on top of the cage lights the cage and the insect starts to chirrup it also flaps its wings, something that could be very soothing. However like the Street Muttz neither has a huge volume so not only does it encourage the child to play quietly it also avoids disturbing others. The instructions do go into details about linking or stacking cages as they would undoubtedly like you and other to purchase several.

The stated price is £9.99 but no doubt it will be available for less, the web site for this and other Tomy toys is www.tomy.co.uk

In the next few weeks I hope to cover other items from my visit to Dream Toys keep reading to find that perfect Christmas Gift at not that exorbitant prices.