The Island of Dr. Moreau's Misfit Toys, Part 2

Earlier I wrote about the Alien Giraffe phenomenon in children's toys.  (Giraffes have horns in real life, not antennae.)  Since then, I've noticed another curious trend: animals with dog noses.

Dog noses look something like this:
image via
Now, that's a dog nose on an actual dog.  Dogs can and should have dog noses; it is normal, and good, and cute.  But you know what doesn't have a dog nose?

A goat.

For comparison, here's what a goat nose really looks like:
image via
Not the same.

The goat isn't even that egregious, but how about an even more familiar barnyard animal?
Here is a bull...
image via
 And here is a bull with a dog's nose and cleft lip:

Now, look to the left of the bull.  See that monkey?  Its nose looks pretty good, doesn't it?
Let's compare:,550x550,075,f.u1.jpg
image via
Close enough.  But now you know what's coming, don't you?
 Monkeys with dog noses: 
the link that should have stayed missing.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much of the children's toy manufacturers.  After all, we've read about the exploits of Curious George for decades without ever quibbling that he's a chimpanzee and therefore a type of ape, not a "curious little monkey" after all.  Perhaps childhood is not the time to debate zoological taxonomies, or even basic realities of what animals are and what they do; after all, this is a time when a lion and giraffe can be BFFs.

Lesson learned:
Nothing's quite as heartwarming as a cold, wet nose.


  1. They have Fireman Sam! It's so hard to find toy stores with quality toys. I grew up with a Fireman Sam obsession and handed that trait down to my daughter. The staff is always friendly and helpful, even when it was really busy I had people ask if they could help me find anything!

  2. Mr. Potato Head is the main ever toy to be promoted on TV and the most established toy in history is a stick.