Dachshund, ‘Gretel’ (Douglas Cuddle Toys)

For my first ATB review for 2024, I would like to review a very special plush Dachshund created by Douglas Cuddle Toys, which is one of my favorite toy companies. Douglas Cuddle Toys was founded in 1956 and has been making designer-quality stuffed animals ever since in Keene, New Hampshire. Douglas Cuddle Toys is probably best-known for their variety of breed-specific dogs and cats, so it is fitting that my new favorite is a Douglas dog.

Meet Gretel, a delightful small 10-inch red dachshund stuffed animal apparently revised for 2022. Dachshunds are a breed of short-legged, long-bodied dog that can be red, blonde, or black and tan. Gretel, or Genevieve, as I call my doggy, is made of a uniform red-chestnut colored short plush fabric with large amber eyes and a black nose. True to the breed that she is meant to be, she has short little legs and a long body. Her short tail hangs down in the back, behind her rear legs. The plush material is pleasant to touch–very fine and soft, and seems to hold up fairly well to cleaning.

Like dachshunds typically do, Gretel has flappy ears that lie against her head. Her snout is somewhat angular, and she has the usual torso shape that led some people to call this breed “wiener dogs.” Because she has large plastic eyes and nose, she might not be the most suitable for very small children, but this is to be expected as I suspect this dog was aimed more at adult collectors.

The dog is very soft, but not overly understuffed. She is however good for travel because of her compact size. She is also realistic and is even sold by the AKC (American Kennel Club) website.

I probably wouldn’t recommend her for very little children, but she is a wonderful realistic piece for any dog lover, and made of very good materials too! At $18.99 she is a little pricey for some but a great deal when compared to similar quality in some Steiff products which cost way more. She is available on Amazon here.