Christmas toys hit the shelves as life-size dog tops wish list

CHILDREN have only started back at school, but Christmas, it seems, is just around the corner.

Some 106 days around the corner to be precise. Although well over three months away, consumers are already being told what is the must-have toy this Christmas.

A top ten list compiled and released yesterday by Smyths Toys sees Christmas season now begin well in advance of Hallowe’en.

Other retailers, such as Penneys, have also begun stocking Christmas decorations in early September.

Topping the toys list is a life-size, tail-wagging, paw-giving Golden Retriever puppy called Biscuit, followed by a Clone Wars ultimate Lightsabre and Transformers roll out Optimus Prime.

Sitting at 56cm tall, Biscuit, is apparently just like the real thing, without the horrors of house training.

Using the very latest in sophisticated animatronics, Biscuit will listen to voice commands, like “sit” and “give me the paw” and then obediently carry out the demands.

Costing €200, Biscuit is also a lot cheaper than the real thing. A puppy, it seems, is now not just for Christmas, but for as long as the batteries last.

Chief executive of the Consumer Association of Ireland Dermott Jewell said yesterday that such moves were putting unnecessary pressure on parents who have already been hit with substantial back-to-school costs in recent months.

“It is completely unacceptable. It is unfair to the parent and confusing to the child. The only thing this is about is money, with retailers trying to outstrip the competition. We are still not looking forward to Hallowe’en, it is way to early for this type of thing,” he said.

Mr Jewell said the argument that there is demand for such merchandise as early as September simply did not stand up.

“It is very hard to embarrass these retailers. They will tell you that there is demand out there, but the reality is that it is non-existent at such an early stage as September. It is typical of retailers’ nonsensical approach to Christmas. If that’s the way they are to approach it then we should all be buying shamrocks for St Patrick’s Day sometime in the next three weeks. It is ridiculous,” he said.

Stephen Tymlin of Smyths Toys said: “Not surprisingly, the top toy list for Christmas 2008 is more technologically advanced than ever before. If your kids are looking for the best in fun and sophisticated software then this year’s top toys will not disappoint,” he said.