You’ve seen her. If you own a dog, or even if you just browse Instagram for five minutes, you’ve seen that floppy, white plush toy with the red paws and the eyelashes that look a little too fabulous for a sheep. Shari Lewis’s iconic puppet, Lamb Chop, has somehow transitioned from a 1960s television star to the most ubiquitous dog toy on the planet. But it’s the large lamb chop dog toy specifically—the big, 10-inch or 24-inch giant version—that seems to have a strange, almost hypnotic hold on our pets.
It’s kind of weird, right?
Most toys get shredded in seconds. The stuffing becomes a snowstorm in the hallway. Yet, for some reason, dogs treat this specific toy like a sacred relic or a tiny, fleece roommate. My neighbor's Goldendoodle, Barnaby, has four of them. He doesn't chew them. He just carries the giant one around like he’s transporting a delicate piece of Victorian glassware.
The Weird Science of Why They Love It
There’s actually some logic behind why the large lamb chop dog toy outperforms that expensive, high-tech puzzle toy you bought last Christmas. It’s mostly about the mouthfeel. Most "tough" toys are made of ballistic nylon or hard rubber. They’re durable, sure, but they aren't exactly comforting. Multipet, the company that manufactures these licensed toys, uses a specific type of plush fabric that mimics the texture of soft fur.
For a lot of breeds, especially those with high nurturing instincts or a soft mouth like Golden Retrievers or Spaniels, the giant version of this toy acts as a "comfort object." In the veterinary world, this is sometimes called "self-soothing" behavior. When a dog gently carries a large plush, it can actually lower their cortisol levels. The size matters here. A tiny toy is for fetching; a massive, 24-inch Lamb Chop is for snuggling.
It’s not just the soft fur, though. It’s the squeakers.
Most versions of the large lamb chop dog toy are packed with multiple squeakers—sometimes up to five or ten in the jumbo versions. They aren't just in the belly. They’re in the feet. They’re in the nose. For a dog, this is like a sensory explosion. Every time they shift their weight while napping on it, the toy lets out a little "whimper" or "squeak," which keeps the dog's brain engaged without overstimulating them into a destructive frenzy.
👉 See also: Why This Short Ribs Recipe Ina Garten Perfected is the Only One You Need
Is It Actually Durable? Honestly, Not Really.
Let's get one thing straight: if you have a Belgian Malinois or a bored Husky who views plush toys as a personal challenge, Lamb Chop is going to die. Quickly.
I’ve seen reviews where owners complain that the toy lasted only ten minutes. That’s because this isn't a "chew toy." It’s a "plush toy." There is a massive difference that people often forget when they’re standing in the aisle at Petco. The seams on the large lamb chop dog toy are standard stitching. They aren't reinforced with Kevlar.
However, there is a nuance here. Because the toy is so large, the "surface area to destruction" ratio is higher. A small dog might take weeks to find a weak point on a jumbo Lamb Chop simply because they can't get their jaws around the main body easily.
If your dog is a "dissector"—you know the type, the ones who look for a single loose thread and pull until the toy is eviscerated—you might want to look at the "Birthday" editions or the seasonal versions. Interestingly, some users have noted that the fabric on the holiday-themed Lamb Chops (like the ones with the little Santa hats) feels slightly denser, though Multipet hasn't officially confirmed a change in material specs for those.
The Nostalgia Factor for Humans
We have to talk about us for a second. We are the ones buying the toys.
Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop won 12 Emmys. For Gen X and Millennials, that puppet is a core memory. When we see a large lamb chop dog toy in the store, we’re hit with a dopamine spike of nostalgia. It looks "friendly" compared to a neon orange rubber bone. It looks like it belongs on a sofa.
Pet marketing experts call this "humanization." We buy things for our pets that we find aesthetically pleasing or emotionally resonant. The fact that the toy is "cute" makes us more likely to play with the dog, which in turn makes the dog love the toy more because it’s associated with our attention. It’s a feedback loop of cuteness.
Real Safety Concerns (The Stuff Nobody Puts on the Label)
Look, no toy is 100% safe. Even the giant ones have those little plastic eyes.
The eyes on the official Multipet Lamb Chop are usually embroidered, which is a huge safety plus. Embroidered eyes can’t be popped off and swallowed like traditional plastic safety eyes. But, you still have to watch out for the "eyelashes." Some versions have felt-like eyelashes that can be chewed off.
Another thing: the squeakers inside are plastic. If your dog does manage to perform surgery on the large lamb chop dog toy, you need to get those squeakers away from them immediately. They’re a major choking hazard and can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed.
If you have a multi-dog household, size is a safety feature. I’ve seen smaller dogs get into fights over tiny toys because they can be "guarded" easily. A giant, 24-inch plush is much harder to hide under a paw, often leading to more communal play—or at least fewer instances of a dog trying to swallow the whole thing.
Choosing the Right Size
There are actually three "main" sizes, but people usually gravitate toward the extremes.
📖 Related: St Patrick Day Symbols: Why We Get the Leprechauns and Shamrocks All Wrong
- The Classic (approx. 10 inches): Good for small to medium dogs. Fits in a standard crate.
- The Large/Jumbo (approx. 24 inches): This is the one that looks like a small sheep has moved into your house. Best for Labradors, Goldens, and Shepherds.
- The "Gigantic" (sometimes 30+ inches): Harder to find, but these are basically dog beds with faces.
If your dog likes to "mother" their toys, go one size larger than you think you need. If they like to shake the toy to "kill" it, stick to the 10-inch version so they don't accidentally knock over your coffee table with a giant plush flying at high velocity.
Cleaning the Beast
The biggest downside to the large lamb chop dog toy? It gets disgusting. Fast.
Since it’s white, it turns a lovely shade of "kinda-grey-brown" after a few weeks of mouth-carrying and floor-dragging. Most people think you can’t wash them because of the squeakers. You actually can, but you have to be smart about it.
Throw it in a pillowcase first. Use a delicate cycle with cold water. Never put it in the dryer on high heat. The heat will melt the plastic squeakers inside and can actually make the synthetic fur go "crunchy." Air dry it or use the "no heat" fluff setting. It’ll take a day or two to dry completely because of all that stuffing, but it’ll look (mostly) new again.
Why This Toy specifically?
There are thousands of dog toys. Why does Lamb Chop hold the crown?
It’s the combination of a soft, "poodle-like" texture, an abundance of squeakers, and a shape that is easy for dogs to grip. The long, thin legs of the large lamb chop dog toy allow even smaller dogs to carry the giant version around. They just grab a leg and drag it like a trophy.
It’s also surprisingly affordable. Despite being a licensed character, you can usually find the large version for under $20. For the amount of "work" the toy does as a pillow, a fetch object, and a companion, the value-to-cost ratio is pretty high.
Actionable Steps for New Lamb Chop Owners
If you're thinking about picking one up, don't just toss it on the floor and walk away.
- The "Scent" Trick: Before giving it to your dog, rub the toy against your shirt. Getting your scent on the plush fabric makes the dog bond with it faster as a comfort object rather than a "destroy" object.
- Inspect the Seams: Before the first play session, tug on the red paws. Sometimes manufacturing defects happen. It’s better to find a loose thread yourself than to have your dog find it.
- Supervise the First Hour: Watch how your dog interacts with it. If they immediately go for the "neck" to rip it open, this toy might need to be a "supervised-only" treat. If they just lay their head on it, you’ve found their new best friend.
- Rotate the Toy: Don't leave it out 24/7. If the dog has constant access, the "novelty" of the squeakers wears off. Put it away every few days and bring it back out to keep the excitement alive.
At the end of the day, the large lamb chop dog toy isn't just a piece of polyester and stuffing. For a lot of dogs, it’s the closest thing they have to a security blanket. Whether it's the nostalgia for us or the texture for them, this little sheep isn't going anywhere. Just keep the sewing kit handy—just in case.