MGA Bratz Special Feature Walking Doll, Cloe

The Bratz follows in whichever way the dog walks. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Realistic dog walk, no pre-set movements The Bad: Doll has wheels instead of feet, doesn't walk In a Nutshell: Might not be enough to sustain interest of older children for long At a Glance Ages: 6 and older Requires: 3 AAA batteries (included)

On all counts, even when the conditions were less than ideal--an old, bumpy floor, a varnished parquet, and intentionally "forgetting" to turn the doll's head in a straight line the way a child might--the product performed as well as if all of the above ideal conditions were met. The overall design of the Bratz girl and her furry friend are excellent, with the dog's legs demonstrating an ergonomically correct range of motion that often resembles an enthusiastic young animal pulling his owner around.

The Dog Trots, the Girl Shuffles
After watching the pair walk around for five minutes or so, it's clear there is no pre-set pattern. The dog turns to the left, with the doll in tow, then immediately to the right, and the doll follows. Then for a minute or two they might walk in a straight line. Next comes a series of circles. These "decisions" are charming, realistic, and likely to hold a young child's attention: You don't know where the dog is going next, just as you don't know what will capture the attention of a real dog in a park from one instant to another. And because this Bratz doll represents a relatively large breed, it's entirely realistic that the canine will follow its nose and pull the girl toward some delicious smelling thing in the grass or yank her toward something in its line of sight.

One minor puzzlement is the actual gait of the Bratz girl. She actually never picks up her feet, which have wheels on the bottom, but instead moves in a kind of scooting motion, thrusting one foot in front of the other as though she's roller skating.

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