Parents' Guide to Doozie's Doghouse

Bright and cheerful, this spin-off of Netflix's beloved Gabby's Dollhouse has the same effervescent vibe as the original, with a focus on dogs instead of cats for the canine fans in the house. As preschoolers tend to prefer, each Doozie's Doghouse episode has a formula: a special sound announces the arrival of a puppy dog surprise box, a box decorated to look like a dog that ushers in the theme of the day: playing puppy dog doctor, getting ready for a doghouse-wide "You Be You" fashion show, a playdate between Doozie's dog friends and Gabby's cats. Then Doozie dons her special puppy ears, recites an incantation as she squeezes each ear in turn, and is instantly animated, and tiny enough to visit the doghouse. After that, it's time to make something good to eat and/or complete a craft, then to sing a song that sums up today's adventures, and the episode is closed out with Doozie safely back in her bedroom with her real-world pet dog.

Little viewers love the predictability, the bright colors, the focus on friendship and cute pets, and the projects Doozie undertakes (which kids may want to try at home). Parents appreciate the positive themes woven into the show, from the diversity of the voice and live-action cast to messages about teamwork, positivity, and self-confidence. In fact, the show's only less-than-positive attribute is the consistent spotlighting of characters and objects that will no doubt inspire toys to buy, if the merchandising follows in Gabby's Dollhouse's footsteps. When we're told repeatedly that Puggie wears full-time pajamas and shown that he's actually a stuffie, it's easy to imagine rows of Puggies on a store shelf. Still, for families that can resist or don't mind marketing messages, Doozie's Doghouse is a gentle, joyful choice for preschoolers, especially the dog lovers amongst them.