Poor old noseless Baxter and new Baxter.
People, do you have any of your toys left from your childhood? I do. It is the Baxter stuffed dog and I’ve had it for 30 years now. It is not just special to me because it is a stuffed dog. I mean, for someone who loves dogs, every stuffed dog toy is special, right? But the Baxter stuffed dog is special for two other very important reasons.
In December 1982, I got the Baxter stuffed dog. You can see me holding it in this old photograph.
This is me in 1982 with my new stuffed dog named Baxter. Don’t make fun of my hair.
If memory serves me correctly, I got my dog Cassie in November of 1983. Cassie was a year old at the time, so that would put her as being born at around the same time as I got the stuffed dog Baxter. And even though Baxter was not the same breed as my real dog Cassie, for whatever reason I associated it with her. In my child-like mind, Cassie and Baxter were brother and sister. So when Cassie died in 1996, I tied her dog tags to the Baxter stuffed dog.
This is Cassie and I in 1987. Cassie was a very special friend. Again, don’t make fun of my hair.
Something happened to Baxter a few years later that makes him even more special. My beloved dog Sephi chewed his nose off! Thank goodness, that is all she did. She would have done more damage if I hadn’t rescued him. So Baxter no longer has a nose. Well, I still have his nose. I just haven’t glued it back on. If you haven’t guessed, the second reason Baxter is so special to me is because he has also become a memory for Sephi (who passed away in 2011).
This is the same Baxter stuffed dog toy from the 1982 photograph. You can see Cassie’s dog tags tied to it.
Why is the stuffed dog called Baxter? That is the name on his manufacturer’s tag. And apparently this stuffed dog is so popular, that the company has made a number of them. I even found this newer version of the Baxter stuffed dog at a garage sale! I also found the older version (vintage) selling on ebay for almost $40!!!
This is the new Baxter stuffed dog that I recently found at a garage sale.
As you can see, this stuffed dog is named Baxter.
Do you have any special childhood toys? Any which remind you of a beloved pet?
Tags: baxter, cassie, childhood, stuffed dog
American Dog Blog 
March 16, 2013 at 11:54 am |
I actually have a red bulldog that I adore! Glad you still have Baxter, he obviously is a keeper!
March 16, 2013 at 6:39 pm |
Jen has a talking husky dog that is nothing like me but still reminds her of me. š
March 16, 2013 at 6:56 pm |
Especially the talking part, right? š
March 18, 2013 at 3:02 am |
Wouldn’t dream of making fun of your hair. Now, the gowns, well, that’s a different matter all together š
I can see why Baxter was so special to you. Can’t believe how much they sell for!
March 18, 2013 at 7:56 am |
LOL! I didn’t even think about the gowns. š
March 18, 2013 at 10:27 am |
We use to have those in the UK, they were called the Sad Sam collection š Haven’t seen them in years..Will you come vote for me, I could win a prize š xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
March 18, 2013 at 6:27 pm |
Any stuffed animals that I had as a kid would be pretty old by now. š
You were all cute together. š
March 19, 2013 at 4:23 pm |
Your Baxter is darling. I had a yarn dog that my mom made that I loved, but someone stole it when I was in college. My other critter, which hangs out on the bookshelf, is Opus, from Bloom County, the political version with the long tie. A friend gave it to me in college more than 20 years ago and it likes to hang out in the living room still.
March 22, 2013 at 9:50 am |
That’s not at all nice that someone stole your yarn dog! So sad. That toy had to be extra special because your mom made it.
March 20, 2013 at 8:04 pm |
That is just so sweet!! š
My Mum has a wooden snoopy dog that you pull along on the floor, it was her younger brothers as a child and Mum remembered it. After he passed suddenly nearly 3 years ago Mum asked her parents if they knew where it was, his sons were there at the time and they knew exactly where it was and Mum really treasures it! She also doesn’t think it’s a co-incidence it’s a Snoopy Dog š
Big wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy š
March 22, 2013 at 9:53 am |
Sorry to hear about your mum’s younger brother. But it’s great she was able to get one of his special toys; and funny that it’s Snoopy. It sounds like a very memorable toy indeed.
March 21, 2013 at 3:37 am |
Thanks for sharing your memories! I have a small white fluffy dog teddy called Tinsdale who reminds me of my first dog Nicky.
March 22, 2013 at 9:55 am |
Cute! I know every time I see a stuffed dog at a store (or garage sale), I always look for ones that remind me of past (or present) dogs. I need to find a yellow Lab (easy) and an Aussie mix (hard).
March 22, 2013 at 9:36 am |
Thank you for sharing that wonderful story. I’m sorry about your pets but I’m glad you have something to remember them by always. He’s a sweetie! š I do have some very special childhood toys with many great memories. As a kid I wasn’t able to have a pet, but one of the most treasured four-legged companions in my life was my uncle’s boxer Chester. I knew him when I was 4 years old and I loved him dearly. We grew up together, and he was the biggest softie you’ll ever meet. It’s been years since he passed but I miss him still. A month after he died, I went to go visit my grandma and she had this little stuffed boxer toy dog I couldn’t tear away from my hands, so I named him Chester and kept him close as a reminder ever since.
By the way, I think your hair looks lovely in both pics. š
March 22, 2013 at 9:56 am |
Thanks for sharing about Chester! That is such a sweet story. Your grandmother was so thoughtful. (Thanks for the compliments on my hair too. š )
March 27, 2013 at 8:17 am
Thank you Dawn and yes she was. š
September 6, 2013 at 5:31 pm |
I too have a Baxter! He’s quite worn – had him for 31 years and no plans to ever get rid of him. Oddly enough, I’m working on potentially writing a novel and he is going to be a part of it… More to come:)
October 15, 2015 at 1:38 pm |
Wau! I had Baxter too here in Finland, It was my favourite toy for some time. I think I got it around 82-83′ as birthday present. Nice memories.
May 29, 2016 at 10:36 pm |
I still have my Baxter! He’s older than I am, in fact! Mama was pregnant with me, and my dad and my uncle went to look for something cute that the baby might want. My uncle found Baxter and he became my first toy. He’s tucked away in a box right now, safe and sound!
May 31, 2016 at 8:38 am |
Wow! I’m envious. š Keep a hold of him. Maybe you can give him to your own child someday.
May 6, 2019 at 6:35 pm |
I have a Baxter too! It was my very first toy from when I was a baby.