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Valley Fever told you about one kids toy this year, and it turned out to be what the Associated Press now calls "this year's bona fide must-have toy."

Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters, formerly called Go Go Pets hamsters, got their start with some test marketing in Phoenix this past spring. Valley residents fell in love with the small, furry robots.

Our May 18 blog post about the hamster toys drew comments from parents acting like they were on a treasure hunt:

Aly says:

i cant find these anywhere. I looked in toys r us, walmart, target, and none of them have it. the site said walmart and toys r us do butthey dont. my little cousin wants these, but you cant even get them online. i dont even know where to find them or how much they are! does anyone else know???

Tracy says:

I had my husband go to all three stores they have on the website and not one of the stores carry these toys. We promised our daughter with out researching. Great! I don't think they are very expensive because I bid on one at ebay starting at 9.99. I will have to limit myself. I would rather tell my kid, they are not in stores than break the bank. Please Post if anyone else can find them retail.

Skeptics that we are, we wondered if some of the comments had been generated by marketers trying to create a buzz. But the frenzy was real. The AP article states that the small toymaker, Cepia of St. Louis, is expecting sales revenues of up to $400 million by the end of next year.

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In one new branch of yoga, the downward dog position requires a real dog.

Amy Stevens, a Barbie-faced young entrepreneur from Mesa, is pushing the latest in ultra-trendy exercise options in a newly released DVD. Stevens, 24, isn't the first to push "doga," but claims she's made the activity's first and only instructional video. An Internet ad says the routines will lead to better fitness and a healthier relationship with your dog.

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