Around the age of 19 Laurence Trimble moved to New York City with his trusty companion, Jean (a border collie) to start a career as a reporter. During 1908 he sold an animal based story to a New York City based magazine. The magazine then hired him to write an article about the new “motion picture” industry that was growing, mainly about the Vitagraph company. The decision to bring his dog would literally set the stage for animal actors.
While writing his story the studio needed a dog to play opposite Florence Turner (“the Vitagraph girl”) and Laurence volunteered Jean to play the role. The relationships went so well that Vitagraph that they asked Laurence to sign on as Vitagraph’s leading canine star. Laurence stayed on as a director for several films from 1908 on including 18 films starring Jean. The audiences loved Jean and thus the first canine movie star was born. (more…)
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This Stargate SG-1 episode takes place when SG-1 is dispatched to find out what has happened to SG-11 who was conducting a mining survey on a planet. On the planet are people who are very similar to Native Americans called the Salish and their “spirit guides” (like Native American mythology). One of them, Xe’ls is their equivalent of a wolf. (more…)
Files under Malamute, TV Shows |
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Ever since 1954 a mischievous Great Dane named Marmaduke has entertained us in newspapers across the country. He was originally created and drawn by Brad Anderson and and received help from Phil Leeming (1955-1962) and Dorthy Leeming (1963 – 1969). While mainly in jest, the comic covers anecdotes that many Great Dane owners may come across every day as well as ones if dogs could think like we do.
Great Danes are one of the largest breeds of dog (the AKC standard states they should be at least 30 inches tall at the shoulder for males, 28 inches for females and typically weigh 120 pounds for males, 100 pounds for females). Their size is the main “joke” of the comic strip as well as how he can be clumsy and think he is much smaller than he actually is (like most larger breed dogs).
Great Danes are also one of the oldest recognized breeds by the AKC – recognized in 1887. They were initially bred for boar hunting in Germany but were also used often as family companions and estate guardian dogs by royalty.
Marmaduke received the National Cartoonists Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for the strip in 1978.
Marmaduke was also made into a film released in 2010 (where the family moves from Kansas to California). In the previews there are some shots that could be a real dog but most of it looks like CGI animation. Marmaduke was voiced by Owen Wilson. Tasha Zarnsky, James P Warren, Larry Madrid, Rowan Harland, Deborah Dellosso, and Dove Cresswell are all credited for being animal trainers for the film.
Files under Animated, Great Dane |
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What good would one of the longest running shows be without a dog? The executives for the Simpsons didn’t hesitate to bring one in. In the very first (full length) episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” Homer did not receive a Christmas bonus to buy presents so he got a job at a mall working as a Santa Clause.
What little money he made he brought to the dog track to try to win more money. Homer was reluctant at first to spend his money on the “sure thing” and then the dogs’ names were announced, Santa’s Little Helper was the last one. Taking this as a sign Homer waged all his money on the (very) long shot. Sadly, Santa’s Little Helper came in last place and a depressed Homer slowly walked out of the dog track wondering how he could salvage his family’s Christmas. (more…)
Files under Animated, Greyhound, TV Shows |
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Just in time for the holiday season in 2009 Disney put out their latest in the “Buddies” movies – “Santa Buddies”. The movie stars a group of puppies (“the Buddies”) who decide to take a vacation to the North Pole. One of the puppies is on the “naughty” list and the son of Santa Paws, Puppy Paws decides to show him how to be a good puppy while the entire gang tries to teach everyone the true meaning of Christmas.
Puppy Paws is reported as being a Samoyed while the Buddies are retrievers. Samoyed are often looked as smaller and all white huskies, but are a different breed. They are associated with snow, the north, cold, etc. Retrievers are very popular pets and often very friendly, especially as puppies. (more…)
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From 1974 to 2000 there was a series of movies starring a small yet lovable mixed breed dog named Benji. While each movie was unique, they all had a similar theme – the dog was always at the right place at the right time (to save people, set things right, and so on).
The first Benji was discovered in an animal shelter in Burbank, CA by trainer Frank Inn, named Higgins. He was allegedly a miniature poodle, miniature schnauzer, and cocker spaniel mix. When the movie was cast Higgins had already established himself as a dog actor. In the mid-1960s Higgins had roles in Petticoat Junction and Green Mile TV series. In 1971 he starred in the film, “Mooch Goes to Hollywood”. Frank Inn was convinced to bring Higgins out of retirement for the 1974 film, Benji when Higgins was 15 years old but that didn’t stop old Higins from doing all of his own stunts. Higgins died on November 11, 1975 and his ashes are buried with his owner, Frank Inn.
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Old Yeller was a children’s book adapted for the screen by Disney in 1957. The story is about a poor post-civil war family who is very poor. While tending to the livestock one day, the older son (Travis – played by Tommy Kirk) notices a stray dog. He tries to shoo the dog away but the younger son (Arliss – played by Kevin Corcoran) becomes quite attached to the dog. Their mother (Katie – played by Dorothy McGuire) reasons that they could use a good dog around the house. The dog was named “Old Yeller” (yellow) due to his yellowish color. He was played by a mixed breed (yellow lab / mastiff mix) adopted out of the Van Nuys Animal Shelter in Van Nuys, California by trainers Frank and Rudd Weatherwax named “Spike” (he wasn’t credited for the role). Spike also had an uncredited role in the 1957 fantasy-horror film, “The She-Creature”. In the book Old Yeller was a Black Mouth Cur.
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Normally I do not intend to do animated films but Pixar’s “Up” really hits home with their dogs.
First, we meed Dug, a retriever (voiced by Bob Peterson). What’s unique about Dug is that he has a collar that converts his thoughts to words we (humans) can understand. Dug is a very typical retriever – in love with everyone he meets and wants to be their best friend. of course, Dug is also not the brightest dog you’ve ever met nor the most attractive but what he lacks in intelligence and looks he over-compensates in sweetness and personality. SQUIRREL! (more…)
Files under Animated, Bull dog, Doberman, Golden Retriever, Movies, Rottweiler |
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For 11 seasons the Bundy family has their loyal companion, Buck the dog. For many seasons Buck was a mutt (briard mix until the character’s death untimely death (the dog “Buck” was retired when he reached 12 1/2 years of age in 1995 – the dog died 9 months later) but (un)luckily he was reincarnated as a cocker spaniel named Lucky and (re)adopted by the Bundy family and stayed with them until the end of the series.
The briard mix Buck (real name Michael) was voiced by Kevin Curran and, on occasion, by Cheech Marin. During and after season 8 he was voiced by Kim Weiskopf. He was trained by Steven Ritt. Michael also had an uncredited cameo in the 1988 movie “Scrooged”.
The cocker spaniel “Lucky” was voiced by Kim Weiskopf also.
Buck is a lot like the rest of the family – lazy, miserable, and extremely sarcastic towards the other characters in the show except no one else understands him so he, quite often, is able to get in the last word.
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The mid-1980s TV show, “Punky Brewster” featured a golden retriever named “Brandon” (a.k.a. “Brandon the Wonder Dog” – his real name was also Brandon). Brandon was Punky’s trusty sidekick throughout the series – appearing in every episode but he wasn’t in the credits until the third season.
Brandon was a puppy when the show first aired and loyal viewers watched Brandon grow up along with Punky though the entire life of the series (88 episodes from 1984 to 1988) and he was named after the head of NBC (the network that aired Punky Brewster), Brandon Tartikoff. Brandon lived up to his alias learning many tricks during his show career including how to ride a skateboard in just a couple of days. Glen Garner is credited for being the on-set dog trainer.
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