Hollywood Hounds: Transforming American Dog Culture Through Films

This podcast episode we’ll be looking at some of the biggest canine stars in showbiz and their lasting cultural impact in Hollywood and throughout our culture. It is part of the Down and Back: Stories From the American Kennel Club Archives series. Host Bud Boccone hunts down information and faithfully shares it in this fun and frisky format.

The Dog Star, Canis major, may be the brightest star in the sky, but it pales in comparison to the dog stars of the big screen. When Timmy fell down the well, audiences knew Lassie would come to his rescue, and when Pongo prevailed over Cruella, movie fans cheered. For more than a century, humans have been paying to watch canine conundrums and hounds be heroes. Some movies lead to an uptick of ownership of a particular breed, based on a character a dog played in a film. Listen in to discover why humans watch dogs.

Bonafide Bits:

• • In 1921, Strongheart, a German Shepherd Dog, played the role of Flash in the Hollywood movie, The Silent Call.
  • Rin Tin Tin starred in 27 motion pictures, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin was a popular radio program.
  • The real name of the forever famous Toto from the Wizard of Oz is Terry.
  • Unfortunately, Walt Disney’s movie, 101 Dalmatians made Dalmatians America’s fad-dog.
  • Christopher Guest’s, Best in Show is a mockumentary that portrays dogs as dignified and handlers as disobedient.

Featured Breeds:

German Shepherd Dog

• • There are many reasons why German Shepherd Dogs stand in the front rank of canine royalty, but experts say their defining attribute is character: loyalty, courage, confidence, the ability to learn commands for many tasks, and the willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones. German Shepherd Dogs will be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians, but, the breed standard says, there’s a “certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.” Discover more about German Shepherd Dogs at AKC’s German Shepherd Dog Breed Biography.

Collie

• • The Collie is a lithe, strong, responsive, active dog, carrying no useless timber, standing naturally straight and firm. The deep, moderately wide chest shows strength, the sloping shoulders and well-bent hocks indicate speed and grace, and the face shows high intelligence. The Collie presents an impressive, proud picture of true balance, each part being in harmonious proportion to every other part and to the whole. Discover more about Collies at AKC’s Collie Breed Biography.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• • From his brawling past, the muscular but agile Staffordshire Bull Terrier retains the traits of courage and tenacity. Happily, good breeding transformed this former gladiator into a mild, playful companion with a special feel for kids. Discover more about Staffordshire Bull Terriers at AKC’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Biography.

Smooth Fox Terrier

• • The Smooth Fox Terrier, called the “gentleman of the terrier world,” is a lively, gregarious terrier with a devil-may-care attitude, originally developed for Britain’s traditional foxhunts. Discover more about Smooth Fox Terriers at AKC’s Smooth Fox Terrier Breed Biography.

Standard Schnauzer

• • The bold, bewhiskered Standard Schnauzer is a high-spirited farm dog from Germany. They are the sometimes-willful but ever-reliable medium-sized members of the Schnauzer family of breeds. The Standard’s sporty look is a canine classic. Discover more about Standard Schnauzers at AKC’s Standard Schnauzer Breed Biography.

Wire Fox Terrier

• • The Wire Fox Terrier breed standard says they should be “on the tip-toe of expectation at the slightest provocation.” Once a mainstay of traditional British fox hunts, today’s Wire is a handsome and amusing companion and master show dog. Discover more about Wire Fox Terriers at AKC’s Wire Fox Terrier Breed Biography.

Cairn Terrier

• • Cairn Terriers are happy, busy little earth dogs originally bred to fearlessly root out foxes and other small, furred prey in the rocky Scottish countryside. Curious and alert, Cairns like having a place where they can explore and dig. Discover more about Cairn Terriers at