Who Let the Dogs Out
Over the years there have been many Dogs who have shared the spotlight both on the silver screen as well as television. To name a few, Toto from the Wizard of Oz, Lassie, Old Yeller, Beethoven, Pete from The Little Rascals which shared both medias. TV dogs include Eddie from Frasier, Zeus & Apollo from Magnum PI, Fang from Colombo and the list goes on. This is a series of articles that will delve into the Animals stars over the decades beginning with “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin”.
A Children’s Program – The Story first aired on ABC television in 1954 and ran until 1959. It was the story of a young boy, Rusty, played by Lee Aaker who was orphaned when the wagon train his parent was traveling in was attacked by Indians. Rusty survived the attack as did his dog. When found by the soldiers from a nearby Calvary post they took to raising the boy. During the series Rusty and his dog helped to establish order in the Old West. What a show, every week a new adventure filled with drama, intrigue, danger and always a happy ending. Reruns of the show ran on CBS throughout the 70″s clear up into the mid-1980′s.
It wasn’t until years later that I was to learn his career dated back to 1922. He first appeared in a silent film. Lets take a deeper look into the origin of this Famous K-9. To do this we must go back even further. During WWI an American serviceman Lee Duncan on tour in Lorraine France stumbled onto a bombed-out dog kennel where he found a shell-shocked pup. Duncan kept the pup and named it after a puppet called Rintintin. This was a name that the French children gave to American soldiers for good luck. It was less then 2 months and the war ended. Duncan returned to his home in Los Angles and took his new pup with him. Duncan nicknamed the dog Rinty and taught him many trick and Rinty learned to leap great heights. While performing in a dog show, Charles Jones saw him and became impressed, he was convinced that Rin Tin Tin was destined to be a star. He paid Duncan to film him. Playing a wolf in “The Man From Hell’s Rive (1922). Throughout his career he would be cast as a wolf or wolf-hybrid many times even though he did not look like one. His big break came in 1923 when he was cast with silent screen start in Claire Adams in “Where the North Begins”. This film was a success, some say that it saved Warner Brothers from filing bankruptcy but no matter the dogs career was launched. Appearing in such greats as “Shadows of the North (1923)”, “Clash of the Wolves (1925)”, “A Dog of the Regiment (1927)”, and “Tiger Rose (1929)”. Appearing mostly silen films he did however appear in four talkies including “The Lost Warrior (1931) staring Franki Darro.
The Spanish Mastiff
The Spanish Mastiff (also called the Mastin de Espanol) is recognized by the F.C.I. and the Kennel Club of Great Britain. At the present time there is an active parent club in the United States which is working towards recognition of the breed in the Foundation Stud Service. The Foundation Stud Service has several requirements for membership and this breed does not yet qualify. He is being promoted as a guard dog and companion of exceptional gentleness and strong working ability. He is popular at European dog shows but is not often found as a pet except in his native country.
As the name would imply, the dog is a native of Spain and is of the Mastiff origin. He is used extensively still in many parts of Spain as a guard of cattle and sheep and protector of both farmsteads and urban properties. He is noted for his gentle manner and even temper with children in particular and is loyal and affectionate towards his human family and strangers who are welcomed by his master. He will not tolerate visitors who are not invited and is prone to aggression with other dogs. He is very good with livestock and farm animals, treating them in a protective manner and being highly aggressive towards predators. He should be socialized early with his human family. He is quite happy as an outdoor dog and if kept inside he should have access to a large fenced in yard or long walks with his master daily.
The Spanish Mastiff is a large mastiff type breed. His body is longer than it is tall with a good length of leg and a deep chest and body. He has the typical dewlap associated with the Mastiff breeds and the large head with a very deep muzzle. The dewlap is the fold or folds of loosely hanging skin beneath the chin and draping over the top of the chest. The dewlap functions as a deterrent to predators who are not able to sink their teeth into this most vulnerable portion of the body and is present on nearly all of the breeds of dogs who carry out the work of guarding flocks against predators.
The Quixotic Mystique of the Wolf Dog
Some will claim they had the most spiritual awakening since sharing their life with a wolf dog, also commonly known as a wolf hybrid. You will find an equal number of owners that will argue it was the worst mistake they ever made. Fact is, they are both right. Fact is, either way; it is an experience neither will forget.
Those that report there were mystical happenings of being in touch with one of nature’s wild creatures, most likely were very lucky to either have an exceptional animal, and/or the experience and skills of effective leadership. They most likely, will tell you stories of what wonderful pets they are.
On the flip side, there are horrific stories of dangerous, unexpected, frightening experiences; some even tragic for owner and pet.