Posted in: Disney, Disney, Movies | Tagged: 101 dalmatians, Art Babbit, disney, Frank Webb, goofy, lady and the tramp, Pluto the Dog

Lauren Loves Disney: The Many Dogs Of Disney

Happy National Dog Day! Millions of people own a furry four legged pal. I myself have a Samoyed named Spencer, and he is a very good boy. I've had dogs my whole life, and I can't imagine life without them! And judging by many of Disney's characters and movies based on dogs, it's safe to say he loved them as well. Here's a look at just a few of the Dogs of Disney.

One of Disney's most iconic and enduring dogs is Goofy, created by Art Babbit and Frank Webb. He was introduced in the 1932 cartoon Mickey's Revue. Originally known as Dippy Daw. The name 'Goofy' came about in the 1938 story "The Story of Dippy The Goof". The following year Disney officially changed his name to Goofy, and the rest is history.

Then we have Pluto, Mickey's lovable pet dog. It's been a point of discussion among Disney fans for decades as to why Goofy (a dog) gets to have human characteristics, while Pluto (also a dog) is just a dog. Personally I don't really care, since I watch Disney cartoons as an escape from reality. Pluto was introduced in the 1930 cartoon "The Chain Gang". He was a bloodhound on the hunt for Mickey Mouse (who was an escaped prisoner), but obviously the two became friends. He was given the name Pluto in 1931's "The Moose Hunt".

The Disney animated classic Lady And The Tramp (1955) followed the story of two unlikely dogs who fall in love. Lady, a dog from a well to do family, falls in love with Tramp, a mutt. The movie is unique as it managed to stay in the dogs perspective, by never showing their owners faces. The opening scene in which we see Lady pop out of a hat box, may have also been inspired by Walt giving his wife Lillian a puppy in a hat box as well.

In 1961, Disney gave us 101 Dalmatians, which has been given the VHS sequel treatment and two live action movies. The movie was the highest grossing movie in the USA in 1961, which was a good thing for the animation studios after Sleeping Beauty flopped. 101 is based on the book by Dodie Smith, who had a Dalmatian of their own.

We could very easily go on about every dog centered character and movie, but I feel these four examples are the best known (and loved) Dogs of Disney. Have a favorite Disney dog I didn't include? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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