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It all started with Rin-Tin-Tin!

Audiences first discovered the bright German Shepherd in September of 1924 in the silent movie THE MAN FROM HELL’S RIVER, a Western. The Warner Brother’s film introduced to the world a truly intelligent, courageous and handsome dog, whose actions brought out cheers and standing ovations from enchanted audiences.

Rin-Tin-Tin had been found in a muddy World War One German trench by U. S. Army Lieutenant Lee Duncan. Duncan took “Rinty” to Los Angeles, where he trained the Shepherd for a movie career. During the 1920’s, Rin-Tin-Tin appeared in a number of smash hits, including WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS, FIND YOUR MAN, CLASH OF THE WOLVES, THE LONE DEFENDER, TRACKED IN SNOW COUNTRY and THE LAND OF THE SILVER FOX.

With some of the best directors and writers (such as a young Darryl F Zanuck) working on his movies, and insightful training from his master, Lee Duncan, Rinty’s pictures did fantastic box office. In fact, for several years Rin-Tin-Tin was Warner Brother’s top grossing star. He was more popular and more beloved than any human actor. Insiders referred to him as “The dog who saved Hollywood.” Certainly, he saved Warner Brothers.

Many of Rinty’s actions, of course, were just good training and directing. When he tracked bad guys and lost children through the wilderness, out-fought savage wolves, carried blankets and rope to stranded people, led the hero to the endangered heroine -- he was just acting. But it was energized acting. As one reviewer put it: “Rinty plays his big dramatic scenes as if his life depends on it.”

But there were numerous scenes that revealed a genuine intelligence and loving heart. With the years, he learned to show his emotions in a glance.

In THE NIGHT CRY, Rin-Tin-Tin, who was falsely accused of killing sheep, enters his master’s cabin. He lays his great head on the table between his master and mistress, giving both of them long glances -- his expression changing from expectant hope -- to forlorn sadness -- to one of sudden happiness when he discovers one true friend in the cabin: the couple’s baby. The scene brought the house down.

Other dogs would follow Rinty’s lead, appearing from the Silent Era into the new “Talkies.” Among them were Sandow (CODE OF THE NORTHWEST, 1926), Strongheart, Rin-Tin-Tin Jr., Captain, Buck, Chinook, Ranger, Dynamite and others…

"Your dog wants to be your great companion -- who does what you want, when you want him to do it. The more you train your dog, the better behaved he will be ALL THE TIME. That’s also why teaching tricks keeps your dog thinking and working for you. It increases his focus and his bond with you." Dove Cresswell -- HOLLYWOOD ANIMAL TRAINER Dove Cresswell continues the fine tradition of Hollywood dog training begun by Lieutenant Lee Duncan.

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There is no question that people in America love dogs. One look at popular culture in our
country will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Americans have a love affair with dogs.

Movies and TV shows about dogs go in and out of popularity and stories like OLD YELLER and WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS are considered timeless classics. Only in America, however, do dogs manage to achieve celebrity status.

Rin Tin Tin

Rin Tin Tin was Hollywood's first recognizable canine star. The German Shepherd was
featured in 26 films for Warner Brothers Pictures and is generally credited with having saved the studio from bankruptcy during the silent film era. The original Rin Tin Tin died in 1932 at the age of 13, but his bloodline and his fan club exist to this day.

Lassie

Ask someone to name a famous dog and you will probably get the name Lassie every time.

The star of several television series, many movies, and the subject of countless books, Lassie is probably the most recognizable canine star in American TV and movie history. Interestingly, all of the dogs to portray Lassie over the years have been male. The original collie to portray Lassie was actually named Lad and was the star of the memorable original television series as well as several movies, most memorably the original version of LASSIE COME HOME.

Benji

In the 1970's a would-be filmmaker named Joe Camp started pitching a "dog movie" around Hollywood. He was told repeatedly that the film would never work, so he decided to produce the film independently. Once the film wrapped Camp had new troubles because no distribution company would release the film.

Again, Camp relied upon himself to distribute his family movie worldwide. Camp's gamble paid off and Benji, starring a lovable mixed breed dog that was adopted from an animal shelter (the original Benji was the dog Higgins who had worked on the TV show “Petticoat Junction“) became a huge hit. Over the years there have been five Benji movies, television programs and specials, comics, and a ton of Benji merchandise.


About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville, TN. Visit
http://www.doghealth411.com/ for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog travel.

See HOLLYWOOD ANIMAL TRAINER Dove Cresswell's amazing site... Click Here for Dove Cresswell's PUPPY & DOG TRAINING ONLINE!

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