What Type of Dog is Pluto?
What Type of Dog is Pluto?
If you had a typical North American childhood you grew up watching Mickey Mouse and Disney cartoons. I don’t know about you, but my favourite was always Pluto. It might have been that I bonded with the loveable, mischievous dog or it might have simply been that I loved dogs.
I remember one Christmas, my parents got me a DVD collection of the old Pluto Cartoon series dating back from the 30s. I loved it. (Even as a kid I was a bit of an old soul.) However, one thing that never crossed my mind was what type of dog Pluto was.
And while Pluto might not be as loved or as recognized as Mickey Mouse or Minnie, I’m sure he still holds the hearts of millions of people who grew up with him.
When Did Pluto First Appear?
There are no shortages of dog cartoons to fall in love with. There is, of course, the iconic Snoopy, the sidekick to Charlie Brown who stole every scene he was ever in. Another is Scooby-Doo, who you probably especially love if you were a seventies child. Then there is Odie, who is perhaps not as iconic but who you will recognize if you are a Garfield fan.
Pluto first appeared in the animated cartoon “The Chain Gang” in 1930. Originally he debuted as a Bloodhound dog without a name. Next, he appeared as Minie’s pet, where he was given the name Rover. His third appearance was when he took center stage in ‘The Moose Hunt’ in 1931. He was officially dubbed Pluto, and this time he appeared as Mickey’s pet.
Although Pluto has no official breed, it’s safe to say he is a hound dog. Pluto made many more appearances, and he would commonly speak in barks, howls and grunts like most dogs. Other ways he communicated was through his facial expressions and sometimes through the use of a shoulder angel/devil who speaks directly to Pluto. A common narrative device the early Disney cartoons used.
Additional Appearances
Pluto has made several other important appearances throughout the years. In 1936, Pluto was featured in the picture book Mickey Mouse and ‘Pluto the Pup’ by Whitman Publishing.
In 1942, he was in “Saves the Ship”, a comic book which was one of the first Disney comics published outside the regular newspaper strips. However, not counting a few cereal giveaway mini-comics in 1947 and 1951, he did not have his own comics title until 1952.
Later on, Pluto ran his neighbourhood in Disney’s Toontown Online. It was called the Brrrgh, and it was always snowing there except during Halloween. During April Toons Week, a television special, Pluto switched playgrounds with Minnie, and he talked for the first time in Minnie’s Melodyland.
Since then, he has made several appearances in Mickey Mouse Works and Disney’s House of Mouse and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Curiously enough, however, Pluto was the only standard Disney character not included when the whole gang was reunited for the 1983 featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol. One of the more popular properties featuring the original six or the “Sensational Six”.
The Only Dog in the “Sensational Six”
The “Sensational Six” refers to the original stars of the Disney universe. They are Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto. Pluto is considered the only pet in the “Sensational Six” and he is also the only animal who does not talk, walk upright, or dress in human clothes. (Or go pantless.)
While the importance of the “Sensational Six” has dissipated throughout the last couple of decades, they hold a special place in adults who grew up with them. And one never knows, they might make a comeback one of these days.
Final Say
What type of dog is Pluto? Pluto is undoubtedly one-of-a-kind in the Disney Universe. As a popular Disney character and as a mixed-breed hound, Pluto is meant to relate to various dog breeds and personalities. While he doesn’t talk, he communicates through his barks and facial expressions, which dog owners of all kinds can relate to. Throughout his long career in the spotlight, his hilarious and mischievous antics always seem to get him and his owner Mickey in trouble – much to the audience’s delight. Perhaps that is why we identified with him so closely.
Photo credits: Disney Dining
https://www.disneydining.com/fun-facts-about-walt-disneys-pluto/
