By Mike Ellis.
Welcome to Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia! This week I’m sharing with you information about Walt Disney and the Disney Dogs! I have found conflicting information, though, so I hope I get this correct.
I was looking for information about the type of dog that Walt Disney and his family had — and I found out that they had a dog named Lady that was a poodle in 1925! I haven’t been able to find a picture that seems to work as being a picture of Lady — at least, I don’t think the picture above is of Lady — but what I learned in my research is that Lady is the inspiration for Lady in Lady and the Tramp!
Kind of a weak Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia post this week, but I hope you have enjoyed it! If you have any more information about the Walt Disney family dog, please share it in the comments, and thanks for stopping by!
Now, please make sure you check out the rest of the posts, including those from my friends Jodi from Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, Jenn from Disney Babies Blog, and Heidi from Heidi’s Head! Have a great day!
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I know that the scene in Lady & The Tramp where Lady is in the Christmas gift box was inspired by a puppy that Walt got Lilly for Christmas once. I did not know they actually had a dog named Lady. How neat!
Turns out my information wasn’t 100% accurate. That is a chow, and her name was Sunnee, but the scene you mention is from this occurrence. Thanks Kimberly!
I was going to say that’s NOT a poodle – looks more like a Chow to me. :)
What a great picture. I also didn’t know that they had a dog named lady that inspired the Lady in Lady and the Tramp – how interesting.
Thanks Sean! Turns out their dog was named Sunnee, but the scene in the movie where Lady is given to Mrs. Darling is based off of how Walt gave Sunnee the chow (shown in the picture) to Lilly! See Jodi’s comment below, and thanks for stopping by!
Yup, that’s definitely not a poodle- Definitely isn’t a poodle in the Carousel of Progress or PotC like the rumors had said were modeled after his dog!
I’ve read about that in Neal Gabler’s WALT DISNEY biography! Had to go look it up for you :) It says Lillian was lonely at home alone in their early years while Walt worked long, late hours, so he wanted to get her a companion. Here’s what it says, “Lillian disliked dogs, though Walt pressed her one day to say what kind of dog she would want if she absolutely had to make a choice. Lillian said she had read somewhere that chows had little odor, so that would be her choice. So Walt went to a kennel, picked out a puppy, fetched it on Christmas Eve, and kept it next door at Roy’s house until Christmas morning, when he put it inside a hatbox with a ribbon on top and then asked Marjorie [niece] to get it–a scene that would be incorporated into LADY AND THE TRAMP. When she received the box, Lillian was upset that Walt would select a hat for her without her approval, but when she opened it and saw the puppy inside, she immediately melted…They named her Sunnee.”
So your adorable picture above must be Sunnee the chow!
Thanks, Jodi! I didn’t know the story, I’m glad you were able to pull up your information for me. Thanks again!