Pluto is a cartoon dog character that originated from the Walt Disney Company. Pluto is mostly known for being Mickey Mouse’s pet though he is a popular character in his own right appearing in multiple Academy Nominated animated cartoons. One of his main quirks is that he is not anthropomorphic, unlike his other animal co-stars such as Goofy, and relies more on physical comedy. so, what kind of dog is Pluto?
Pluto’s first appearance was in the 1930 Mickey Mouse animated film entitled ‘The Chain Gang’ where he was a nameless Bloodhound accompanying a guard and tracking Mickey Mouse the escaped Convict. Several months later, he was officially given the name Pluto and appeared as Mickey’s pet in the 1931 animated short film ‘The Moose Hunt’. Though his design still resembles characteristics of a Bloodhound, he is officially considered a Mixed-breed Mutt.
Bloodhounds are a large type of scent hound that primarily uses scent compared to sight. They have been bred for hunting since the Middle Ages. This Breed is famous for having an amazing sense of smell, being able to distinguish human scent over long distances, and over several days.
This, alongside their tenacity for tracking, allows the Bloodhound to be a great asset for police and law enforcement all over the world.
Bloodhounds are large dogs that weigh from 36 to 72 kg (80 to 160 lbs), that have a height of 58 to 69 cm (23 to 27 inches). They have a short hard coat that is completely composed of fur alone, they can come in a multitude of colors from black and tan, liver and tan, and even red.
Bloodhounds are known to be a gentle breed. Though due to its strong tracking instinct, it can be rather troublesome to obedience train and control while on a leash. The flipside of course is that they are very affectionate with humans making them great pets for families.
Pluto initially appeared as a nameless Bloodhound chasing down an escaping convict Mickey Mouse in ‘The Chain Gang’ on August 6 of 1930. on October 23 of that same year. He was named Rover and played the part of Minnie Mouse’s pet in ‘The Picnic’. When the animated film ‘The Moose Hunt’ came out on May 3, 1931, He was officially named Pluto and appeared as Micky’s pet.
Disney Animator Ben Sharpsteen explained that they thought the name Rover was too common and they eventually changed it to Pluto the Pup, though some animators from Disney believe that the name was chosen to capitalize on the newly named planet.
Compared to Mickey’s other friends who are more anthropomorphic. Pluto moves and acts relatively like a normal animal. For example, compared to the other characters Pluto does not speak English or wear clothes. Because of this, he relies on physical comedy and uses his facial expressions to communicate what he’s thinking. He’s known for being a generally playful and cheerful dog though he panics when it comes to situations he’s not familiar with.
Though Pluto doesn’t share the same scent tracking ability as his real-world counterpart, he does share its friendly and affectionate nature. Making him a character that both stands out yet feels familiar.