What was your favorite toy when you were a child? If you love dogs, perhaps your favorite plaything was a toy dog. A stuffed dog. A china dog. Or perhaps...Slinky Dog.I like to tell you about dogs in books and movies, and although Pixar's Toy Story 3 (which was thoroughly enjoyable, even without young kids to take along) contains only animated dogs, I still found them fun to ponder. In Toy Story 3 there are two dogs: Slinky Dog and Buster. Surprisingly, they are both the same breed.
Slinky Dog is based on the toy by James Industries. I don't recall having a Slinky Dog when I was a child. Did you? (If so, did you set it going down the stairs like we used to do with the regular Slinky?) The young Andy plays with Slinky in his own way:
Andy pretending as Woody (to Mr. Potato Head): Are you going to come quietly?
Mr. Potato Head: Not so fast, Sheriff. I brought my attack dog with built in forcefield. (Andy brings in Slinky Dog.)
Woody: (with Rex) I brought my dinosaur, he leaps forcefield dogs.
(Pretend battle ensues.)
Slinky Dog is a dachshund. According to the American Kennel Club breed profile dachshunds are friendly and fearless. Among the movie toys, Slinky is a devoted friend, playing checkers with Woody. He is also fearless, willingly helping in rescue attempts. With his stretchy body, Slink is often put to use in escapes. And is Slinky Dog loyal? Check out this quote:
Slinky Dog: I knew you were right all along, Woody. Never doubted you for a second.
Then there is Buster. Buster is not a toy dog, but Andy's real pet dog, also a dachshund. Buster makes his first appearance at the end of Toy Story, when Andy receives Buster as a Christmas gift. In Toy Story 2 Buster proves to be a friend to the toys, coming when they call him and getting his tummy rubbed by Woody. He is also fearless, helping transport the toys in various escapades. True to his breed of being a scenthound, Buster (in his prime) is able to locate Woody in 13.5 seconds. About ten years pass between Toy Story 2 and 3. Buster makes an appearance in Toy Story 3 in a scene that is one of the funniest, while at the same time saddest, moment.
Have you seen Toy Story 3? What did you think of it? Which Toy Story dog was your favorite character? And if you own a dachshund, how were Slinky Dog and Buster like/unlike real dachshunds?!
