What Kind Of Dog Is Old Yeller? Breed Information, Pictures, and Facts

Written by Fred Gipson in 1956, Old Yeller quickly became a classic children’s book about the bond between a young boy and his dog. Walt Disney later adapted the book into a film. Here’s everything you need to know about Old Yeller and the dog’s breed.

Plot of Old Yeller

Old Yeller tells the story of Travis Coates, a young boy living in Texas in the 1860s. Travis works with his mother and younger brother to take care of the family ranch while his father is away selling cattle. He is initially irate when a stray yellow dog steals the family’s bacon one morning, but Travis’ brother Arliss claims the animal as his pet.

The dog’s name is both a reference to his color and his bark which sounds like a human yell. Old Yeller eventually wins over Travis when he saves Arliss from a bear attack. Travis and Old Yeller become inseparable partners and work together to take care of the ranch.

Eventually, Old Yeller is injured while protecting Travis’ mother and a neighbor girl from a rabid wolf. Realizing that the dog is now more than likely infected with rabies, Travis has to shoot the creature to protect his family.

What Kind of Dog Breed Is Old Yeller?

In the book, Gipson describes Old Yeller as a “yellow cur.” It is believed that this is a reference to the dog breed known as a black mouth cur and sometimes called a southern cur or yellow black mouth cur.

The black mouth cur has similar characteristics to the dog described in Old Yeller. Black mouth curs are medium to large-sized dogs originating in the southern part of the United States. They are extremely agile and athletic dogs and have been used extensively for hunting, herding, and as watchdogs.

This breed, like Old Yeller, is also very loyal and protective, especially of children. Black mouth curs have been known to stand in the way of anything they deem as threatening.

Interesting Facts About Black Mouth Curs

Black mouth curs are fascinating breeds and are likely the same breed as the dog Old Yeller. Here are five other interesting facts about the breed:

• Black mouth curs are known to have lived in the United States since the 1800s. Their ancestors were likely brought over by European immigrants.
• “Cur” is sometimes used to describe a mongrel dog, especially if it is unfriendly or aggressive. The word may be derived from Old Norse kurra, meaning “to grumble or growl.”
• Black mouth curs are not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club.
• Although black mouth curs are typically yellow or fawn in color with black muzzle markings, they are known to have other colors and patterns such as brown, black, and brindle.
• Black mouth curs are so protective they may even stand in the way of parents trying to discipline their children.

Inspiration Behind Old Yeller

Although Old Yeller is a fictional tale, Fred Gipson drew from real-life experiences to write his classic novel. The famous writer was born in 1908 in a farm town in Texas. According to Notes from the Frontier, tales from Gipson’s Texas pioneer grandfather helped inspire Old Yeller.

The book’s titular pup is supposedly based on his wife’s family dog Rattler, who was named after his tendency to kill rattlesnakes. Unlike Old Yeller, Rattler was a dark-colored border collie.

Old Yeller Is Portrayed By a Mastodor in the Film

In 1957, Gipson’s classic novel was adapted into a film by Walt Disney, starring Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran.

The film adaptation did not choose a black mouth cur to play Old Yeller. Instead, a yellow male mastador named Spike took up the role. Spike also appeared in other films such as A Dog of Flanders and The Silent Call.

Mastadors are created by crossbreeding a mastiff and a Labrador retriever. They are typically a very large breed with playful behavior. Despite their size, mastadors are known for being sweet and affectionate dogs and are generally good with children.

Interesting Facts About Mastadors

Mastadors are a newer breed of dogs that became popular in the United States in the 1990s. Here are five other interesting facts about this breed:

• Like most mixed breeds, it’s difficult to determine how each mastador puppy will look. However, most inherit the Labrador’s face and the mastiff’s solid, large body.
• Mastadors are bred from English mastiffs, which can easily reach 200 pounds.
• Mastadors are not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club.
• Considering the mastador’s parent breeds, their coat colors are typically brown, black, yellow, fawn, or brindle. The rarest mastador color is silver or charcoal gray.
• Mastadors are very trainable and excel at following human rules.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Oakland Images/Shutterstock.com