Have you seen
this dog?
I have noticed this reoccurring white greyhound statue all of my life in the backgrounds of set design of photos, movies and tv shows of the mid 80s-early 90s.
I'd love to know the story behind it but can't find anything about who designed it or how it was acquired as a prop for so many photos, tv shows, and movies. If you've seen it or have any info about it, please use the email button above or contact form below. I'm working on a project to collect all the screen caps I can of the dog statue in the 80s-90s and what it symbolized as a prop.
THE BACKSTORY
It began as a statue that signified style, wealth, high culture and modern taste in the 80s but by the mid 90s symbolized tacky wealth and low culture.
The only information I found on it was that it was owned by Warner Brothers, and recycled for shows which makes sense as to why it was a commonly used background prop in movies, tv shows, and more. Below are images of the statue used as a running joke on the show Friends and then again on an episode of Family Matters where Carl buys it at a police auction from an unsavory character. On Friends, the dog became a multi-episode character they nicknamed it Pat the dog. There are articles that Jennifer Aniston was gifted the statue by a friend and, despite its tackiness, couldn't get rid of it in case it offends the gifter. The Friends writers loved the dilemma and statue and gave it a plot line on the show as something the character Joey buys to celebrate his lucrative new job. But that may not be true and it may be that it is recycled prop from the Warner Brothers lot. Due to the Friends connection, there are hundreds of replicas of Pat the Dog for sale, which makes it hard to find the origins of the statue.
These 90s tv shows use the statue as a joke, but I would especially like to track down the earlier images, tv and movies it was in when the statue was used to show classy modern taste. One of my favorite appearances of the statue in its peak classiness is on the back of the Serendipity children's book series in the background of the illustrator Robin. In the late 80s and early 90s I would stare at these back book covers and dream of being an illustrator with a marble statue and lacy shirt just like Robin.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you notice the statue in the background of any 1980s-1990s tv shows or movies, please note the show title and time mark or episode number. Screenshots or other images of the dog are especially appreciated as I may not have access to the streaming service or media where you saw the dog. Shows, scenes, or characters that represent modern wealth (in the 80s) or tacky wealth (in he 90s) are likely to have the dog statue.
Also, if you have watched a movies or series closely for the dog and didn't see it, let me know so I can eliminate it on my list!
EXAMPLES OF TV SHOWS THE DOG SEEMS LIKELY TO BE IN:
Out of this World
Murder She Wrote
Designing Women
Law and Order
Full House
Empty Nest
Seinfeld
Golden Girls
Baywatch
Miami Vice
Magnum PI
Dynasty
Knight Rider
Quantum Leap
Who's the Boss
21 Jump Street
Moonlighting
Falcon Crest
Remington Steel
Fame
Unsolved Mysteries
MOVIES THE DOG SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE IN BUT IT IS NOT IN:
St Elmo’s Fire
91/2 weeks
Heathers
Parenthood
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
American Gigalo