November 4, 1949 – The Pluto Short Film Sheep Dog is Released to Theaters
On November 4, 1949, the Pluto short film Sheep Dog was released to theaters. It was directed by Charles Nichols, with story by Eric Gurney and Milt Schaffer.
Pluto is herding his lambs back into their pen for the night, when he hears the cry of a coyote. He makes sure everything is secure before settling down for the night. Meanwhile, the coyote Bent-Tail and his cub are sneaking by, hoping to steal the lambs without Pluto noticing. The cub has a hard time listening to his father, as he is anxious to devour the lambs. Bent-Tail has to reign in Pluto, as the cub thinks Pluto could be a tasty meal as well. As the two sneak past Pluto, Bent-Tail gets the ides to disguise his son as a lamb so he can infiltrate the flock. The cub is able to pull a sleeping lamb to the fence, but wakes the lamb up. The lamb beats up the cub, which starts a chain reaction that ends with Pluto waking up and chasing the coyotes away from the pen.
As another measure of security, Pluto disguises himself as a lamb and settles down next to the flock. The coyotes try again, and the cub pulls Pluto away, thinking he is a giant lamb. Pluto pretends to keep sleeping, and once he is pulled out from under the gate, he chases after Bent-Tail, leaving the cub alone with the rest of the lambs. Pluto is sent on a wild goose chase, which leads back to the farm, where a giant fight breaks out. Bent-Tail manages to make it out with a lamb, and he races up the canyon and back to his cave. Unfortunately, he has only managed to pick up his disguised son, and howls with dismay.
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