Strongheart
Strongheart in 1921
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| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
|---|---|
| Breed | German Shepherd |
| Sex | Male |
| Born |
Etzel von Oeringen October 1, 1917 Wrocław, Poland |
| Died | June 24, 1929 (aged 11) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Owner | Jane Murfin |
Etzel von Oeringen (October 1, 1917 – June 24, 1929), better known as Strongheart, was a male German Shepherd who became one of the earliest canine film stars.
Born October 1, 1917, Etzel von Oeringen was a male German Shepherd dog bred by a private breeder, R. Niedhart of Quedlinburg, Germany. Etzel was trained in Berlin as a police dog and served in the German Red Cross during World War I. His owner was left in poverty after the war, and was unable to even support the dog. Concerned that Etzel would end up in less humane hands, he declined larger offers and instead sent the dog to a friend who operated a reputable kennel in White Plains, New York. At age three, Etzel was brought to the United States to be sold.
At the sixth annual show of the Shepherd Dog Club of America, October 15–16, 1920, Etzel placed third in his class. He was described as "immense in body and hind leg formation, in body and legs a trifle better than either of the dogs above him".
Etzel was seen by film director Laurence Trimble, who had owned and guided Jean, the Vitagraph Dog, the first canine movie star in the United States. Trimble recognized Etzel's potential and persuaded Jane Murfin, a screenwriter for his films, to buy the dog. A new name, Strongheart, was suggested by the publicity department of First National Pictures, which released his first film.
Trimble trained Strongheart and directed him in four rugged outdoor adventure films scripted by Murfin: The Silent Call (1921), Brawn of the North (1922), The Love Master (1924) and White Fang (1925). Strongheart became the first major canine film star, preceding the fame of Rin Tin Tin by two years.
Strongheart's films did much to encourage the popularity of the German Shepherd breed. Strongheart and his mate, Lady Jule, had many offspring and their line survives to this day.
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