Higgins (dog)

Higgins (December 12, 1957 – November 11, 1975) was one of the best-known dog actors of the 1960s and 1970s. Most people remember him as the original Benji or as the uncredited dog from Petticoat Junction, two of the most popular roles he played during a 14-year career in show business.

Biography

Early life

Animal trainer Frank Inn found the famous canine at the Burbank Animal Shelter as a puppy. A fluffy black-and-tan mixed breed dog, he was marked like a Border Terrier, and Inn believed him to be a mix of Miniature Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Schnauzer.

Career

Higgins' career was facilitated by Frank Inn, who also trained Arnold Ziffel (the pig) and all the other animals used on the Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres sitcoms. His on-set assistant trainers included Gerry Warshauer and Karl Miller.

As an actor, Higgins first came to national attention as the uncredited dog who played the character of "Dog" on the television sitcom Petticoat Junction for six of the show's seven seasons, from 1964 to 1970 appearing in 149 episodes. He guest-appeared on the television sitcom Green Acres with Eva Gabor in 1965 and also made a guest appearance on the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. He won a Patsy Award in 1967, and he was cover-featured on an issue of TV Guide magazine.