They look alike. I wonder if they're related. I wonder if that breed of dog is easy to train because the dog on Petticoat Junction also was the same kind.

They were Cairn Terriers. From what I've read, Fred the dog's real name was Danny and was trained and owned by Benji's owner, Frank Inn. Benji was also the dog in Petticoat Junction. His real name was Higgins. According to Wikipedia (not always a completely accurate resource) although Higgins looked like a Terrier, he was a mixed breed. I think he was a bit bigger in size than Fred and Toto too.

I don't know if Cairn Terriers are easier to train than other breeds, but Danny/Fred sure was a cute little guy and had some great scenes with Lucy!

I can confirm that "Benji's" name was indeed Higgins and that he was in Petticoat Junction (He was rather old by the time he made Benji.......and his puppies played Benji in some of the sequels)

I can confirm that "Benji's" name was indeed Higgins and that he was in Petticoat Junction (He was rather old by the time he made Benji.......and his puppies played Benji in some of the sequels)

On 'The Petticoat Junction Ultimate Collection' DVD this is mentioned in one of the featurettes. It was also stated that Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe) was touched when later on he appeared in a film with Higgins and Higgins remembered him.

On 'The Petticoat Junction Ultimate Collection' DVD this is mentioned in one of the featurettes. It was also stated that Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe) was touched when later on he appeared in a film with Higgins and Higgins remembered him.
What a cute story, i loved BOTH Mr Buchanan and the cute little doggie on Petticoat Junction, i was stunned later to find out it was really BENJI.

I remember seeing Higgins ["Benji"] when they were filming that movie in my town, which has been in quite a number of movies and TV eps [The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald; Dallas; Walker, Texas Ranger]. I saw Frank Inn on the set that day, and he was a biggg man.

Yes, I can confirm both - Toto was a purebred Cairn (a very smart terrier) and Higgins (known as both "Dog" and "Boy" on Petticoat Junction and of course, Benji to many) was a Cairn mix.

As a rule, mutts are the easiest to train - not necessarily the smartest, but because of no inbreeding, don't have some of the fragile traits purebreds have. Poodles are the smartest breed of all, but it should would have looked wierd to have a big fancy poodle around the Shady Rest and walking with Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road! ;)


btw, Higgin's heirs played subsequent Benji's once he was retired. They also purposely bred "Moose" - the Jack Russell on Frasier so they could continue the Eddie character once he got too old - which they did - his son took over and you can see the difference - the son was more smooth coated than Moose was.