The Black and White Dog of 'Footrot Flats' Quiz

Answer: We are not told his name

Dog was named by Aunt Dolly but loathed his more regal name and refused to let anyone say it. He responded well to his owner who just called him 'Dog'. There was a long-running joke in the comic strip where whenever someone asked his owner what the Dog's name, Dog would try and stop his name being told. Even when his owner or Aunt Dolly tried to write his real name, Dog would smudge or soil the paper to make it illegible.

Answer: Border Collie

Like most Border Collies, Dog was an intelligent dog and happiest when he had a job to do.

Dog helped his owner to get rid of rodents, guard the property and herd sheep.

Answer: Wal Footrot

Wal Footrot was given Dog by his Aunt Dolly, who ran a cat shelter. Dog was abandoned at the shelter as a young puppy. Wal has a girlfriend, Darlene 'Cheeky' Hobson, who was voluptuous and a hairdresser. Dog didn't approve of Cheeky and would chaperone when Wal went out on dates with her.

Answer: A cat

Horse was a big tough tom-cat. He was a stray cat. He was based on a cat known to the cartoonist who sadly died.

On one occasion, Horse snuck into the house and stole a steak from Wal's dinner plate.

Answer: Murray Ball

Murray Ball said that he hadn't actually come up with a name for Dog in 'Footrot Flats' for quite a while. He did decide on a name for Dog but eventually decided it might be an anticlimax for Dog's fans to know what it was. He decided to let Dog go without a name.

'Footrot Flats' showed an awareness of other cartoon universes. For example, in one strip Dog saw Wal reading the newspaper and looked over his shoulder only to realise that Wal was reading a 'Snoopy' comic.

Answer: A sheep farm in New Zealand

Wal Footrot and Dog lived and worked on a sheep farm somewhere in New Zealand. They sometimes travelled, for example in one strip Wal and Dog visited somewhere in Australia.

Answer: The All Blacks

The All Blacks are the New Zealand Rugby Union team. Rugby Union is the most popular sport in New Zealand.

Dog was sure that Wal should be playing for New Zealand (Wal played at local league level).

The All Whites are the New Zealand Soccer team. (Soccer is not as popular in New Zealand as it is in European or South American countries)

The Silver Ferns are the national Netball team. Netball is the most popular sport for women in New Zealand, both in terms of participation and viewers. (Netball is played at amateur level by both men and women).

The New Zealand IronBlacks participate in gridiron (American Football).

Answer: Jess (a Border Collie)

Cooch, Wal's best friend and neighbour, owned Jess who lived in a wooden kennel which was on stilts. Although Cooch tried to keep Jess in when she was on heat, Jess and Dog had at least one litter of puppies together.

Answer: In an old water tank

In one strip, Dog is running through the rain to get to his water tank. When he went inside, he found several sheep, geese and other farm animals inside. Another time when Dog went into his water tank, his human's niece Pongo had set up a picnic for her dolls inside! Dog was unimpressed.

Answer: A Dog's Tale (Tail)

'A Dog's Tale (Tail) was also a stage musical. One of the songs on its soundtrack was 'Slice of Heaven' by Dave Gobbin. Its video clip included segments from the movie.