What Kind of Dog is in “The Sandlot”? The Surprising Answer!
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The movie, The Sandlot, came out in 1993, and is something of a cult classic—with both the story and characters well-loved by people of all ages.
Besides the human stars of the movie, a canine character plays a major role—an English Mastiff nicknamed, The Beast. He lives in a fenced in area next to the sandlot where the kids play baseball, and does not like their presence in his world one bit. He barks at them, chases them whenever he has the chance, and hoards their stray baseballs. And, according to local legend, The Beast once actually ate someone! During a famous turning point in the movie, The Beast is revealed to actually be a big sweetheart, becoming fast and loyal friends with the kids—discover his name is actually Hercules.
Fans of the film may be wondering what breed of dog Hercules/The Beast was played by. He was actually played by two different English Mastiffs—as well as by a Mastiff puppet in certain scenes, operated by two crew people. The main dog who played the beloved canine character was named Gunner, while a younger stunt dog was used for the more active scenes.
A Bit About English Mastiffs
Physical Characteristics
Bred to be a guard dog, the English Mastiff—or simply, the Mastiff—certainly lives up to its role in both physicality and personality. They weigh between 175 and 190 pounds, and are between 28 and 31 inches tall at the shoulder—making them one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. Their heads are large and square, and they have droopy eyelids and jowls, giving them a distinctive and somewhat distinguished look.
Their coats a typically light in color and short. As such, shedding is not a big problem with this breed. They are, however, known to drool and snore—two traits that might not be appealing to everyone.
Personality
Their personalities feature a very interesting mix of traits. Massive and muscular, they will always defend their humans and their homes with a deep bark and a powerful stance. They are known to chase down intruders, and sometimes knock them down and lay on top of them.
Mastiff puppies need to be well-socialized (exposed to new people and situations) in order to make sure their guardian nature is a balanced one. Despite their displays of ferocity, Mastiffs are also affectionate, laid back, and tend to be people pleasers. They are very comfortable with children, and are known to be patient and docile caretakers.
Mastiffs can sometimes be difficult to train, as they love to be the leader of their pack. For this reason, an early start with the training process is ideal.
Life Span
Like most dogs of this large size, the average life expectancy of an English Mastiff is between 6 and 12 years old. Though this may seem to be on the lower end, Mastiffs can certainly live to be older than this age range if properly cared for and kept in good health. Gunner, the famous Mastiff who played The Sandlot’s Hercules/The Beast, lived to be just shy of 13 years old.
Conclusion
The Sandlot is probably remembered most for the comical and endearing scenes featuring the rivalry between the group of friends and a neighborhood dog, The Beast. The Beast, whose actual name is Hercules, was played by an English Mastiff—a breed known for being a loyal guard dog with an endearing nature. Whether you’re just a fan of the movie, or considering adopting a Mastiff, we hope you found this article helpful and informative.
Featured Image Credit: Waldemar Dabrowski, Shutterstock
