<P> Despite six shorts ending with a depiction of Tom's apparent death, his demise is never permanent; he even reads about his own death in a flashback in Jerry's Diary . He appears to die in explosions in Mouse Trouble (after which he is seen in heaven), Yankee Doodle Mouse and in Safety Second, "Heavenly Puss" while in The Two Mouseketeers he is guillotined offscreen. (except Heavenly Puss, Tom is just having a dream) </P> <P> The following characters were introduced in the theatrical shorts that were directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera . </P> <P> Spike, occasionally referred to as Butch or Killer, is a stern but occasionally dumb American bulldog who is particularly disapproving of cats, but a softie when it comes to mice (though in his debut appearance, Dog Trouble, Spike goes after both Tom and Jerry), and later, his son Tyke . In the shorts Jerry would often try to get Tom in trouble with Spike making him a shoo - in for a beating from the bulldog . Spike has a few weaknesses that Tom tries to capitalize upon: his possessiveness about his bone and his ticklishness . He made his first appearance in the 1942 Tom and Jerry cartoon Dog Trouble, and his first speaking role was in 1944's The Bodyguard, where he was voiced by Billy Bletcher up until 1949, from which point he was voiced by Daws Butler . Unlike his father Spike, Tyke does not speak . He only communicates by yapping, whimpering, growling, facial expressions and wagging his tail . In Tom and Jerry Kids, Tyke does have a speaking role in the program and is the first time that viewers were able to hear Tyke speak . Spike is very protective towards his son and gets very angry at Tom if Tyke is bothered or harmed . Although Tyke has spoken in Tom and Jerry Kids, he has laughed in one Tom and Jerry short . After Daws Butler, Maurice LaMarche, Frank Welker, John DiMaggio, Michael Donovan, Phil LaMarr and currently Rick Zieff would all perform Spike's voice . Tyke's vocal effects are provided by Frank Welker and speaking roles by Patric Zimmerman . </P> <P> Butch (voiced by Frank Graham, later Daws Butler due to Graham's death) is a black alley cat who made his first appearance in the Tom and Jerry series in the 1943 short Baby Puss, alongside Topsy and the already - established Meathead . His character, however (along with the character of Toodles Galore), first appeared in the 1941 MGM short The Alley Cat, directed by Hugh Harman, Butch's only solo cartoon . Butch is the leader of the alley cat bullies who are usually friends with Tom and help him catch Jerry . In his first appearance, however, Butch was an antagonist, tormenting Tom after Tom's young girl owner treated him like a baby--to the point of dressing Tom up in a diaper, a bonnet, and pink paw mittens . Thus costumed, Tom couldn't help but be a figure of fun--both for Butch and his gang, and for Jerry . Butch also battles with Tom over Toodles Galore and her affections in a couple of shorts including the 1946 short, Springtime for Thomas and the 1951 short Casanova Cat . In some cartoons, such as A Mouse in the House, Butch battles with Tom to catch Jerry . He is voiced by Maurice LaMarche in Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring, Tony Cervone in The Karate Guard, Colin Murdock in Tom and Jerry Tales, Billy West in Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers, and Joey D'Auria in The Tom and Jerry Show . Butch is usually decipted as a homeless alley / street cat although in the 1956 short, Blue Cat Blues, Butch is apparently a millionaire who wins the attention of Tom's love interest due to his immense wealth much to Tom's dismay . Butch also appears in the Spike and Tyke cartoon Scat Cats as a house cat owned by George and Joan who in the original series own Tom . </P>

What was spike's son's name in tom and jerry