<Tr> <Th> Notable role </Th> <Td> King in The She Creature Old Yeller in Old Yeller Patrasche in A Dog of Flanders Pete in The Silent Call </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Owner </Th> <Td> Frank Weatherwax </Td> </Tr> <P> Spike was a lop - eared yellow Mastador (Mastiff / Labrador Retriever mix) and a dog actor best known for his performance as Old Yeller in the 1957 Disney film of the same name co-starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, and Kevin Corcoran . Spike was rescued as a pup from a shelter in Van Nuys, California and became the pet and pupil of animal trainer Frank Weatherwax . </P> <P> Spike also appeared as Patrasche in 20th Century Fox's A Dog of Flanders with Donald Crisp and David Ladd in 1959 and as King in the 1956 film, The She - Creature . In 1961, Spike was the star of The Silent Call, playing as Pete with Roger Mobley, David McLean and Gail Russell; the entire movie focused on his efforts to reunite with his human family who had been forced to leave him behind while traveling from Nevada to California . </P>

What kind of dog was in old yeller