Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Meet the star!
By Christie Keith
July 13, 2007
Okay, I’m the only living girl in the world who has never read a single Harry Potter book nor seen even one of the movies. I recently saw a photo of the actor who plays Harry, Daniel Radcliffe, and didn’t know who he was, to the horror of the friends I was with. I live under a rock.
But under that rock with me are Scottish Deerhounds, and the deerhound list was all abuzz last night when we discovered that young Master Radcliffe is not, in fact, the star of the most recent Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
No, the real star, at least under our rock, is a Scottish Deerhound named Cleod, who plays the dog Padfoot. Well, apparently not exactly a dog. A Harry Potter fanatic friend kindly wrote this summary for me:
The dog is Padfoot. This was the nickname for Sirius Black. Sirius was Harry’s father’s best friend. He is also Harry’s godfather, and spent 12 years in the wizarding prison, Azkaban, for allegedly killing another friend, Peter Pettigrew, and twelve Muggles (non-wizard folk). Sirius is an Animagus, which is the term for a wizard that can change into an animal. He became one to help protect and to keep company his friend, Remus Lupin, who was a werewolf.
While in Hogwarts, the transformations were very bad for Remus, so his friends Sirius, James and Peter became Animagi to keep him company. The reason Sirius is such a big dog is to be able to manage Remus should the werewolf decide to go berserk. James was a stag, Prongs was his name. Peter became a mouse, Wormtail, in order to sneak in and out of places. They called themselves The Marauders, and even made a map of Hogwarts that becomes visible to the user with the words, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” It disappears when the words “Mischief managed” are said.
Cleod’s breeder, Glenis Peach of Britain’s Kilbourne Deerhounds — whose website contains, along with photos of her beautiful hounds and information on the breed, a truly historic pedigree archive and photo gallery of Deerhounds in the UK dating back to the turn of the century — kindly gave me permission to feature a few of her photos of Cleod here. She said that Cleod, who won Best Puppy at Crufts in 2004, had to take a break from the show ring while filming because they dyed him black for his role. Fortunately, it was temporary dye, and washed out when his star turn was over.
Kilbourne hounds are no strangers to the Potterverse. Glenis’ dog Fern was the model for the figure of Padfoot in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Fern was filmed in live action, but what we saw on the screen was a computer generated graphic based on her. Glenis, and friends who have seen the film, assure me that Padfoot is a real live dog this time.
Here he is in all his windblown glory, Champion Kilbourne Macleod, movie star:
Yeahbut … does he swim?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 12, 2007 @ 10:43 am
He has people who carry him over the water.
Comment by Christie Keith — July 12, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Carry him? No, deerhounds *walk* on water. It’s part of their magic!
Comment by Terri Campbell — July 12, 2007 @ 11:43 am
{{{giggle!}}}
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 12, 2007 @ 11:46 am
No, I haven’t read any HP books either, and saw the first film today. The deerhound is in about a minute of the film, running through the train station.
Comment by KathyF — July 12, 2007 @ 11:54 am
What an absolutly awesome animal. What I want to be when I grow up…
Comment by Schnauzer — July 12, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
I can’t believe this has only 6 comments. What’s wrong with you people, can’t you SEE THE STAR QUALITY OF THIS DOG???
Comment by Christie Keith — July 12, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Not only is this guy one handsome dog, he’s got such a great name I can’t help but admire him! (My ancestors were MacLeods!)
Comment by Therese — July 12, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Too cool! Or maybe Tu kewl! In any case, this reminds me of the general elation when Allyn’s Royce appeared (was featured) Isak Dinnison’s dog in OUT OF AFRICA. But seriously, the HP books are magical & the films are pretty good, as well. I was introduced to them by a seventh grader in my studyhall just about the time #3 appeared. We own them all, and I have no other plans for 7/22— might even turn off the phone & computer. Deerhound is a noble choice for Padfoot.
PS some of your friend’s details are a little offf, but I shan’t quibble.
Joy
Comment by Joy — July 12, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
without a doubt Glennis your Houndies have in my mind taken the lead role of the film,I just cannot wait to get my infusion of Deerhound when I see the Film.——Greo’s and shoulder buts to
“Cleod” —-and a treat of Cheese perhaps!
Comment by john wack — July 12, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Comment by Christie Keith — July 12, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
“I can’t believe this has only 6 comments. What’s wrong with you people, can’t you SEE THE STAR QUALITY OF THIS DOG???”
Hey! I giggled on cue!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 12, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Hey guys-You have to read these,they are great. Cleod is just 1 more reason to watch !
Comment by Leslie k — July 12, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
I am so insulted that Gina put a new post above this one.
Comment by Christie Keith — July 12, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
I, too, have never read a Harry Potter book or seen one of the movies. Having a real deerhound in one may just be the turning point.
Congrats to Glenis and Mick.
hugs to hounds everywhere,
AM
Moondance Borzoi and Deerhounds
USA
Comment by AM — July 13, 2007 @ 3:57 am
Aye, tis a Greet Hoond, but I dunnae no this Potty Harry mon!
Comment by Richard — July 13, 2007 @ 7:42 am
My deerhounds have Kilbourne in them. Perhaps they can be stars too.
Comment by Brad — July 13, 2007 @ 7:45 am
I moved Christie’s post to the top of the blog, so Rebel will quit threatening to sue me.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 13, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Oh! What a relief to have this puzzle solved! My fiancee and I nearly jumped out of our seats when we saw the deerhound in the movie. I suspected “Sirius Black” might have been a dyed deerhound. Thanks for your sleuthing!
Comment by Grauhaus — July 13, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Rebel is quite litigious. He’s sued me a number of times and has an attorney on retainer…
Comment by Christie Keith — July 13, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Christie, I didn’t realize Deerhounds could have genetic stone issues. Dals have one also, urate related to Purines in protein. Same issue with males being more effected because of their anatomy, but a worry down the road with females also. It was one of the reasons I started raw feeding (that and Dot was emaciated and still under a year) Home preparing was SO much easier than finding foods that would work. And once I started label reading . . . well, pretty easy to switch. I try and keep Dot at a neutral PH and flushed :) Which reminds me, need PH strips! I plan on monitoring my male young kitty also. That will be fun! I may just get the litter that can detect urine changes for him.
interesting reads on the deerhounds! that’s quite a pack at Kilbourne!
Comment by straybaby — July 13, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
I posted a link on my blog to this important news. Except for the appearance of Cleod, the books are much better than the movies. I have particularly enjoyed listening to the audio versions read by Jim Dale.
Comment by Cate — July 13, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
What a gorgeous dog! Paris eat your heart out. Cleod has real beauty and I am sure he can act!
Comment by Deb — July 14, 2007 @ 4:13 am
So—competing for “top blog?” (get it? Top Dog…top blog…)
Okay, I saw your silly comments and couldn’t resist.
I actually did crawl out from under my rock to read the HP books and see a few of the movies. Sometimes I do have to stop working and do something different.
Comment by Diana Guerrero — July 14, 2007 @ 10:40 am
I thought it was Allyn’s Jaylynn who was in OUt of Africa.
Comment by Margaret — July 15, 2007 @ 5:17 am
Joy, it’s Isaak Dinesen, pseudonym used by Danish writer Karen Blixen.
Secondly, I frankly doubt that a Scottish Deerhound could have managed to keep a werewolf at bay… they are too light and were bred for deer, unlike their cousins the Irish Wolfhounds, who traditionally were kept to get rid (read “eliminate, dispose of, dispatch, kill, destroy” wolves in Ireland.
But I’m grateful for this blunder, at least it won’t be the wolfhounds who will become the next fad… whenever a breed of dogs becomes popular because of a movie, the breed is nearly doomed… look at what happened to Dalmatians, for instance. Today’s Dals aren’t what they were before Disney’s movie, alas, thanks to uncareful and large scale breeding aimed at filling the requests of the market. Bah!
Antonio
Comment by Antonio — July 15, 2007 @ 8:13 am
It was Jaylynn who was in Out of Africa.
I don’t think the deerhound will become popular because of being in this film. The dog is not identified in any way as a deerhound, and people just don’t know.
What I think will happen, though, is that deerhound people will read the Harry Potter books because there is a deerhound in the movies. ;)
Of course, there are like ten of us in the world, so that’s not likely to make much of a blip on the Harry Potter radar.
Comment by Christie Keith — July 15, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Comment by Antonio — July 15, 2007 @ 8:13 am
Dalmatians from responsible breeders are still the same as they were before the movie. The breed’s reputation took a major hit with all the poorly bred Dals out there, but the breed club and the core of the breed stood strong and worked hard to fix the damage (to both the dogs and reputation) Thankfully, their popularity is way down. Hopefully the ones needing rescue will drop even more down also. Still too many out there :(
I’d say what happened to Dalmatians is a prime example of why we need to protect the breeds and those who breed responsibly.
Comment by straybaby — July 16, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
What a pity they had to dye a deerhound. Our Ailidh is naturally black, has exceptional star quality and is a great TV & movie fan (favorite series: Dog Whisperer, movie: Duma the Cheetah). If Sirius Black gets reincarnated in Deathly Hallows… I think I’ll get her an agent.
Comment by Mary — July 20, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Being an Irish Wolfhound owner and lover, I was just as excited to see that gorgeous Scottish Deerhound as Padfoot in the Order of the Phoenix!
Comment by Lisette — July 22, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
I, too, am owned by a herd of Irish Wolfhounds. This does absolutely nothing to diminish my excitement over Padfoot being portrayed by a Scottish Deerhound. An excellent casting choice. To be honest, I could not tell if Padfoot was a Deerhound or a youthful, yearling Wolfhound while I was watching the movie clip. Does not really make any difference to the magnificance.
Comment by Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 6:23 am
They are BOTH such magnificent breeds!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 24, 2007 @ 6:55 am
I couldn’t tell in such a brief clip whether it was a IWH or Deerhound either, so glad we cleared that up. Me a IWH fan from way back and would say that a wolfie would be a better match against a werewolf but agree that both breeds are magnificent.
Comment by Emma — July 25, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
This is amazing.
I LOVE Harry Potter and when I saw that dog in the movie, I was all like, “Is that a Scottish Deerhound?!” Because I love Scottish Deerhounds, they’re one of my favorite dog breeds. But in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, Padfoot was SO NOT a Deerhound…and in the books he isn’t either. He’s just a big, black dog, and most people, including me, probably imagine him as a more wolf-like one. I was pretty sure the dog in the movie was a Deerhound though, and figured hardly anyone else would realize that. I’m GLAD they did that, but it surprised me a lot.
Comment by Michelle — July 29, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Having grown up with a Deerhound, I immediately recognized the sleek, gracefulness of the dog on-screen even though the color was not what I’m used to. But that mystery has been solved. I have since adopted a Greyhound but the Deerhound is never far from my heart so I was thrilled to see him in a story I love.
Comment by Kyla — August 3, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
i was thrilled to see the beautiful deerhound cast as Padfoot, but i thought an IWH would have been even better for effect. i think the added size/thickness would have been more fitting based on the mental image one gets when reading the book…
Comment by janice — August 30, 2007 @ 6:36 am