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Kudos on picking that one out. That's one of the "toy-sized Spitzes" I referred to collectively, but it was the one I most had in mind; Dixie could be based on any one of them or a mish-mosh. I figured on the basis of sheer popularity alone, Pomeranian would be most likely--but in some ways Volpino Italiano might actually be even closer.
When it comes down to that I don't think we can really tell...it's sorta like Malamute vs. Husky for Steele. Both could fit. I thought they probably just had "general Pom type" in mind and if they made it in live action, would probably cast one, but the V.I.'s only real drawback would be that it's not well-known--at least in the U.S. I'm sure in Italy, naturally, it's much more common than here.

Actually, I happen to think that her character was very well developed - same goes for all of the first movie's characters.


Anyway, I'm with Letranger. She looks nothing like a Lhasa Apso (or, indeed, a Lapso Apso ) except for her size. I originally thought Chihuahua was a pretty close match, but I believe Chihuahuas tend to have larger ears? At least, larger than Dixie's ears, portrayed in the film.
For me, Dixie is 100% Pomeranian. She could be any of those other Spitzes, but who's to say the animators had even heard of such breeds? Pom is more likely, because she was toy sized, while most others, such as the Volpino Italiano, are closer to the size of, say, a Spaniel or Beagle or small Border Collie - and also because the Pom is popular enough to be known to said animators.

It'd be an interesting interview, really. What breed's Doc? Steele? Dixie? Sylvie? (even though I find it blindingly obvious, LOL)

Ha, ha--me too, OwnedByAGoldenRetriever. I agree with you completely. I also think Dixie and everyone from the first film were very well developed, especially considering what small parts some of them had. We still get a great feel for who they are and can easily imagine what the rest of their lives must be like.

Yeah, all of the characters were developed well, although they did develop certain ones (Sylvie) to be annoying...

Yeah, they were intended to be a little on the irritating personality side. xD Somehow though, it turned out to be part of what I like about them...

I think she's a Lapso Apso because on another site it said so.

Don't trust things just because you read them on websites. Dixie looks hardly ANYthing like a Lhasa Apso. She's a "spitzy" looking small dog, and they are of the long-straight-silky-hair-with-hanging-ears variety.

Alright. I'll have to look at a picture and see what it looks like. :3

^^

http://www.akc.org/breeds/lhasa_apso

That's the basic idea (even if you don't leave the hair that long.) Not nearly the closest pick...

That so does not look like her. XD

I know, lol! That's why I couldn't believe how many times I heard it suggested that she might be one...

Yeah. 0.0 What was that site and all those other people thinking?

I'd say she's a Klee Kai, however, she's alot furrier than one. If she was a Klee Kai she's pretty much just be a smaller Jenna. A Lhasa Apso is out of the question. They're floppy-eared dogs, short legged (in comparison to body) and they have extremely furry faces. I think the closest breed to her, still, is an American Eskimo Dog, because think about it.

The size comparison to a husky is pretty much dead on. They're both fluffy, and their ears stick up. Sure, American Eskimo Dogs don't come in Dixie's color, but do huskies come in Jenna's color? Both have squeaky voices (generally). American Eskimo Dogs don't generally have blue eyes, but then again, wolf dogs don't generally have red eyes.

But the only real thing that lets me think that she's not an American Eskimo dog is her nose. Dixie's nose is short, tho not smashed into her face like the Lhasa Apso. And the American Eskimo Dogs have longer muzzles.


http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/br ... /amesk.jpg


http://www.northwapiti.com/images/breezy.jpg


http://www.nlaeda.com/events/spring05/i ... BIS_1a.JPG


http://baltosource.timduru.org/img/gallerie1/23.jpg

Hmm...in my personal opinion, she isn't at all like a Klee Kai.

American Eskimo Dog....is a possibility. After all they do come in Miniature and Toy varieties.
Lhasa's noses aren't really smashed into their faces, not like a Pekingese or something, if that's what you're thinking of, though they are pretty short.
I still go with Pomeranian overall as the best choice. But, it's whatever you think. There are no exact matches.

I thought about the Pomeranian too, cuz they can come in Dixie's grey color. But the only real reason I didn't vote for a pompom is cuz its basically a ball of fur and the size comparison doesn't fit. Dixie is about 2/3 of Jenna's size and a pom would be about 1/4.