Daily Reel - The Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1975)

The dog features prominently in this tale of a city family leaving it all behind to settle in the wilderness and get back to their roots. He’s an athletic yellow field Labrador Retriever and he’s there to protect his people from marauding wildlife and cheerfully soak up new adventures like any good Lab.

Filmed in the Gunnison National Forest in Colorado, The Adventures of the Wilderness Family was followed by two sequels: Wilderness Family, Part 2 (or The Further Adventures of the Wilderness Family, 1978) and Mountain Family Robinson (1979).

Produced by Pacific International Pictures, Wilderness Family Inc.

 

Malamute Movies

The Alaskan Malamute does not have a reputation for being a trick dog, but when they do get a film role, they always stand out. Here's a list of some Malamute movies fans of the breed may enjoy.

Pictured: Lobby card from Nikki, Wild Dog of the North, probably the best Malamute movie ever made, from author's collection. Copyright Walt Disney Pictures, 1961.

Antarctica a.k.a. Nankyoku monogatari (1983)

Eight Below (2006)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Iron Will (1994)

Kayla a.k.a. Kayla: A Cry in the Wilderness (1999)

The Lost Boys (1987)

Nikki, Wild Dog of the North a.k.a. Nomads of the North (1961)

On Deadly Ground (1994)

The Thing From Another World (1951)

White Fang 2: Myth of the While Wolf (1994)

Also, a famous Malamute mix was Jed, star of The Thing (1982), The Journey of Natty Gann (1985), and White Fang (1991).

Malamutes of TV include the ones from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993), White Fang (1993), and The Call of the Wild (2000).