The Shaggy Dog is a 1959 American fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and loosely based on the 1923 novel The Hound of Florence by Felix Salten.

Directed by Charles Barton from a screenplay by Lillie Hayward and Bill Walsh, the film stars Fred MacMurray, Tommy Kirk, Jean Hagen, Kevin Corcoran, Tim Considine, Roberta Shore, and Annette Funicello.

The film follows a teenage boy named Wilby Daniels who, by the power of an enchanted ring of the Borgias, is transformed into a shaggy Old English Sheepdog.

As a retired mailman who often ran afoul of canines, Wilby's father Wilson hates dogs, and cannot understand why his younger son, Montgomery "Moochie" Daniels, wants one.

Plumcutt mentions mystical ancient beliefs, including the legend of the Borgia family, who used shape-shifting as a weapon against their enemies.

It is the cursed Borgia ring, and after reading the inscription on it ("In canis corpore transmuto", which, unknown to Wilby, means, "Into a dog's body I change"), he transforms into Chiffon, Francesca's Old English Sheepdog.

Wilby, as a dog, eventually overhears Dr. Valasky and his associate Thurm discuss plans to steal a government secret.

He however transforms into human Wilby in front of the spies and is discovered, but not before he hears Andrassy expressing his wish to get rid of Francesca.

Walt Disney had previously bought the rights to Felix Salten's 1923 novel Bambi, a Life in the Woods and produced an adaptation of it in 1942 under his animation department.

Prior to that film's release, Walt Disney bought the rights to five more Salten novels in May 1941, as well as options to have him adapt them.

[5] However, ABC wanted Disney to make another TV series, and he pitched them The Shaggy Dog, "a story that treated the younger generation and its problems in a light manner.

[7] The Shaggy Dog betrays its successful forebear with Fred MacMurray's classic bit of dialogue: "That's ridiculous—my son is not a werewolf!

Veteran screenwriter Lillie Hayward also worked on the Spin and Marty serials, which featured several of the same young actors as The Shaggy Dog.

The lead role went to Tommy Kirk, who had started with Disney in a Hardy Boys serial for The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Tim Considine.

[10] Kirk later said: "At the time, I viewed it as a fairy tale, but in later years, I've come to think that the film has one of the screwiest combinations of plot elements in any movie ever made.

[14] Kirk said he had "beautiful memories of" Barton, "as he was a very gentle, nice person with a good sense of humor".

Frees also did his usual voice acting by also playing the part of the narrator who informs the audience that Wilson Daniels is a "man noted for the fact that he is allergic to dogs".

[16] According to Diabolique, "the movie kicked off a whole bunch of comedies with a slight fantastical element that powered Disney film division for the next two decades.

Using a formula of placing supernatural and/or fantastical forces within everyday mid-twentieth century American life, the studio created a series of "gimmick comedies" (a term used by Disney historian and film critic Leonard Maltin) with action to keep children entertained and some light satire to amuse the adult audience.

Using television actors on their summer hiatus who were familiar to audiences but did not necessarily have enough clout to receive over-the-title billing (or a large fee) from another major studio was one way these comedies were produced inexpensively, they also tended to use the same sets from the Disney backlot repeatedly.

The popular television series My Three Sons (1960–1972) reunited MacMurray and Considine, and also features a pet shaggy sheepdog named "Tramp".