Bobby film 'barking up wrong tree'

WHEN the film-makers behind Trainspotting decided to tell the story of Greyfriars Bobby, they promised to set the record straight after Walt Disney’s distorted version.

But now they have been accused of casting the wrong kind of dog to star in the 5 million production - a short and stocky West Highland Terrier instead of a less photogenic Skye Terrier with drop-ears and a fringe over his eyes.

Members of the Skye Terrier Club UK said while Bobby "wasn’t the prettiest", a Westie would never have kept watch over its dead master’s graveside in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years until 1872 and instead would have gone off with a new owner "in a minute".

The Scottish Kennel Club said it was disappointing to cast a "very different" breed in the role.

Producer Christopher Figg, of the Noel Gay Motion Picture Company, who is shooting the movie in and around the Capital early next year, insisted that unlike the 1961 American version - which used a Skye Terrier - his film would be based on historical records.

He said he had chosen an eight-month-old Westie from Surrey - coincidentally also called Bobby - because the white Westie would stand out more in the dark and a Skye’s fringe hid the dog’s eyes from the camera.

He also claimed there were no contemporary references to Skye Terriers in the 19th century.

But that explanation was dismissed by the dog club.

Sine Threlfall, the official historian of the Skye Terriers, said: "The Skye Terrier breed was well established before Greyfriars Bobby was around.

"Admittedly he wasn’t the prettiest example but he was definitely a drop-eared Skye Terrier.

"One reason a Westie is totally unsuitable for the part is their temperament.

"I also have one and she would go with anyone in a minute - no way would a Westie devote its life to a dead master, it would be off with the first kind look it got.

"A Skye Terrier, on the other hand, is a thinker, very loyal and has a terrific memory."

And she raised the prospect of direct action to publicise their annoyance.

"Of course what we should do as Skye Terrier owners is turn up at the premiere and protest," she said.

Jenny Kendrick, chairman of the Skye Terrier Club said: "Some people could say: ‘Does it matter?’ but the answer is ‘Yes it does’. We care and the whole of the club cares because it is well known and well documented in historical records that Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier.

"We are trying to contact the film makers at the moment to let them know of our displeasure."

South Queensferry civil servant Moira Barrass is even more irate.

Mrs Barrass, whose 11 year-old Skye Terrier Misty has played Greyfriars Bobby on no less than seven occasions for TV appearances, said the film was deceiving the public.

"This film is receiving 500,000 of lottery funding to tell the authentic story and what they are doing instead is making fools of themselves," she said. It really makes you wonder if they have done any research at all."

But Mr Figg said: "Terrier dogs did not really separate into different breeds until much later than the period we are dealing with.

"There is no historical evidence that Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier apart from one very grainy photograph.

"Quite apart from all that, Skye Terriers have a huge fringe over their eyes. You can’t make a film about a dog without seeing their eyes. It just would not work."