They could perhaps be inside post players, but are too short to effectively handle the position, and would be best used to distract the other team. “There were a lot of times he didn’t make the basket.” We feel it is our responsibility to note that even the dog’s successful shots struggle to stick to the rules: During two of the movie’s free throws, Buddy jumps across the free throw line before the ball hits the basket, which would mean a disqualification.įinal Verdict: Dogs would not be efficient basketball players, as they lack the ability to dribble. “When I would shoot a basket, he would bite at it and his canines would punch it out of his teeth,” di Cicco told the Springfield News-Sun. When Buddy first plays basketball in the film, he makes an astounding twelve shots in a row, which is clearly not an accurate portrayal of a dog’s skills. Still, the trick was impressive enough to land him a regular role on Full House as Comet the family dog (Buddy’s unique talents were featured in one episode), followed by Air Bud. Sticklers will note that Buddy does not actually play basketball in the strictest sense, but rather pops the ball up in the air and into the hoop with his nose, usually with help from a nearby human.

After a chance encounter with a hoop, di Cicco discovered that Buddy had a natural talent for basketball ”“ it took just six months for him to learn the trick that made him famous when he appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Then, he set up a hockey net and showed him how to block slap shots. First, he taught Buddy how to catch a baseball pitch. After adopting the dog and naming him Buddy, di Cicco began training him to play various sports. In 1989, Kevin di Cicco found a stray golden retriever roaming the mountains of Yosemite.

Golden retriever playing on farm