Home / Arts and Entertainment / Retro Movie Magic: How Disney Pulled Off Iconic Canine Stunts in The Shaggy D.A.
Retro Movie Magic: How Disney Pulled Off Iconic Canine Stunts in The Shaggy D.A.
18 Nov
Summary
- Disney's 1976 film The Shaggy D.A. used a human in a dog costume as a stunt double
- Stuntman in full sheepdog costume handled complex actions like driving, running, and slapstick
- Internet users praise the "silly analog solutions" as a refreshing break from modern CGI
In November 2025, the internet is buzzing about the surprising stunt techniques used in Disney's 1976 film The Shaggy D.A. According to the article, the filmmakers employed a human in a dog costume as a stunt double for the movie's canine star.
When scenes required complex actions like driving, running on two legs, or performing slapstick falls, a stuntman in a full sheepdog costume would step in to safely handle the chaos. This creative solution is being praised by many online users as a refreshing break from the heavy reliance on high-tech CGI in modern films.
One commenter notes that they are "kind of sick of hyper realism and all this CGI" and are glad to see "some silly analog solutions" making a comeback. Another adds that the practical effects in The Shaggy D.A. are "a lot more seamless than some transitions to CGI."
The article also highlights specific scenes where the human stunt double is clearly visible, such as a sequence where the "dog" punches an actor in the face and another where the canine appears to jump out a window before the human in costume latches onto a rope to escape. These vintage filmmaking tricks are being celebrated as a unique insight into the production methods of the past.
