The story is about Nello's pursuit to become an artist, like his mother. In the movie version, Patrasche is portrayed by a Bouvier des Flandres named Napolean. This movie stars Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Andie MacDowell, Jenna Elfman, Nastassja Kinski, and Gary Shandling. There is breed-wide concern that these movies will create problems for our breed similar to that experienced by Dalmatians and their devotees after the release of the film, l0l Dalmatians. Dalmatian rescue continues to be overwhelmed with dogs in need of re-homing.
Impulse buyers are especially vulnerable.
Bouviers are large, powerful dogs, many weighing between 90 and l00 pounds. This breed is considered to be a herding breed i.e. a working breed. They were originally bred to drive cattle, protect the farm, and to pull carts for their family. They served in World War 1 and II as messenger and ambulance dogs. The breed came to the United States in the late l920's as a result of the efforts of a few people when the Bouvier suffered terrible losses during the war.