Higgins (December 12, 1957 – November 11, 1975) was an American dog actor, one of the well known animal actors during the 1960s and 1970s. He is most remembered for his roles as the original Benji film, and the uncredited dog from Petticoat Junction, two of the most popular roles he played during a 14-year career in show business. Early life In 1960, animal trainer Frank Inn found the dog at the Burbank Animal Shelter as a puppy. He was believed to be a mix of Miniature Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Schnauzer. Career Higgins' career was facilitated by Frank Inn, who also trained Arnold Ziffel (the pig) and all of the other animals used on The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Waltons TV series. His on-set assistant trainers included Gerry Warshauer and Karl Miller. As an actor, Higgins first came to national attention as the uncredited dog who played the character of "Dog" on the television sitcom Petticoat Junction for six of the show's seven seasons, from 1964 to 1970, appearing in 149 episodes. He guest-appeared on the television sitcom Green Acres with Eva Gabor in 1965 and also made a guest appearance on the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. Due to his work in Petticoat Junction, Higgins received a PATSY Award in 1966 in the television category, and he was cover-featured on an issue of TV Guide magazine. Higgins was able to convey a broad range of emotions through his facial expressions. Inn, who trained thousands of animals of many species during his lifetime, told reporters that Higgins was the smartest dog he had ever worked with and noted that during his prime years in television, he learned one new trick or routine per week and retained these routines from year to year, making it possible for him to take on increasingly varied and complex roles. Higgins's tricks included yawning and sneezing on cue. In 1971, Higgins starred in the television film Mooch Goes to Hollywood with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Vincent Price. He came out of retirement at an estimated age of 16 to star in the 1974 feature film Benji, which became his greatest commercial success. Personal life Friends Higgins had a close rapport with the actor Edgar Buchanan, who played Uncle Joe Carson on Petticoat Junction. In the official cast pictures taken each year during the run of Petticoat Junction, Buchanan is shown