03/11/2026
Spotty Dog from The Woodentops will bring back some memories for anyone who grew up watching Watch with Mother.
Those black spots, the barking and that funny walk were enough to make him a favourite. He didn’t need to say a word!
The Woodentops first appeared on the BBC in 1955, following a family going about their everyday lives on a farm.
There was Daddy Woodentop, Mummy Woodentop, Baby Woodentop and the twins, Jenny and W***y. But you could make a case for their dog being the one who stole the show.
Introduced as “the very biggest spotty dog you ever did see”, Spotty was always pleased at the prospect of biscuits or bones. A bath was another matter entirely!
It was all in the movements and reactions. For a wooden dog, he had plenty of personality, and watching those legs going up and down could keep children entertained.
His walk became so familiar that it even inspired an exercise called the “Spotty Dog”. Remember doing that yourselves?
Made at the BBC’s Lime Grove Studios in London, the programme had simple sets and puppets. Looking at it now, it’s a reminder of just how little was needed to make something children would remember for the rest of their lives.
Alongside Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben, Rag, Tag and Bobtail and Picture Book, The Woodentops became part of the routine for so many families.
For children watching in the 1950s and early 1960s, these were familiar faces to spend time with during the week.
And Spotty hasn’t been forgotten. The original puppet has been preserved in the Museum of London’s collection, a lovely reminder of those early days of children’s television.
More than seventy years after he first appeared, people still remember that dog and the enjoyment he brought them.
You might forget the details of an episode, but the characters can stay with you.