When was Spike the bulldog introduced in Tom & Jerry?
The bulldog Spike from Tom and Jerry was originally named Killer.
He first appeared in the 1942 cartoon Dog Trouble. Animators changed his name to Spike a few years later to make him sound less aggressive.
Nerd's Section
Spike the bulldog debuted in the Tom and Jerry short Dog Trouble on April 18, 1942. In this episode, characters called him Killer in the dialogue. Promotional materials from MGM also used the name Killer during this time.William Hanna and Joseph Barbera created the character. Production notes from 1942 kept at the Margaret Herrick Library confirm this original name. His design was slightly different in these early years compared to his later look.The name Spike became official in the 1949 episode Love That Pup. This change appeared on the title cards and the model sheets used by the artists. The name Spike stayed for all future TV shows and movies.Author Patrick Brion documented these changes in his 2012 book about the series. He noted that Spike's body shape and voice also changed over time. Actor Billy Bletcher provided the famous deep voice for the character. Spike eventually became a regular character who protected Jerry from Tom.
Verified Fact
FP-0001566 · Mar 5, 2026