by Shelly Barclay

Created on: August 17, 2011   Last Updated: August 18, 2011

Old Dan is one of the three main characters in Wilson Rawls' "Where the Red Fern Grows". He is a lovable character who is devoted, hard working, brave and loyal. That is hardly a surprise because Old Dan is a dog - a redbone coonhound, to be precise. Old Dan and his partner Little Ann have triumphs and tragedies throughout this heartbreaking children's novel. Through the eyes of Billy, Old Dan and Little Ann's young owner, the reader sees the story of these two dogs' lives and how Old Dan helped change the lives of Billy and his immediate family.

Old Dan enters the story as a puppy Billy secretly purchased with his own money. Billy walks from his home in the sticks to town to retrieve Old Dan and Little Ann. He leaves his home under cover of night and must spend the following night in a cave on his way home because it is too far to walk in a single day. That night, Old Dan and Little Ann prove their bravery by howling at and antagonizing a mountain lion. Billy makes a fire so the cat will stay away, but the event foreshadows a pivotal moment in "Where the Red Fern Grows" and in Old Dan's life.

As Old Dan grows, Billy trains him in the art of catching raccoons. This helps Billy's family make money and raises a strong bond between the boy and his two dogs. They spend all of their time hunting with Old Dan being the stubborn and foolhardy one of the bunch. However, Old Dan is also persistent and a good coonhound. He and Little Ann are very successful and Billy is able to make enough money hunting to help his family.

More than Little Ann, Old Dan finds himself in tight spots. Because he is so willing to thrust himself into any situation, he gets caught in trees and falls in holes. Little Ann is described as the more intelligent one, but both are seen as invaluable to Billy. His entire life becomes the two dogs that are forever at his feet. Old Dan's mishaps are nothing compared to his triumphs, however. He helps Billy win a 300-dollar prize that leads to Billy's family moving to town. However, Old Dan does not go with them. Before the novel ends, he has one more foolhardy act.

One night, Billy's dogs tree a mountain lion. Thus provoked, the mountain lion decides to attack Old Dan and Little Ann, who fight back ferociously. Billy decides to take an ax and attack the lion as well, but he puts himself in extreme danger. Old Dan fights off the lion, but is gravely injured. His last act was to save his little master. Old Dan was so loved that Little Ann could not live without him. She passed away from what can only be termed a broken heart.

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