Did you know that Annie Oakley had a dog that let her shoot an apple off its head?

Yeah. Me neither.

If you find yourself at the Buffalo Bill Center Of The West, you’ll see an interesting framed photo on the wall. It’s of Annie Oakley as she’s lining up her shot, her dog Dave calmly sitting on a stool with said apple on his head.

By that time, Annie had left Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and was performing on her own. Dave was a much loved pet and constant companion for Annie and her husband Frank Butler. In other words, there was a lot riding on that dog’s ability to stay still.

Even if you could find a dog willing to remain so calm and still the first time, I can’t imagine a dog so trusting and stoic that it would do it again.

He must have been a very good boy.