It happened with Finding Nemo, and could happen with Disney's upcoming movie, Bolt. All that added exposure and anthropomorphised cuteness makes for one must-have pet.

The movie's American White Shepherd hero, Bolt, is a dog who stars in his own TV show. To all his co-stars, it's just fiction. To Bolt, it's reality. He really believe he's a superhero dog, and he really believes that the girl who stars with him has been abducted by the bad guys. Here's the preview...

So far, it looks like it'll be a good flick. I'm pretty tired of 3D talking animal movies, which have been beaten to death (the movies, not the animals). Most critics, however, are saying that Bolt is a giant leap forward for Disney Animation (as opposed to Pixar, which has been cranking out most of Disney's recent hits).

It looks like American White Shepherd breeders can rejoice in the movie's power to persuade people to take a look at their breed of choice. However, here's where it gets dicey. Once breeds become popular, unscrupulous breeders often seek to cash in at the expense of the dog breed itself.

Golden Retreivers are currently one of the most popular breeds in the world, and have suffered for it. They're prone to certain genetic disorders that come as a result of breeders going for quick money and not being careful in how they produce puppies. Golden Retreivers are a favorite of abusive puppy mills because of how lucrative sales of the breed have become.

Here's hoping that the movie rocks. More importantly, here's hoping that American White Shepherd breeders can handle their newfound popularity responsibly.