"Pat the Dog" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 13. In this episode, Patrick is sent to the pound for acting like a worm, but he will only have the opportunity to leave if SpongeBob can train him.
Characters[]
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Patrick Star
- Gary the Snail
- Squidward Tentacles
- Marvin
- Worms
- Butcher (debut)
- Snails in posters (debut)
- Incidentals
- Jenkins
- Billy (baby)
- Cashier
- Peterson
- Orange fish from "The Executive Treatment"
- Butcher's mom (mentioned)
Synopsis[]
The episode begins at the animal shelter, where a snail is trying to grab a key so it can escape. Marvin is on the phone as SpongeBob, who is volunteering, walks in. He is asked by Marvin to stop letting the worms use the phone. Marvin is then on the phone with Squidward, who is complaining that there is a worm outside his house who will not stop barking. Marvin gets on the case right away as he puts SpongeBob in charge while he is gone. SpongeBob promises that he will do his job to the best of his ability. He nervously walks over to Butcher the worm's cage, who growls when he tries to pet him.
SpongeBob training Patrick, who is a dog.
Marvin arrives back at the animal shelter with Patrick, who turned out to be the worm Squidward was complaining about. Patrick, acting a like a worm, drags Marvin around before going to see SpongeBob. He then goes to eat worm food that SpongeBob just poured out of a bag. Marvin is not thrilled by Patrick's behavior as SpongeBob seeks to train him.
It is night, and SpongeBob brings Patrick to his home. He then calls Gary over, telling him that he brought him a playmate. They do not get along very well. They resort to destroying SpongeBob's living room from their chasing. Patrick proceeds to bark all night, angering Squidward. He knocks on his door and a drowsy SpongeBob answers. Not knowing who Squidward is, Patrick bursts through the entrance trying to attack him. SpongeBob pulls Squidward away from him and into his house. SpongeBob says that he does not know what to do now that Patrick is back in his worm state. Squidward tells him that taming a worm is not so hard and that he should be giving him tough love. SpongeBob then pleads to him, asking if he could give tough love to Patrick. He tells SpongeBob to beg him, in which he responds to by acting like a dog. Squidward accepts, before telling SpongeBob to play dead.
The next scene shows a caged Patrick and Squidward in protective gear. He tries to teach Patrick how to heel, but that fails. Squidward has had enough and takes Patrick out to abandon him. Squidward returns home and has a knock on his door. It turns out Patrick has come back with stickers on his body, implying he has traveled around the world.
Squidward gives Patrick a shock collar. He puts it on him and tells him that whenever he barks, he will "give him a mild tough-love shock." When he tries to use it, it only vibrates, much to Squidward's intentions. He assumes it is broken and tries to take it off, only for it to work on him. Squidward takes Patrick out to abandon him again, instead with Patrick caged up. When Squidward returns home, he opens his door and an angry Patrick comes out. This time, it is Patrick taking Squidward out to abandon him.
Squidward drags himself home, and tries to open the door. Patrick answers and growls at him. Marvin shows up and tells Squidward that SpongeBob said that he has trained Patrick using tough love. He tells him that it is impossible to train him and he cannot get him to sit - which Patrick does. He says he tried to get him to beg - which Patrick does, too. Then he starts giving him usual (and unusual) dog commands, ending with "play dead." Marvin is impressed and calls Squidward a miracle worker. Marvin then gives Squidward a problem worm that is in need of training: Butcher.
Patrick turns back to normal as SpongeBob notices. It is revealed that Patrick snapped out of his worm state hours ago and just wanted to make Squidward feel proud of himself. Hearing commotion from his house, SpongeBob hopes he is not too rough on him. Finally, they both come out, but Butcher is walking Squidward on a leash, and Butcher greets the two. Surprised from such a sight, they both drop and play dead with flowers in their hands, ending the episode.
Production[]
This episode was in production during 2020.[1]
On January 24, 2021, Dave Cunningham said in an interview with The Art of SpongeBob Discord server that there were four episodes he and Sherm Cohen were not involved in during the early stages of season 13, as they were busy on Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, causing them to overlap in production.[2] This episode was one of them, as it was supervised by Vincent Waller and Marc Ceccarelli.
The episode was subsequently confirmed by Nickelodeon's schedule on July 1, 2021.[3]
Promotional art[]
- Created by Fred Osmond.[4]
Storyboards[]
- Revised by Chris Tabares.[1]
Production notes[]
Chris Tabares:
- Tabares said he was "grateful to work on the show that inspired [him] to do cartoons in the first place" and was "happy knowing [that he could] be a part of a new generation of children's childhoods."[1]
- He thanked Dave Cunningham for "bringing [him] on and the whole crew for guiding [him] and continuing to inspire the kid in [himself]."[5]
Music[]
| ( ‣ ) Production music |
| ( • ) Original music |
| ( ◦ ) SpongeBob music |
‣ Funday - Eric Spear [Title card.]
‣ Dandy Andy - Roger Roger [Opening.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 19B - Jeremy Wakefield [Marvin sighs.]
‣ Wacky Walk 1 - Sam Sklair, Otto Sieben [SpongeBob checks on the worms.]
‣ Statement - Jack Jordan [Shot of Butcher's cage.]
‣ Brown Threat - Alan Owen [SpongeBob tries to be gentle with Butcher.]
‣ Hippie Hop - Alan Perry [Marvin arrives with Patrick.]
‣ Statement - Jack Jordan [Butcher's cage.]
‣ Hippie Hop - Alan Perry ["Don't worry, sir, I'll train him. He's already house broken."]
‣ Wacky Walk 1 - Sam Sklair, Otto Sieben [SpongeBob trains Patrick to do tricks.]
• Greenhorn Rag - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Patrick "rolls over."]
‣ The Merry Devil - Remastered - Ronald Hanmer ["I know one wormy that needs a bath."]
• Harpsichord Classical Bits 1 - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Fancy worms.]
• Hawaiian Slide - Nicolas Carr, Jeremy Wakefield ["One hour later."]
• Don't Eat the Pufferfish - Nicolas Carr [Worms having a race.]
‣ Comedy Punctuations And Bridges 4 - Fredric Bayco ["This worm is a menace."]
‣ Final Fate - Max Saunders [SpongeBob tells Marvin that he will adopt Patrick.]
‣ Hippomania - John Fox, Mac Prindy [SpongeBob adopts Patrick.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 31A - Jeremy Wakefield ["Oh, Gary... I brought you a playmate."]
‣ Dramatic Cue (G) - Ronald Hanmer [Patrick destroys SpongeBob's house.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 40C - Jeremy Wakefield [Patrick barking.]
• Attack of the Sea Cucumbers - Jason Dobrowner [Patrick attacks Squidward.]
• A Fishy Conversation - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward tells SpongeBob that Patrick needs tough love.]
• Lap Steel - Nicolas Carr [Transition to next scene.]
‣ Fraidy Cat - Fredric Bayco [Squidward tries training Patrick.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 37D - Jeremy Wakefield ["Alright, that's it!"]
‣ Breakout - Syd Dale [Squidward takes Patrick to the woods.]
• Jellyfishing Waltz - Daniel Stimac [Squidward returns home.]
• Another Goofy Cue - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Patrick returns.]
• Lap Steel - Nicolas Carr [Transition to next scene.]
‣ Playful Pup - Alfred Ralston [Squidward puts a shock collar on Patrick.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 35 - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward's plan fails.]
‣ Breakout - Syd Dale [Squidward takes Patrick in the woods in a cage.]
• Jellyfishing Waltz - Daniel Stimac, Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob still playing dead.]
‣ Uh Oh Flutter-Eyed - [ProjectSAM Symphobia Colours: Animator] [Patrick is back in Squidward's house.]
‣ Breakout - Syd Dale [Patrick drives Squidward to the woods.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 35 - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward left in the woods.]
• A Short Fishy Conversation - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward crawls back to his house in pain.]
‣ The Merry Devil - Remastered - Ronald Hanmer [Marvin appears.]
‣ Big Top Marching Band - Johnny Largo [Optigan sample] [Patrick does a cheerleader split.]
‣ ? [Patrick acts like a chicken.]
‣ ? [Patrick turns into a chicken nugget.]
‣ ? [Patrick plays air guitar.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 37A - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward tells Patrick to play dead.]
• Play Dead - Nicolas Carr [Patrick plays dead]
• Who Said That- Jolly Good Fellow 2 - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony ["Well, I don't like to brag but–"]
‣ Statement - Jack Jordan [Marvin brings in Butcher.]
• Earls Revenge - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Ending.]
This list is incomplete, but you can help Encyclopedia SpongeBobia by expanding it.
Release[]
- This episode is available on the SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 21 digital collection and The Complete Thirteenth Season DVD.
Trivia[]
General[]
- The name of this episode is similar to the season 11 episode "Pat the Horse."
- Also, like in "Pat the Horse," Patrick is going through a phase of acting like a different animal. In this episode, Patrick is acting like a worm (dog) after accidentally eating some worm food.
- The title is a pun on the phrase "pet the dog."
- This episode was paired up with "Pat Hearts Squid" during the original airing, but has since been re-airing with "Goofy Scoopers."[6]
- This episode, along with "Pat Hearts Squid," preceded to the series premieres of the SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off, The Patrick Star Show and the Nickelodeon animated series, Middlemost Post.
- Ironically for Middlemost Post, former crew member John Trabbic had also worked on that show.
- Additionally, the episodes were both Patrick-themed.
- This episode, along with "Pat Hearts Squid," preceded to the series premieres of the SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off, The Patrick Star Show and the Nickelodeon animated series, Middlemost Post.
- This was Chris Tabares' first episode as a storyboard revisionist.[1] He would continue to do revisions for most Ian Vazquez-directed episodes until about September 2023.[7]
- SpongeBob breaks the fourth wall when he looks at the camera and tells the viewers that Butcher doesn't develop "a taste for a sponge."
- The scene where Squidward repeatedly ditches Patrick in the kelp forest is similar to how Mr. Krabs ditched SpongeBob in the kelp forest to keep him away from the Krusty Krab in "Bummer Vacation."
- The scene where Patrick briefly becomes a chicken nugget became an internet meme.
- The "One Hour Later" time card in this episode is reused from "Wet Painters," except the time card is in widescreen.
- It is revealed that Patrick goes into worm mode whenever he eats worm food.
- This is similar to how when he eats snail food in "Treats!," he acts like a snail meowing after he eats the food.
- However, in "SpongeBob You're Fired," Patrick also eats snail food, but does not act like a snail.
- In addition, Patrick also eats worm food in the episode "Gary's New Toy," but he does not act like a worm.
Episode references[]
Patrick imitating the Mocking SpongeBob meme.
- When Patrick is turning into different things, he turns into a chicken. This is a reference to the meme "Mocking SpongeBob," from the episode "Little Yellow Book."
- The tattoo of "mom" on Butcher is a callback to "No Weenies Allowed."
- SpongeBob is seen drinking a Kelp Shake from "Best Frenemies" in this episode while at the animal shelter.
- Patrick rolls down the train tracks of the subway from "The Ballad of Filthy Muck."
Cultural references[]
- This episode's title is the same as another series that previously aired on the Disney Channel in 2017.
- The Chokey the Bear billboard seen in the part where Squidward ditches Patrick is a reference to the real-life Smokey the Bear billboard.
- The first time Patrick returns from being left in the forest, one of the stickers on his body shows he visited Burbank, California, where SpongeBob SquarePants is produced at Nickelodeon Animation Studio.
Errors[]
SpongeBob's house is missing.
- When Squidward gets back to his house, SpongeBob's house is missing.
SpongeBob's right arm and thumb error.
- Before SpongeBob says "Patrick, wait!," his right thumb and arm are neon green for a split second.
Who had the time to repaint the walls?!
- After Gary sees Patrick, the wall pattern of the room he exits changes.
Videos[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d Chris Tabares on Twitter - "Last night was the premiere..."
- ^ File:Kk13 overlap.jpeg
- ^ Nick.com schedule - Goofy Scoopers/Pat the Dog listing
- ^ Fred Osmond on Twitter - "Watch Nickelodeon tonight..."
- ^ Chris Tabares on Twitter - "I wanna thank..."
- ^ Nickstory - July 9, 2021
- ^ Chris Tabares on Twitter - "Hey everyone!..."
