In the late summer of 1945, as the Second World War was finally coming to a close, LIFE magazine published a series of pictures by photographer Myron Davis—including the first one in this gallery, which has since become a classic—chronicling the fast friendship between a 12-year-old Iowan named Larry and his 18-month-old dog, Dunk.
Summer is the time [wrote LIFE] when Larry Jim Holm and Dunk can be together all day long. Larry is 12 years old and lives on a farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Dunk is 18 months old and is part spaniel, part collie. Sometimes there are chores to do but most of their time is for fun. Larry and Dunk know every foot of the 16-acre farm. They keep close tabs on the ripening blackberries, although Dunk really prefers field. mice. Sometimes they hunt gophers or dam the brook in the back lot. Sometimes they catch a turtle so Larry can carve his initials on it.
The best fun is fishing, when Dunk helps dig fat angleworms and goes off with Larry through the meadow, across the pasture (keeping away from the bull) and over the hill to the creek. They always jump into the creek for a swim. Then they go home for a quiet evening, most of it spent on the living room floor. “A guy’s almost an orphan without a dog,” says Larry.
Somehow we get the feeling that there are countless men, women, boys and girls everywhere—people who have a hard time imagining life without a furry friend close at hand—who know exactly what Larry’s talking about.
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.
Caption from LIFE. "Tired and thoroughly dirty from a hard day's play, Dunk pads along the roadbed while Larry practices the delicate art of walking on rails."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Dunk has learned how to open door with nose."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Holding on to Dunk, Larry waves at engineer."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Mowing the lawn goes better with Dunk along."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "He doesn't look it, but Dunk enjoys the water."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Dunk waits patiently while Larry feeds calves."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Turtles are among many wonderful discoveries."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images"They go to Oskaloosa to see the circus come in."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Larry waits patiently while Dunk eats supper."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "All tired out, they rest against an oat shock."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Fishing is their favorite summer pastime. They rarely catch very many and the fish are usually pretty small, but Dunk always shows an interest in a wet, wiggly catch."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "Off for home, Larry and Dunk trudge down the country road with a good-enough mess of fish. Larry says, 'Jeepers, I wouldn't take a hundred dollars for Dunk.'"Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCaption from LIFE. "At the end of the day Larry sprawls out with the funnies and Dunk collapses on the floor, heaves a dog-sigh and wiggles up as close to Larry as he possibly can."Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesUnpublished out-takes to follow.Not published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry Jim Holm, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry Jim Holm, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNot published in LIFE. Larry and Dunk, Iowa, 1945.Myron Davis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
