I will rank them in terms of
How good I think the transformation makeup effects are
How they endured to me as a kid
And how I think they could've been improved.
Ps I won't be including the shaggy dog 2006
Because you never see the tf occur on screen






Shaggy dog 1959.

Wilbys first transformation in the basement.

Makeup effects, 8 out of 10.
The transformation was decent for its time
But you never saw the fur actually grow, likely due to effect limitations as it was 1959.
It always cut to another scene to show the dog tf progressing
With Wilby simply getting more hairier each moment and gaining a dog nose

How it endured to me as a kid.
Believe it or not this scene actually scared me a bit
The music was the likely main factor Wilbys reaction and the animals in
the basement freaking out.

How it could've been improved.
I guess the scene could've gone on longer
And With extra dog features showing up like paws
And dog claws.







The Shaggy DA.

Transformation at the Daisy's meeting or whatever it was.


Makeup effects, 9 out of 10
They were quite an improvement
from the previous transformation scene
Sure you see the distinctive white dog fur growing on Wilbys head again
But this time you see the hairs growing on his hands and his wife notices the change
And hides him behind her so the others in the room don't see
I find it funny how she pushes him to the ground after he says I'm not through yet
And she says yes you are Elwood.
Then you see Wilby getting much worse under the table
Not only is his face and hands totally hairy but he has a dog nose, dog lips
and possibly dog teeth.

How it endured to me as a child.
I sort of felt creeped out by this scene as a child because of the details
That's all I can say.

How I think it could've been improved.
Well.. It would have been good if
Wilby's transformation under the table lingered a bit longer I guess.







Return of the shaggy dog.

Transformation at the table.


Makeup effects, 10 out of 10.

Wilbys second transformation in this made for TV movie is quite good
You see the first thing that changes are his feet
which become cute white fluffy paws, next you see him gain hairless floppy ears
One at a time.. It was a good thing no one at the table noticed this lol
Wilby soon spots what's happened to his ears but stays quiet about it understandably,
A guy in the room who's allergic to dogs is sneezing uncontrollably
Wilby gets thick fur on his new ears and feels his now black dog nose but tries to keep calm about it
Now my favorite moment.. Wilby brings his glass of water to his lips and sticks his tongue in the glass with a horrified look in his eyes
He was most likely testing to see if he had a dog tongue or not
Then he starts sniffing at the air as if he had new dog urges.
When we see Wilby again he's looking at his reflection on the inside of a saucer or
silver bowl now with a almost completely dog head and silently yells arghh.


How it endured to me as a kid.
I loved this moment when I was a bit younger
Considering I never knew the film existed when I was little.

How I think the scene could've been improved.
Maybe they could've had Wilby get down onto the floor
As he's transforming and have that new tongue lol out
Because it's kind of hard to tell if his tongue changed
When he stuck it in the glass.



The shaggy dog 1994. (First remake)

Wilby first change.


Makeup effects, 6 out of 10.


The transformation is kind of CGI
Unlike the practicals effects of the previous movies
You see the fur grow on Wilbys arm in a odd kind of way
And then you see his face gain long hair that made him look
more like a white wookie then a sheepdog.
The fur tearing out of his clothes was okay and the actual transformation into a dog
Well.. I guess it's okay.

How it endured to me as a child.
It terrified the hell out of me when I saw it on the tv one night
When I was probably 6 or 7.

How it could've been improved.
Practical effects not CGI obviously could've made
It a bit better.