Baunz the all-American dog

Sporting sunglasses and a goofy grin, Baunz the all-American dog was the face of California postcards across the U.S. in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s – as many locals may recall – until his death at age 11. 

Baunz, a Yellow Labrador Retreiver with a perfectly pink nose, belonged to Carpinterian Richard Villegas. “He was the original California dog wearing sunglasses,” Villegas told CVN. 

Villegas – who was born and raised in Carpinteria – shared dozens of photos and news clippings with CVN of Baunz: Baunz on the beach with sunglasses, Baunz on top of a bulldozer at a construction site, Baunz with over-ear headphones on, jamming out to music. The first iconic photo of Baunz wearing sunglasses was snapped between 1983 and 1984, after Villegas started training Baunz to sit still with sunglasses and other items on the dog’s face. 

A casting resume from 1991 lists Baunz’s television and magazine appearances, with pictures in Surfer Magazine in 1985, Woody’s BBQ Commercial in 1986, the Los Angeles Great Escapes Magazine andthe K.A.D.Y. television commercial in 1989, and the KEY News with Tony Lopes and the K.T.M.S. Talk Radio Show in 1991. 

“Baunz is an eight-year-old Golden Lab whose interests include surfing and soccer. As a professional model and actor, Baunz enjoys long hours before cameras and directors in fleshing out various characters he portrays,” the resume lists. 

Villegas also described Baunz – also listed as “Bonzz” in a casting description written when the dog was four – as a “very unusual dog.” 

“We’re a bit of a team: I drive and he entertains from the back of my pick up. We’ve been noted for stopping traffic in town, getting tourists to scramble wildly for their cameras (…) Bonzz’s antics are rather uplifting,” the casting document states. “This famous dog is noted for wearing sunglasses and a bandana, and on cold days – a sweatshirt!

“People in Hollywood, Ventura, Oxnard know him. And of course, everybody in his hometown of Carpinteria loves him!” 

Baunz could play soccer, surf, drink out of a cup and follow several commands: sit, come, go, stay, lay down, roll over, shake hands, wink, wave, catch, stand up, jump and more. 

“I believe my dog is rare and special and talented and I’d like a chance to give him more exposure because I believe people would enjoy him,” Villegas wrote in the late ’80s. 

After Baunz passed away in the ‘90s, Villegas, undeterred, continued breeding golden labs; former CVN Editor Amy Marie Orozco profiled Villegas’ group of labs in “All Barks, No Bites” for Carpinteria Magazine (Winter 2017). 

All of Villegas’ dogs are related, although his first was Baunz; he keeps one lab from each litter. Villegas still lives in Carpinteria, on a four-acre property he has lived on for nearly 30 years. He told CVN he wanted to give a shoutout to his grandmother, Josephine Villegas, who turned 103 earlier this year; she fixes him breakfast every time he visits, he said. 

Want to check out the postcards yourself? Give Villegas a call at (805) 969-5644.