A print ad from the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, February 11th, 1958 shows that this film was widely distributed on a double bill in 21 area theaters. Most of the indoor theaters co-featured Ambush at Cimarron Pass starring Scott Brady, and all of the drive-in theaters co-featured Underwater! starring Jane Russell and Richard Egan.
Although the movie is based in Texas, it was filmed in California.
The dog, Old Yeller, although described in the dialogue as a mongrel, is portrayed by a Yellow Labrador Retriever and, in the book, is a Black-Mouthed Cur, which is not recognized as a separate breed.
The dog's name is 'Spike'. He also appeared in _She Creature, The (1956)_, walking along the beach with Marla English.
The wolf that fights with Old Yeller is actually not a wolf at all. It was a German Shepherd made to look like a wolf. Both animals were trained to play-fight and were muzzled for that sequence.