Sweet, Lanky White Painted Wooden Dog (I Presume)

I really love the elongated lines of this creature, which I take for a dog, with floppy (now hardened) leather ears and pointed tail. With that long neck and those long legs, it looks built to run--but also to love! Very sweet.

10 1/4" l x 6 1/I" t x 1 3/8" w measured on the square. I'd guess 1940s-50s. The leather ear covers (obscures) the painted eye one on side and there are hairline surface splits to the interiors of a couple legs, which don't effect its stability in standing, but make one want to be slightly gentle with him.