Okay, friends… it’s time for a little friendly debate. Of all the dogs that have appeared on television, who is the top dog?
Before we get started, the ground rules:
- We’re talking fictional dogs here. A real-life hero dog or otherwise famous dog (think Uggie) who has appeared on a television news program or in a commercial doesn’t count. (Although maybe we need a sub-category of dogs in commercials. I do love Chopper, after all.)
- Animated dogs totally count. Dogs that have appeared in holiday or other specials shown on television are also fair game.
- Miniseries and made-for-TV movies are also in the mix. However, movies originally released in a theater and later shown on TV don’t count – that’s the subject of a future pup culture debate.
Ready? To get you started, here are a few lists of TV dogs.
I’ll even kick off the discussion with a few of my favorites:
- Snoopy – Perhaps the most famous Beagle of all time? In any event, this World War I Flying Ace flew into my heart years ago and never left. (Anyone else obsessed with the Snoopy musical?)
- Odie – I’m not just obsessed with Garfield. I love his canine pal too. He’s not the brightest, but he sure does have a big heart.
- Seymour – Unlike the other dogs on this list, Seymour appeared in one memorable episode, the supremely moving and beautiful “Jurassic Bark” episode of Futurama. Have you seen this one? If not, you owe it to yourself as a dog lover and a human being with a soul. I got teary just typing those sentences. Um, quick… let’s watch a happy moment from that episode.
- Wishbone – It’s not all animated dogs here. My mom gave me a Wishbone stuffed animal one year and it was seriously the best gift ever. I mean, it’s an adorable dog and some great books. What’s the story, Wishbone?
- Eddie – Given my love affair with Terriers, I guess it’s no surprise that I adored Eddie from Frasier. Moose, you were the best.
I could probably go on for a while… in particular, there are quite a few animated dogs I might add to that list. However, I’ll stop with five for now.
So… who is your favorite? Share your nominees in the comments and tell us why! (If there’s enough interest, perhaps I’ll take the top mentions and put it to a vote soon.)
Let the pup culture debate begin!
Aw man! You had to throw Wishbone into the mix? I was all set to vote for Rin Tin Tin. But I watched Wishbone with my kids when they were young and he’s the best dog ever. I vote for Wishbone.
Pop over to my blog for a treat giveaway?
Flea recently posted..JNC Jumbo Bones and – Giveaway!
Yay for Wishbone!
I vote for Wishbone too. He was pawesome!
Oz the Terrier recently posted..March-ing Out the Limericks: Misaki
I’m glad I’m not the only Wishbone fan. 🙂
Eddie Rocks!
He always made me smile!
You want me to pick ONE?! Gah! There’s Murray from Mad About You, Scooby Doo, Tiger from The Brady Bunch…
But I have to vote for Santa’s Little Helper from The Simpsons!
houndstooth4 recently posted..Taking Time To Stop And Play Along The Way
Oooh… Santa’s Little Helper is a good one!
Fun post. Here are my votes:
Vincent from Lost because, well, wasn’t he like God or something? 😉
Petey from Our Gang because “Petey was a pit bull.”
And Porthos from Star Trek: Enterprise because everybody loves Beagles.
Leslie recently posted..Two steps forward, one step back
Loving these additions!
I can’t decide there are too many!! But I do agree with Leslie, Vincent from Lost rates right up there. 🙂
Jodi recently posted..I’m No Jodi Chick
My one rule for Lost was that if anything ever happened to Vincent, I would officially quit watching.
I’m glad you’ve brought this important debate front and center, where it belongs! 🙂
It’s impossible to pick just one!
* I’m a life-long lover of Snoopy, having grown up with beagles and we’ve had many of them in our family. Beagles really do a lot of the things Snoopy does (the vulture look, the leaping out and grabbing your ankle as you pass, etc.) so I really love him a lot.
* I also loved Eddie on Frasier. What an actor!
* I love, love, love Champion, the 3-legged dog on Parks & Rec (having had a fabulous 3 legger myself).
* I’ve always had a soft spot for Clifford, the Big Red Dog.
* A lesser known fave was Nunzio on Dharma & Greg. (He was the most adorable corgi, and he was technically Stinky’s dog, not Dharma’s. As Dharma explained it to Greg: “This is my dog, Stinky. And this is Stinky’s dog, Nunzio.”)
I could probably go on and on!
Jackie Bouchard recently posted..Monday Mischief: Such a Great Helper
How could I have missed Champion? He’s so awesome!
(I always used to joke that I was going to get Bella a dog… I guess that Tavish can be her dog. Hehe.)
Tied between Wishbone and Eddy!!
Bebe recently posted..My Barking Dog
Terriers – how to choose? 🙂
I vote for the my favorite Canadian “lassie” The Littlest Hobo. I got to meet him and his stand-ins at the Sportsman Show when I was a wee girl.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Littlest_Hobo
Karen Friesecke recently posted..Dog A Day Project – Show Me Yer Play Face
I am intrigued!
A second vote for The Littlest Hobo! A Canadian icon!
Jen K recently posted..Wordless Wednesday, 16th ed.
So many great additions in the comments, especially Houndstooth suggesting Santa’s Little Helper.
But no one beats Wishbone in my book. In the 1990s I tried to recover some childhood pleasures. And I was thrilled to discover a show that combined my love of dogs with history and literature. I still borrow Wishbone DVDs from the library every once in a while. I think it’s time to revisit him.
Pamela | Something Wagging This Way Comes recently posted..Snoopy Really is a Beagle
I am so with you – Wishbone was the perfect dog for a book nerd girl like me. 🙂
Despite the fact that there was no CAT (that I can remember) in Peanuts, Snoopy has to get my vote. So many wonderful childhood memories of watching the TV specials with my mom. She’d always giggle when Snoopy would dance.
: ) Glogirly
Glogirly and Katie recently posted..Waffles Wednesday – Best Photos of 2012
I think you’re right… only the cat next door in Peanuts who occasionally beat Snoopy up? Hehe.
Wishbone is a cutie.
When I was a kid I loved that little dog on PettyCoat Junction….showing my age there!
Mary
I became hysterical at the mention of Seymour 🙁
It’s impossible to pick a favorite! Can I just say Scrappy-Doo was the worst?
Diana recently posted..Manicures
Me too, Diana. Just thinking about that episode gets the waterworks going.
No, you can’t make me choose between Wishbone and Snoopy, it’s just impossible. I won’t do it. Noooooo! One looks freaking adorable as Sherlock Holmes – and also made a hilarious Sancho Panza – and the other was an essential part of my childhood.
Also, I love that Futurama episode. It actually made my husband cry when we watched it together many years ago. Real tears. I thought that was very sweet.
Kristine recently posted..Less Wordy Wednesday – You Asked For It
Aw, that is really sweet.
I vote for Lassie! Why? Because she saved everyone on the planet at some point during her movie and TV career, whether it was rescuing Timmy from a well or foiling the Nazis, Lassie did it all!
Bocci’s Beefs recently posted..The Saturday Pet Blogger Hop, But First…
You can’t argue with that!