The 12 Greatest Movie and TV Dogs in History

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As you guys know I’m a big dog guy. I’m also a big movie guy and TV guy. Hence, I’m a big dog movie TV guy. Anywho, I was re-watching the cinematic classic Turner & Hooch the other day and it got me thinking about the greatest dogs in television and movie history. Without further ado, here are my 12 favorite dogs ever seen on both the large and small screens. Oh, and the dogs may be of the cartoon variety because it’s my site. I’m not ranking them because all dogs are awesome. Let us begin . . .

Eddie

Eddie was Marty Crane’s dog on the TV show Frasier and he was awesome. Marty loved Eddie. Frasier? Not so much. My favorite scenes were when Frasier and Eddie had their staring contests. Eddie always won. Eddie also holds a special place in my heart because he was a Jack Russell Terrier like my beloved Sparky.

Baxter

Baxter is the beloved little pup of Anchorman main character Ron Burgundy, who bonds with his little Border Terrier companion through deeply personal conversations that Baxter, smart little pup that he is, truly seems to understand. And although that biker threw Baxter off a bridge, this tough little dog still manages to save the day at the end of the film.

Brandi

Oh man, I loved Brandi. Brandy is the iconic American Pit Bull Terrier who covers Cliff Booth (aka Brad Pitt) in kisses in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time . . . In Hollywood. She gets a truly breathtaking moment during one of the film’s climactic scenes when she attacks one of Charles Manson’s lackeys (Tex Watson) and saves Sharon Tate from a brutal murder. Incredible ending to an amazing movie.

Toto

Hell yeah Toto makes the list. The Wizard of Oz tiniest character, the little Cairn Terrier may also be its most memorable. Toto is Dorothy’s only connection to the world back home after she lands in Oz, as well as her truest friend. Toto’s feisty personality also comes in handy throughout the film, from escaping from the clutches of that nasty Almira Gulch at the beginning to pulling back the curtain to reveal the real Great and Powerful Oz at the end. As one of the best parts of one of the most famous films of all-time, Toto is one truly iconic pup.

Old Yeller

I was so devastated at the ending of this movie I never watched it again – until today. Absolutely brutal. Even if you’ve never seen the film you’ve probably heard of Old Yeller. Based on the novel by Fred Gipson, the movie is a quintessential “boy-and-his-dog” story, following the relationship between a boy named Travis and the Black Mouth Cur he adopts and names Old Yeller. Old Yeller’s warm personality and loyal devotion to Travis have sparked a love for dogs in generations of movie fans—and thanks to the film’s tragic ending, it’s still frequently referenced among the saddest dog movies of all time. The ending, in which Old Yeller had rabies and had to be put down, is heartbreaking. Tommy Kirk’s acting is phenomenal too. Click to watch on YouTube.

Lassie

Lassie isn’t just a great character, she’s a cultural icon. Played by the Collie named Pal, she’s the ultimate hero dog who will overcome any obstacle to save Timmy from that well (or whatever the emergency happens to be that day). Her influence has resulted in countless motion pictures and television shows. Plus, she’s even got her own Hollywood star. I watched Lassie religiously as a kid.

Max

Oh how I love Max. Poor guy is stuck living in a cave with the angry, holiday-hating Grinch. He never gets the respect he deserves from his asshole parent, and is even forced into plans to ruin Christmas for a whole town despite clearly knowing better. But Max shows us that for dogs loyalty to your person comes first, even when your person is a nutcase. When the Grinch finally comes to his senses at the end of the film, it isn’t just a relief for the citizens of Whoville—it’s a relief to all of us dog lovers knowing that Max’s quality of life just went up 1000%.

PS – I have no idea what breed of dog Max is and I do not care.

Daisy

If you’ve seen John Wick you know that Daisy deserved better. This Beagle puppy, who was gifted to Wick by his dying wife, plays a short but pivotal role in the film’s early scenes, ultimately leading to her death at the hands of some Russian bad guy. Daisy simply wanted to spend time loving her person, but she didn’t get to do that. However, she didn’t die in vain. Wick spends the rest of the film avenging her, and man that was satisfying to watch.

Frank the Pug

OK, so Frank the Pug isn’t actually a dog; he’s an alien disguised as a dog. He’s also an excellent spy and informant, providing the Men in Black with information they need whenever they need it. Quite frankly, Men in Black wouldn’t have been nearly as good without Frank the Pug. Frank the Pug, man. He was cool.

Marley

Ah man, this movie just about broke me. That scene where Owen Wilson’s character said goodbye to Marley was heart wrenching. Marley was a Labrador Retriever and stole the hearts of everyone in America back in 2008. He may have been billed as the world’s worst dog with on-screen antics like getting kicked out of obedience school and chewing up everything in the house, but his parents love him through it all. In return, Marley loves them back through their struggles with fertility, new parenthood and mental health issues. Like all dogs Marley was part of the family, but man that ending still hurts.

Snoopy

Who among us can deny Snoopy’s place in our national consciousness? He isn’t just one of the best movie dogs in history—thanks to his depictions in comics, on television, on stage and even as a damn parade balloon, this Beagle is unarguably one of the greatest dogs in the history of dogs. You just can’t help but laugh at his antics and especially his relationship with Charlie Brown, which is often as antagonistic as it is special and caring. Snoop’s an icon who has been providing joy for decades, and there’s no chance that’ll stop anytime soon. The little Beagle Snoopy is a legend. So, wanna see the scene where Charlie Brown first met Snoopy? Here ya go . . .

Astro

Kids, even in the distant future there exists a world where the dog steals the show. My guy Astro winningly charmed his way into the Jetson family by beating out an electronic impostor, then kept his family happy by serving as an emotional punching bag for George Jetson and a loyal buddy to Elroy. And here’s a fun fact – Scooby-Doo and Astro share the same voice actor in Don Messick. Here’s how Elroy first met Astro:

Brian

Brian is the the sardonic, sometimes drunk pet of the Griffin family in Family Guy and has long been a key part of the show’s success. Unlike Peter, who’s a bit of a dolt and is prone to getting himself into all sorts of trouble, Brian (despite his tendency to hit the bottle) injects a bit of class into a show that’s infamous for it’s lowbrow humor. Brian’s episodes with Stewie in which they travel around the world and through time are some of his finest appearances. Bottom line, Brian is my favorite character in Family Guy.

So there ye be. What are your favorite dogs from TV and the silver screen?

Honorable Mention: Buddy (Air Bud), Scooby-Doo, Pluto, Hooch, Rin Tin Tin, Cujo, Benji, and Beethoven.