It’s hard to imagine life without humankind’s best friend. For that reason, whether live-action or animated, some of the best TV series ever feature a canine in a starring role or as a companion. We present the 10 best TV dogs.
10. Brian (Family Guy)
The most human-like animated dog of all time, Brian even has opposable thumbs and can drive. This anthropomorphic white Labrador retriever with a sardonic wit has written a novel, a script, and a best-selling self-help book. Even hits the bottle when he’s down. Brian adds a touch of class that offsets Peter’s sophomoric antics.
9. Wilfred (Wilfred)
Everyone sees Wilfred as a normal dog, but the character Adam sees his girlfriend’s dog as a man in a dog suit. Wilfred is a 9-year-old mixed-breed of German Shepherd, Labrador, and 1/16th dingo. Wilfred smokes, drinks, eats junk food, and is prone to foul language. This surreal show is full of absurd gags and laughs.
8. Eddie (Fraiser)
Much of this show focuses on Frasier adjusting to living with his father, Martin, whom he has little in common with. He’s constantly annoyed by Martin’s dog, a Jack Russell Terrier named Eddie. The unfailingly loyal bond between the rascally canine and Martin made each of Eddie’s appearances much more special.
7. Comet (Full House)
Full House was known for being a wholesome TV show focused on family. And what is a family without a dog? Although Comet the Golden Retriever didn’t have the major role that many TV dogs have, nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine the Tanner family without him. His descendants lived on in the series’ sequel, Fuller House.
6. Santa’s Little Helper (The Simpsons)
The Simpsons adopted Santa’s Little Helper after his owner abandoned him outside of a race track for finishing last in a Greyhound race. Our hearts go out to this poor pooch, as sometimes the family decides they want to get rid of him. However, they always take this lovable dog back. Unlike many TV dogs, he doesn’t have human abilities.
5. Cheddar (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Everyone who’s watched Brooklyn Nine-Nine has fallen in love with Captain Holt’s adorable but mischievous Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Cheddar. Although most fans of the show would have preferred Cheddar to appear more often, when he did it was always memorable. Stand-out moments include Chedder eating Jake and Amy’s wedding cake, and the time he was kidnapped by a criminal.
4. Wishbone (Wishbone)
Although Wishbone only aired for 2 seasons on PBS (1995-1997), this live-action children’s television series captured a permanent place in the hearts of kids everywhere. Wishbone is a Jack Russell Terrier who daydreams about being the lead character of stories from classic literature. As a result, he inspired a whole generation of kids to the joys of reading.
3. Rin Tin Tin (The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin)
One of the most iconic media dogs of all time, Rin Tin Tin did a lot to popularize the German Shepherd with many people. Originally appearing in silent films, the dog rose to fame in the 1950s TV series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin set in the American Old West.
1. Scooby-Doo (The Scooby-Doo Franchise)
Since premiering in 1969, the eponymous, broken-English-speaking Great Dane Scooby-Doo has captured the hearts of multiple generations through film and TV. Practically everyone knows his theme song. Though a bit of a coward at times, powered by Scooby snacks, Scooby-Doo nevertheless manages to help the four teens solve the crime every time.
1. Lassie (The Lassie Franchise)
The most iconic TV dog of all time, Lassie became popular in novels and rose to fame in the 1943 film Lassie Come Home. Six more MGM films followed. Lassie appeared at rodeos, fairs, and events across America. The Lassie TV series debuted in 1954, spanning nearly 2 decades. Lassie appeared in animated series, comic books, on radio, and more.
