The 20 most famous dogs in television history

Pluto has been a fixture in pop culture for nearly a century. Mickey Mouse’s most loyal confidant, Pluto has popped up in movies, television series, comics, commercials, shorts, merchandise, and more, making him universally known and beloved. 

Despite being used in two totally different ways, Pluto and Goofy are both dogs. Since Goofy functions as a person rather than a pet, it’s hard to know what animal he is, but he is indeed a dog. The hierarchy in the Disney universe is a little ill-defined, but Goofy is an icon nevertheless. 

Audiences watched Comet grow up like the three daughters on Full House (four if you count Michelle as two people). He was welcomed into the Tanner family early in the series, and he lasted longer than most recurring characters. He was everything a golden retriever should be: playful, lovable, loyal, and dependable. 

Scooby-Doo will forever be that dog. He’s a mystery-solving scaredy cat with a speech impediment whose true passion is eating snacks named after him. How could he have been anything other than iconic?

Clifford the Big Red Dog started as a book series, but his start power was too big to stay on the pages forever. He made his transition into TV and never looked back. Since then, he’s been a mainstay in the rotation of children’s visual media characters, always returning to the screen at some point.  

Lassie was the first of its kind in television series. The show accompanied the dog Lassie for all her shenanigans through a live-action format, and it was a huge hit. The series lasted for nearly two decades, filming almost 600 episodes. Lassie will forever be enshrined in TV history. 

The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin was a bit problematic in retrospect, but that doesn’t change the titular dog’s icon status. Rin-Tin-Tin was a movie star before transitioning into TV, and he was international to boot. 

Frasier fans might’ve liked Eddie more than they liked the eponymous psychiatrist. He was part of running jokes, almost always appeared in the closing credits, and put Frasier in his place whenever necessary. More sitcoms need to have non-human characters like Eddie. 

Wishbone was a fantastic idea for a children’s series. Through the help of the titular dog, children learned more about classic literature. One of the most erudite and imaginative dogs in silver screen history, Wishbone didn’t get enough time on TV. 

Astro from The Jetsons was a unique dog. He wanted a simpler lifestyle consisting of treadmill walks and an affectionate owner. Astro also assured viewers that, in the future, even though they might behave a little differently, humanity will still have the company of dogs. 

‘00s kids know Courage from Courage the Cowardly Dog all too well. The iconic television pooch had every right to be cowardly — he was constantly dealing with terrifying creatures and circumstances. He was brave for staying put in that house. 

Only the most legendary dogs are given last names. Brian Griffin has made his way into the hearts of Family Guy fans everywhere thanks to his human-like characteristics. This dog is just one example of why animated series are so popular among adults. 

Everyone has a favorite Peanuts character; for many people, it’s Snoopy. Even if Snoopy ranks low on your list of favorites (if so, how?), you can’t deny that he’s a star. Snoopy’s been bringing people joy with his antics since 1950, and his impact is still just as major. 

Porkchop from Doug is one of the best animated pets on TV. He’s loyal and unafraid, and he loves listening to music, which is an objectively hilarious characteristic for a dog. He’s also got a great name. All-around icon status for Porkchop. 

Has any dog appeared on television more than Santa’s Little Helper? The Simpsons’ dog has been part of the family for the entire series, making him as much of a Simpson as anyone else in the family. He adds just the right amount of chaos to the show.  

No one was more protective of the Rugrats than their dog Spike. No matter the toddler antics, Spike was there to stop danger from befalling Tommy and his friends. Spike was a dog in other ways, too. He’s married to a poodle named Fifi. 

Dogs don’t technically exist in The Flintstones universe, so they enlist dinosaurs like Dino to be their pets. Dino functions just the same as a dog, making him as iconic a canine as any other on this list. 

Cheddar from Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the most iconic dog in recent sitcom history. He learned a foreign language, was instrumental in multiple Halloween Heists, and even helped the squad solve a case or two. Cheddar was no regular dog. 

Icons come in all different shapes, sizes, and costumes. Wilfred came in the form of a human in a dog suit, pointing out all the oddities of typical dog behavior. The series wasn’t meant to last for long, but it created a legendary character in its short run. 

Blue from Blue’s Clues is one of the most famous children’s television characters of all time. Contrary to popular belief, Blue is a girl. But no matter her gender, she impacted millions of kids in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.