The 10 Most Iconic Dogs In TV History, Ranked

There are some very good reasons that dogs are known as man’s best friend. With some notable exceptions, you always know where you stand with dogs. If you are in need of some unconditional love and acceptance, you need look no further than the dog sitting next to you.

Given this, it’s no wonder that dogs have also appeared in some popular and even classic television series, in the process becoming iconic themselves. From sitcoms to cartoons, here are the 10 most iconic dogs in television history.

10 Brian (Family Guy)

Brian, the sardonic, boozy pet of the Griffin family in Fox’s Family Guy has long been a key part of the show’s appeal. 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 appealing to the baser emotions of its audience.

His episodes with Stewie in which they travel around the world and through time are some of his finest appearances. While he can be a bit polarizing for some fans, Brian has become an undeniable pop culture fixture, as proven by the unforgettably notorious episode centered around his apparent death.

9 Wilfred (Wilfred)

While dogs are often the most lovable parts of a given television series, that is not quite the case with Wilfred, the strange FX comedy in which the character Adam sees his girlfriend’s dog Wilfred as a man in a dog suit.

Wilfred is a bit of a surreal comedy with many absurd laughs and gags, but it goes into a rather surprising bit of backstory for Wilfred’s character. As it turns out, his brother was killed in war and his father looks at him as a disappointment

8 Lassie (The Lassie Franchise)

In the annals of television, there are few dogs as iconic as Lassie, a collie who has appeared in numerous films and television series through the decades. In fact, not only has Lassie herself become iconic: it’s also true that the plot lines of her films have become a part of popular culture as well.

One only needs to hear the question “Did Timmy fall down the well?” to know that someone is referring to this beautiful and courageous dog!

7 Eddie (Fraiser)

Frasier was one of the most sophisticated and thoughtful comedies to have aired between the ’90s and early 2000s. While for the most part the titular character managed to keep his cool in most situations, he seemed to have an especially fraught relationship with his father’s pet terrier, Eddie. He was, however, unfailingly loyal to Martin.

The fact that the rascally canine was played by a father and son dog pair on Fraiser makes his appearances all the more special. 

6 Rin Tin Tin (The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin)

Rin Tin Tin is another of those dogs that became so iconic that just saying the name conjures up the image of a brave and beautiful German Shepherd. 

Though Rin Tin Tin originally appeared in a series of films, he eventually appeared in the ’50s television series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. The show ended up being quite popular, lasting five seasons with an impressive total of 164 episodes.

5 Comet (Full House)

Full House has gone down in history as being a particularly wholesome sort of television show, with its narrative of a father attempting to raise his three daughters with the aid of his brother-in-law and best friend.

Though he isn’t emphasized in the show as some of the other dogs on this list, it’s hard to imagine the Tanner family without Comet, their lovable (and ever-supportive) golden retriever. His descendants even live on in the series’ successor, Fuller House.

4 Santa’s Little Helper (The Simpsons)

Santa’s Little Helper is as crucial to The Simpsons as the city of Springfield itself. Santa’s Little Helper joined the Simpsons’ family in their very first episode, when Bart and Homer discovered him outside of a racetrack where he was abandoned because of his failure.

From this beginning, he has become a staple part of the Simpsons household as well as several episodes of the show. The most refreshing thing about him, however, is that he isn’t anthropomorphized like most cartoon dogs but is, instead, very clearly, a dog.

3 Cheddar (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Though he doesn’t appear as often as some would like, Captain Holt’s lovable but mischievous corgi Cheddar has made some memorable appearances in the beloved comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Most recently, he was even kidnapped by a criminal who wanted to use him as leverage against Captain Holt and Kevin. Nothing, however, beats the time that the little butterball ate Jake and Amy’s wedding cake, adding his own layer to the many disasters besetting that all-important day.

2 Wishbone (Wishbone)

Kids who grew up in the ’90s have fond memories of Wishbone, the little dog who introduced a whole generation of kids to the joys of classic literature on the show.

Each episode was split into two parts – one in the real world and one in which the little dog would appear as a character in a piece of literature – and there’s no question that the titular dog was the star of the show. He not only taught kids how to think but he also stole their hearts.

1 Scooby-Doo (The Scooby-Doo Franchise)

Along with his four human companions aka the Scooby Gang – Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma – Scooby-Doo has become an irreplaceable icon of television entertainment. Though, like Shaggy, he’s a bit of a coward with a voracious appetite, there’s no question that the affable and lovable Great Dane is one of the main reasons that this animated franchise has been popular since it premiered way back in 1969.

Scooby Doo is everything that we love about dogs: goofy, loveable, and a sucker for a snack.

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