Television dogs have a special place in our hearts. Whether they are real or animated, from sitcoms or kids’ shows, or from the 1950s or today, these 10 lovable pups are pop culture icons. Let’s start from the top.
Number Ten: Wishbone. What’s the story, Wishbone? Well, it depended on the episode. Wishbone, the titular Jack Russell Terrier owned by Joe Talbot, taught many kids about literary classics such as Oliver Twist, Frankenstein, and Romeo and Juliet on PBS from 1995 to 2001.
Number Nine: Brain. Intelligence, reliability and loyalty are characteristics we celebrate in dogs. Brain from Inspector Gadget has all of those qualities, and then some. Brain constantly risked his life by secretly following Inspector Gadget to help Penny solve her incompetent uncle’s missions.
Number Eight: Astro. The Jetsons’ gray dog has brought smiles to many faces since the cartoon’s debut in the 1960s. His loyalty to George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy made him a popular fixture on the Hanna-Barbera series. We rove roo, Rastro. Fun fact: Scooby-Doo and Astro were voiced by the same actor, Don Messick.
Number Seven: Tiger. Here’s the story…of a dog name Tiger…who lived in a house with so many freaking kids. Much like the Brady Bunch‘s infectious theme song, the Brady’s fluffy canine is ingrained in many childhood memories. Tiger, a bearded collie, remains a household name thanks to the Brady Bunch‘s many years of syndication. However, it is often forgotten that Tiger was written out of the show partway through the second season.
Number Six: Comet. What do you get when you cross one of America’s favorite dog breeds with one of America’s favorite shows from the 1990s? Comet from Full House, of course. Since the golden retriever’s first episode as a puppy, he saw the members of the Tanner family go through many ups and downs.
Number Five: Eddie. This spunky little Jack Russell Terrier stole the heart of Americans as Martin Crane’s beloved pet on the NBC sitcom Frasier. Eddie’s popularity is due in large part to his adorable face and flawless execution of tricks.
Number Four: Brian (Griffin). Probably the funniest dog on our list, Brian Griffin has been a mainstay on Fox’s Family Guy since its debut in 1999. The Seth MacFarlane creation has been so popular that he was resurrected two episodes after he was killed off the show.
Number Three: Rin Tin Tin. Before the German Shepherd’s foray into television, Rin Tin Tin had a successful film career. However, the Adventures of Rin Tin Tin in the 1950s brought him into American living rooms.
Number Two: Scooby-Doo. Whether Scooby-Doo was scared, hungry, or stoned, he always stood by Shaggy, exemplifying the phrase “man’s best friend.” In the end, Scooby and the gang always got their Old Man Withers.
Number One: Lassie. This cuddly collie has been a household name since the 1950s, so she (actually a “he”) deserves the top spot. Plus, she never did get tired of saving Timmy from wells… so many wells.
