The Dogs We Grew Up On - Meet Pop Culture's Most Captivating Canines

At some point in time somebody somewhere said; “Everybody loves dogs… Now how can we make money from that?”. This speculatory statement has spawned a legion of adorable, marketable and merchandisable cuddly canines who leapt, tails wagging and tongues lapping, from the popular media and through the pet flaps of our minds.



They wolfed down the meaty chunks of our monetary food bowl and rolled over to have their tummies tickled by advertising executives before settling down for a nap in the basket of our affections. Every dog, they say, has his day and some have endured for longer than others, indeed a select few have attained superstar status and become endemic in our popular culture.

However hard nosed and cynical we may be or however aware we are of advertiser’s manipulation of our affinity for the wet nosed and cuddly, nobody can deny that our childhood memories all owe a great deal of affection to these larger than life canine characters. Anyone here not giggle when an oblivious Odie stared over the precipice of a table while Garfield snuck up on him and gave him a crafty PUNT over the edge?

Anybody not tickled when Droopy stated in his laconic drawl that he was “very very happy”? I thought as much! So why not rouse your childhood affections from their slumber, put a collar and lead on them and take them for walkies down memory lane.

Name- RIN TIN TIN
Appearing in- NUMEROUS WARNER BROS. FILMS
Things we loved- The official German Shepherd of the Millennium and his decedents have entertained the world for eighty years. The original Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932) served as a Red Cross dog in World War I with his owner Duncan before going on to make 26 films for Warner Bros. His popularity is even accredited with saving the company from bankruptcy. His descendants have gone on to make numerous films and television shows and most recently Rin Tin Tin has endorsed a charity called ARFKids (A Rinty For Kids) to provide service dogs for disabled children at no cost. Quite a legacy!
Things we didn’t- The original died years before most of us were born.

Name- BRAIN
Appearing in- INSPECTOR GADGET
Things we loved- If you’re a bumbling detective with good intentions but a right arm that doubles as a giant Swiss army knife then a plucky child prodigy and her lovable highly intelligent pet dog are instrumental if you ever hope to fight any crime. Brain was a fearless and intelligent (as well as largely bipedal) canine who, along with juvenile owner Penny was often accredited with thwarting the evil schemes of Doctor Claw while Gadget engaged in half an hour of slapstick tomfoolery.
Things we didn’t- Despite impeccable loyalty and good intentions Brain would often get hurt, trampled, set on fire, caught in a bomb blast while looking after his human counterparts. Sheer barbarity!

Name- K9 (good name!)
Appearing in- DOCTOR WHO
Things we loved- Britain’s answer to R2D2, Doctor Who’s all knowing robot companion had personality, humour, a funny voice, a tartan collar, the ability to detect sonic waves and even a laser blaster on his nose. What more could any time travelling adventurer demand from a companion?
Things we didn’t- He didn’t have enough screen time and spent most of it in the Tardis “holding the fort”.

Name- ERIC
Appearing in- WOOF
Things we loved- Possibly every eight year old in Britain has read the children’s classic by Allan Ahlberg which chronicled the adventures of Eric, a young boy who wakes up one morning having inexplicably metamorphosised into a Norfolk Terrier, and his comical sidekick, best friend Roy. However many are more likely to remember the hugely popular counterpart children’s television series which serialised and expanded upon the book providing .
Things we didn’t- The creators ended up with Harry Potter syndrome i.e. puberty hit the young stars of the series who then had to be replaced. Subsequently the characters got changed and the series went rubbish!

Name- SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER
Appearing in- THE SIMPSONS
Things we loved- This slow witted but loveable greyhound has been charming audiences the world over since the late 1980s and those of you who read the Greyhound article in the last issue of K9 will know we’re all big fans. His proudest achievements include earning a degree from a prestigious canine academy, enjoying a brief stint as an attack dog for miserly billionaire Monty Burns, and fathering 25 puppies. This quintessential cartoon dog is loyal, loving, friendly and mischievous but unfortunately has yet to learn to talk… We live in hope!
Things we didn’t- During the course of the long running series the poor greyhound has had his back legs broken by the evil Mr. Burns and been abandoned for a “better model” found in trained pedigree Laddie. Still Santa’s Little Helper has maintained an air of cheerful optimism.

Name- SNOWY
Appearing in- HERGE’S ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
Things we loved- The tiny, affable, brave and possibly super-intelligent canine sidekick of nosy Belgian reporter Tintin earns a well-deserved spot in this column. He has loyally followed his master from the mountains of Tibet to the bottom of the sea and has been instrumental in the incarceration of countless smugglers, pirates, terrorists etc. The plucky white terrier is the model of loyalty and bravery and his determined scowl ensure that generation after generation has fallen in love with this remarkable animal.
Things we didn’t- Nobody really cared how many times Tintin got captured, kidnapped, beaten, tortured etc. but if any enemy of the free world laid a hand on snowy juvenile hearts the world over were broken.

Name- LASSIE
Appearing in- THE BOOK “LASSIE COMES HOME” AND NUMEROUS FRANCHISES.
Things we loved- Along with Rin Tin Tin, Lassie shares the seat reserved for the most recognised dogs in popular culture. Images of the collie bounding through a field of green grass and marigolds are firmly embedded in the minds of dog lovers of all ages the world over. Currently in his ninth generation Lassie has been an irreplaceable part of dog lover’s culture for fifty years and chances are as long as dog lovers continue to own televisions, images of Lassie will endure for further generations.
Things we didn’t- Lassie’s success spawned legions of do-gooding animal imitators which in turn led to clichés of epic proportions…. What’s that boy? Bert’s trapped down the mine shaft?

Name- GROMIT
Appearing in- WALLACE AND GROMIT
Things we loved- Product of acclaimed animator Nick Park, this ponderous and resourceful plasticine dog is best remembered riding side saddle on a motorbike adorned with a ridiculous flight cap and goggles, or peering out of the port hole of a space rocket bound for the moon. Like most of the canine compatriots we remember he represents the more intelligent, thoughtful half of the dog/ human relationship as he regularly compensates (or is the brunt of) the ineptitude of his human counterpart, cheese-loving inventor Wallace. Considering his inability to talk and lack of facial features his expressions speak volumes and his deeds vary from selfless to heroic. Achievements include landing on the moon, thwarting a diamond robbery by an evil penguin and going toe to toe with a canine version of The Terminator.
Things we didn’t- Gromit’s simple but loveable image led to his becoming a merchandising phenomenon and every schoolgirl in the United Kingdom seemed to own a bag/ handbag/ pencil case/ lunchbox bearing his likeness, which somehow detracts from his charm.

Source: K9 News