The 10 Best Dogs in Movie History

A cold nose, shaggy fur, and the impulse to roll in foul-smelling things? It must be man’s best friend: the dog! Throughout human history, canines and hominids have lived side by side. They’re protectors, herders, and biological heating pads on freezing nights. But dogs are beloved for far more than their usefulness; they’re also our most faithful companions. Anyone who’s stared into the soulful eyes of a Golden Retriever knows the infinite wellspring of love that dogs hold for humans. And one of the ways we show our adoration for them? By immortalizing them on the silver screen. Every dog is a good girl or boy, but these are the 10 greatest dogs in movie history.

Toto

No film dog on this list would have gotten to where they are today had it not been for this little guy blazing the trail. The character to whom the iconic line “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” was spoken, Toto is the charismatic canine star of The Wizard of Oz. And while his critics may say that he’s nothing more than an emotional support animal for Dorothy and friends as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road, he actually serves the plot in essential ways. If he hadn’t bitten Miss Gulch after tearing up her garden at the film’s beginning, Dororty would have never run away and landed in Oz. Those destructive dog instincts once again proved essential to the narrative when he grabbed the Wizard of Oz’s curtain, exposing the man behind it for the fraud he truly was. Toto might be small, but he doesn’t take guff from anyone; that’s why he’s an icon.

Dug

While he hasn’t been around as long as Toto, Dug’s onscreen legacy will certainly dog pop culture well into the future. Up’s Golden Retriever star is the fuzzy embodiment of unconditional love. He doesn’t need to know where Carl and Russell are going on their adventure; he’s committed to following them to the ends of the earth regardless. He’s steadfast, brave, and an uncompromising optimist. And while he initially appears to be comic relief, he’s a surprisingly deep character: a dog who goes against his own loyal nature to turn on his old master, Charles F. Muntz, and his former pack once they reveal their evil, bird-capturing intentions. Even without a human speech translator, the purity of his dog heart is clear at the film’s beginning. “I have just met you, and I love you.” We love you too, Dug. You’re the goodest boy there ever was.

Jack

While most live-action film dogs are, at best, sidekicks to their human companions, Jack is arguably the co-star of The Artist. Throughout George Valentin’s tumultuous rise and fall through showbiz, Jack serves as an emotional mirror to his owner’s inner life. He’s the barking heart of this silent film, a creature that carries the story entirely through his behavior and facial expressions. He was played by Uggie, one of the most talented dog actors in movie history. And while Uggie was about 9 years old (getting up there in dog years) when the film was shot, he’s living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Uggie is a downright incredible performer, capable of following more commands than most dogs ever learn in their lifetimes. With those acting chops, he should have won Best Actor at the 84th Academy Awards. His talented co-star Jean Dujardin took the title, but I say Uggie was robbed.

The Dogs of John Wick

While Air Bud paved the way for stunt dogs everywhere, dog-as-action-star films didn’t truly reach their apex until the John Wick franchise. Sure, the dogs that appear in the first two films were nothing but lovable buddies to a cold-hearted killer, but Halle Berry’s mercenary mutts in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum? Those canines meant business. Berry’s character Sofia Al-Azwar is an ex-assassin who never takes a job without the help of her trained Belgian Shepherds. Over the course of one of the most spectacular canine stunt sequences in cinema history, it’s clear why. Al-Azwar and Wick face off against a team of killers gunning for the latter’s head, and while each of them was prepared to fight the pair, no one expected them to have four-legged help. Rather than mauling at random, these dogs work as two-thirds of a tactical team, working together to distract foes and create openings for Al-Azwar to go in for the kill. Dogs learning to play basketball? Unlikely. Dogs learning advanced combat strategies? Impossible, but these two did it.

Bruiser

Bruiser may be a fit-in-your-purse-sized lapdog, but he’s more than just an accessory. The Chihuahua co-star of Legally Blonde, he’s an unwavering source of emotional support for Elle Woods as she makes her way through law school. After she becomes a full-fledged attorney, he becomes an essential part of her brand. Always outfitted in the latest dog fashion, Bruiser is just as much a style icon as Elle herself. After all, they’re both Gemini vegetarians. And while he takes a back seat to the first film’s plot, he has his own dramatic arc in the sequel. He carries on a gay affair with the dog of high-ranking congressmen, becoming a queer icon in the process.

Lady and Tramp

Who knew that two dogs sharing a plate of spaghetti in a back alley would become one of cinema’s most enduring romance scenes? The titular couple of Lady and the Tramp, this pampered Cocker Spaniel and her mutty man have one of the sweetest love stories in movie history. A canine Romeo and Juliet, these leash-crossed lovers may have come from opposite upbringings, but they’re brought together in the same way that human lovers are: through shared interests. In this case, those interests are eating leftovers and rooting around in the garbage, a beloved pastime for dogs no matter what the breed. Tramp and Lady prove that no matter how difficult finding love may seem, there’s someone out there for everyone. Maybe they’re tearing through your trash bins right now!

Lassie

While Toto might be the most famous canine in cinema, the titular star of Lassie clocks in at a close second. Lassie’s name has become synonymous with acts of dog heroism, so much so that she’s practically a four-legged superhero. The sheep escaped and there’s a storm a-comin’? Call Lassie. Little Timmy fell a well? Call Lassie. You haven’t filed your taxes since 2007 and the IRS is knocking at your door? Honestly, Lassie could probably figure out a solution there too. Before her 1994 film debut, Lassie was already a veteran disaster solver, preventing rural catastrophes on TV since 1954. While every dog is a good boy or girl, she might be the best girl there ever was.

Gromit

After even a cursory watch of any film in the Wallace and Gromit franchise, it’s clear that Gromit is the brains of the operation. It’s an unusual departure from the movie dog norm; most onscreen pooches are remembered only for the emotional support they provide their owners. Gromit, ever the rational one, acts as a tether for Wallace whenever one of his high-falutin’ ideas threatens to doom them both. Sure, Wallace is a genius inventor with an eye for the next big idea, but he chronically underthinks the unintended consequences. When an invention goes haywire, Gromit shows up with the fire extinguisher before Wallace has even realized anything has gone wrong. And despite his owner’s frequent failings, Gromit shows his doglike loyalty by remaining at Wallace’s side — the old man would almost certainly be dead without him.

Shadow

While he’s sometimes upstaged by the high-energy Chance and the shade-casting Sassy, make no mistake: Shadow is the beating heart of Homeward Bound: An Incredible Journey. The patron saint of good boys everywhere, Shadow is a wellspring of love and wisdom who bonds his group together, seeing them through the toughest times. He’s a mentor and friend to Chance, and perhaps the only dog in history to earn the respect of a cat like Sassy. Despite being an old timer, he’s tireless in his quest to reunite his group with the Seaver family. It’s this devotion that makes Shadow perhaps the most ugly-cry-inducing dog hero on this list. Remember when he gets injured in the mud pit and almost gives up, but his grandfatherly love for young Peter Seaver compels him to limp his way back home? My heart still hasn’t recovered.

Hercules

Perhaps the only dog anti-villain in cinema history, Hercules is the misunderstood false antagonist of The Sandlot. Like a canine Boo Radley, Hercules is initially feared by the baseball-playing kids in the neighborhood, who unfairly call him “The Beast” because they never bothered to get to know him. His “villainous” baseball-stealing actions actually have noble intentions. He never tries to hurt the kids; he’s just protecting his yard from intruders — literally every dog’s job. After proving his innocence by licking Smalls’s face and leading him to his stash of baseballs, Hercules, without speaking a word, schools the children on not judging by appearances. For the first time in history, an old dog taught us a new trick.

(featured image: Disney / Buena Vista Film Distribution)

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