If you are a new pet parent who loves pop culture, why not pay tribute to your favorite dog from a television show by naming your fur baby after a canine character from TV? From dogs who starred in classic series to Spots from beloved Saturday morning cartoons, we’ve fetched a long list of potential TV dog names for your new binge-watching buddy!
A
Allan — Fans of the CBS comedy series The King of Queens will recognize Allan as the name of Spence Olchin’s Pug. The name has a variety of meanings, including “little rock,” “handsome” and “noble.”
Apollo — On the long-running detective series Magnum P.I. Robin’s Nest was protected by two Doberman Pinschers named after the Greek gods Apollo (which means “manly beauty”) and Zeus. Several dogs had the opportunity to show off their acting skills over the course of the show, among them Dobermans called Brutus, Cola, Dominique, Joe, Nohea and Whiskey.
Arnold — Food bowl at the ready, Arnold the Semi-Wonder Dog waited patiently to be fed in the intro to the series Life Goes On. The Thatcher family´s four-legged friend was portrayed by Bullet, a Pit Bull/Labrador Retriever. The name Arnold means “eagle,” “brightness” and “power.”
Astro — Are you looking for a name for your dog that’s out of this world? How about bestowing your new barking bestie with the name of The Jetsons‘ canine companion! Fun fact: The character design of the famous Hanna-Barbera cartoon hound was created by animator Iwao Takamoto, who also designed Scooby-Doo!
B
Backup— A Pit Bull named Lefty starred alongside Kristen Bell in the mystery series Veronica Mars.
Bandit— A stray who came to stay at the Ingalls household after the passing of Laura’s canine companion Jack, the role of Bandit on Little House on the Prairie was played by a dog dubbed Jeffrey. Bandit was also the name of the adventure-loving Terrier on the Saturday cartoon series Johnny Quest.
Barkley — Known first as Woof Woof, this sweet, shaggy dog has been helping to entertain and educate children since his debut on Sesame Street in 1978.
Baskerville— His name a nod to a Sherlock Holmes mystery, Baskerville the Hound– who made appearances on The Muppet Show— was among Jim Henson’s canine creations.
Bear— Three Belgian Malinois (Grauber’s Boker, Lola and Gotcha) portrayed Reese’s pooch on Person of Interest.
Bijoux— A Jack Russell Terrier named Britches starred as Bijoux, who was inherited by police inspector Harry Hooperman (played by actor John Ritter) in the 80s dramedy Hooperman. Bijoux is the French word for “jewels.”
Blue— Puppy-loving preschoolers love to embark on adventures by following the aqua-colored animated canine’s pawprints on Blue’s Clues.
Boomer— Long before it was coined as a term for a person born in the baby boomer generation, fans of Fidos associated the word “boomer” with a stray dog who came to the aid of people in need in the early 80s television series Here’s Boomer. The stout-hearted canine was portrayed by a dog named Johnny.
Boots— The first of two Station 51 mascots on the medical drama series Emergency!
Bouton— The healing power of dogs can be seen in the series Outlander thanks to appearances by Bouton (the French word for “button,”) who helps Mother Hildegarde de Gascogne aid the ailing of L’ Hopital des Anges.
Brandon— Portrayed by a Golden Retriever called Sandy, Brandon was Punky’s pal with paws on the 80s NBC sitcom Punky Brewster. The name Brandon means “from the broom hill.”
Brian— You could name your new four-legged family member after Stewie’s literature-loving, barking buddy on Family Guy.
Brown— The short-lived series The Westerner starred Spike as a dog dubbed Brown. (The Black Mouth Cur made his mark in Fido-themed film history as Old Yeller.)
Buck— In the long-running comedy series Married…with Children a Briard portrayed the Bundy’s barking buddy. The talented tail-wagger can also be seen in Janet Jackson’s music video for “When I Think of You” and in the Bill Murray Christmas comedy Scrooged.
Buddy— A rescue West Highland Terrier/Jack Russell from Dogs Trust, Dodger portrays the dog of disgruntled Dr. Martin Ellingham in the long-running British series Doc Martin.
Bullet— The real life pet of The King of the Cowboys and his wife Dale Evans, Bullet The Wonder Dog was a German Shepherd who starred alongside his famous pet parents on The Roy Rogers Show, which aired from 1951 – 1957.
Buster— Like the lyrics of the Beatles’ tune which was sung by Joe Cocker at the beginning of each episode of The Wonder Years, young Kevin Arnold navigated preadolescence in the late 60s with a little help from his friends… among them his Beagle, Buster!
C
Cerberus– A Belgian Malinois, Dita the Hair Missile Dog portrays a bomb detection dog on the CBS drama series SEAL Team. A Greek name, Cerberus was a mythical three-headed guard dog at the entrance to the underworld.
Cheddar— A comedic Corgi called Stewart acted as Captain Raymond Holt’s pal with paws on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Chester— He may have played uppity C.C. Babcock’s Pomeranian on The Nanny, but in real life Chester Drescher was lead actress Fran Drescher’s fur baby. The skilled canine also had the opportunity to show off his acting chops in the 1990 Robin Williams comedy Cadillac Man. The name Chester means “fortress” or “camp.”
Cinnamon— Raj’s pampered Yorkshire Terrier on The Big Bang Theory had such a big fan base that she even features in a Big Bang Theory Lego set! (Fun Fact: Like his character Rajesh Koothrappali, actor Kunal Nayyar is a Star Wars fan. He named his barking buddy Boba Fett!)
Claude— A name which means “limping,” Claude the Poodle was the mollycoddled canine companion of society snob Mrs. Drysdale in the sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.
Cleo— A Basset Hound dubbed Bernadette portrayed Cleo, a dog whose inner monologue added to the laughs on a comedy from the early days of television, The People’s Choice.
Clifford— Actor John Ritter provided the voice of everyone’s favorite canine who made the leap from Scholastic children’s books to the small screen in the PBS animated series Clifford The Big Red Dog. The name Clifford means “ford by a cliff.”
Coco— The 135-pound Standard Poodle starred in the 60s sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
Comet— Do you want to name your new furry family member after the dog in the 90s sitcom Full House? “You got it, dude!” Comet was portrayed by a Golden Retriever who answered to the same name as his small screen character. Receiving a new lease on life after his adoption from Golden Retriever Rescue, Comet would also star alongside Matthew Modine, Ron Perlman and Eric Stolz in the 1995 comedy Fluke.
Cosmo— Answering to the same name as his character on the Full House reboot Fuller House, Golden Retriever Cosmo portrayed the great-grandson of the Tanner family’s beloved barking buddy, Comet. The tail-wagging thespian also showed off his acting skills in episodes of The Middle and Suits.
D
Dash— A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Tori portrayed the canine confidante of Queen Victoria during her adolescence and the early years of her reign in both the small screen series Victoria as well as in The Young Victoria on the silver screen. The real Dash was the first in a long line of the late monarch’s pals with paws. Here’s a fun fact about Tori: She lives in the same home as Dodger, the dog who stars in the hit British series Doc Martin!
Deputy Dawg— Fans of classic TV cartoons may recognize the name of the laugh-inducing law enforcement Fido from The Deputy Dawg Show.
Dickens— “What the Dickens?” Vicarage housekeeper Mrs. Maguire’s exclamation of exasperation was the inspiration for the name of the black Labrador Retriever in the British crime drama series Grantchester. Dickens answers to the name off-screen as well as on.
[embedded content]
Diefenbaker— Six Canadian Huskies (Chinook, Cinder, Draco, Frankie, Kerry-Ann and Lincoln) portrayed the detection dog in the series Due South. The wolf hybrid was dubbed Diefenbaker after a former Prime Minister of Canada.
Digger— Anglophiles who are parents to animal-loving little ones may recognize the name of the puppy who pals around with Petal the piglet, Dash the donkey and Gobo the goat in the children’s series Big Barn Farm.
Dino— Perhaps he isn’t technically a dog, but we couldn’t resist adding The Flintstones‘ pre-historic pup to our list!
Djinn Djinn— Like his name implied, Jeannie’s dog Djinn Djinn (portrayed by a Havanese) was a supernatural canine who brought chaos to NASA and Captain Anthony Nelson in several episodes of the 60s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.
Dog— Although it may not be the most imaginative name on the list, if your pup is named Dog he or she will follow in the footsteps of such fictional Fidos as Dog on Petticoat Junction (who was portrayed by the star of Benji, Higgins!) and the Basset Hound who starred alongside Peter Faulk in Columbo.
Dreyfuss— Why not name the newest member in your family nest after the Weston family’s four-legged family member in the 90s sitcom Empty Nest? Dreyfuss was portrayed by a St. Bernard/Golden Retriever named Bear.
Duke— When Jed Clampett was “shootin’ at some food/and up from the ground come a bubblin’ crude” his faithful Fido Duke was by his side. The canine cast member on the hit 60s series The Beverly Hillbillies, Duke was portrayed by a Bloodhound known as Stretch. Stretch learned his craft with help from famed animal trainer Frank Inn, who also taught talented tail-wagger Higgins (better known to dog lovers as Benji) and Orangey, the orange tabby who starred as Cat alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
E
Eddie— The Crane family patriarch’s pal with paws on the long-running comedy series Frasier, Eddie was originally portrayed by a Parson Russell Terrier named Moose. The role was later passed on to one of Moose’s descendants, Enzo. The four-legged father/son duo would also share the big screen when they portrayed the same dog at different stages of his life in the movie My Dog Skip.
Eddie McDowd— Transforming from a kid into a canine, bully Eddie McDowd performed acts of kindness in order to revert back to his original form in the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd. Eddie the dog was portrayed by a former shelter dog named Rowdy. TV fans may also recognize the Australian Shepherd/Siberian Husky from his role as Dasher in the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart.
F
Fang— If you are a fan of 1960s spy-themed sitcoms you might remember Agent K-13 (aka Fang), a CONTROL-trained canine who tags along with Max and Agent 99 on secret missions in Get Smart. A dog dubbed Red starred as Fang for the first two seasons of the series.
Flash— A Basset Hound who was found at a pound made the leap from shelter to stardom on the series The Dukes of Hazzard thanks to actor James Best, who portrayed Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.
Fleegle— If you were a child in the late 1960s who sat glued to the tube every Saturday morning you might remember the Hanna-Barbera production The Banana Splits, which featured a Rover called Fleegle who, along with a lion, a gorilla and an elephant, was one-fourth of a bubblegum rock band.
Foo-Foo— Miss Piggy’s pampered pup on The Muppet Show.
Freeway— The early 80s TV series Hart to Hart helped a former shelter dog get on the road to a new life as a star by casting the Lowchen as the private detective duo’s barking buddy.
G
Garrick— A Lurcher mix named Barley made the leap from the relative anonymity of life at a rescue charity to worldwide recognition thanks in part to his role as Demelza Carnes’ devoted dog in the BBC adaptation of Poldark. Once one of the 8,000 homeless companion animals who find themselves at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home each year, Barley’s winning combination of cuteness and cleverness helped him to be cast in the real life role of an up-and-coming dog star when he was adopted at eight months of age by the proprietor of Stunt Dogs, famed animal trainer Gill Radding. Never forgetting his days without a forever home, Barley (who also starred in JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) stepped in front of a camera to film a pet adoption PSA for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Ghost — An Arctic wolf dog named Quigley portrayed Jon Snow’s direwolf in Game of Thrones.
Goofy — Although the actor who provided his voice has stated that he is not, in fact, a dog, we think that Mickey Mouse’s pal with paws (who starred on TV in Disney’s Goof Troop) deserves a spot on our list!
Grey Wind and Summer— Known in real life as Thor and Odin, two Northern Inuits portrayed direwolves in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones.
[embedded content]
H
Happy— Answering to the same name both onscreen and off, the Camden family’s canine companion in the long-running series 7th Heaven was portrayed by a former shelter dog. Happy is also the name of the former shelter dog who acts as a Hallmark Channel’s goodwill ambassador. (Happy the dog, who works as a certified therapy dog and emotional support animal for sick children, also had the chance to show off his acting chops in the 2017 Hallmark Channel original movie Love at the Shore.)
Henry— Following in the paw prints of the past nine pups who have brought smiles to generations of British animal-loving little ones, in 2019 a two-year-old Beagle/Basset Hound named Henry, who was found at the Loughborough branch of Dogs Trust (the largest dog rescue charity in the United Kingdom), received both a forever home and a home in the hearts of fans by getting a starring role in the longest-running children’s television show in the world, Blue Peter. Henry (which means “home ruler”) was also the name of the second dog to portray a mascot of Station 51 on the 1970s medical drama series Emergency!
Horace— Garrick wasn’t the only dog that made Poldark fans fall into puppy love during the five year run of the PBS series. Tail-wagging thespian Sonny portrayed Caroline’s pampered pug.
Huckleberry Hound— If you grew up in the late 1950s you’ll remember this blue-hued Southern animated canine of the Emmy Award-winning series The Huckleberry Hound Show.
I
Isis— A name which in recent years has sadly become synonymous with terrorism, Isis was the faithful canine companion of Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, in the popular British series Downton Abbey. Isis was named after the Egyptian goddess in honor of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered King Tut’s tomb. In real life the yellow Labrador retriever answered to the name “Abbie.”
Islay— Fans of Victoria will recognize the name of one of the late, long-reigning British monarchs’ dogs, who was portrayed in the British historical drama series by a West Highland Terrier named Prince. Did you know that the loyal canine companion to Queen Victoria has been immortalized with a special statue in Sydney, Australia? Posed in a begging position, the sculpture actually speaks to sightseers, thanking anyone who drops a coin for charity into the fountain he guards. Pronounced “EYE-la,” the name is a reference to an island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
[embedded content]
Ivana— Years before winning an Academy Award for her role in La La Land, actress Emma Stone provided the voice of pampered Pomeranian Ivana in the first season of the Disney series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The name Ivana means “gift from God” and “precious.”
J
Jack— In the early seasons of the long-running series Little House on the Prairie Half Pint’s pal with paws was portrayed by a pooch named Barney.
Jeb— A Redbone Coonhound named Zeb starred as the talking tail-wagger in the 90s action series VR Troopers.
Jim— A comedic canine who shared the small screen with Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell in the CBS series Mike & Molly, Suzie Q, who portrayed Peggy Biggs’ barking buddy Jim, was a Brussels Griffon/Chihuahua.
K
K9— Are you looking for an out of this world name for your new canine companion? How about the collective name of a succession of four robot Rovers who traveled through space and time in seasons of Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and his very own TV series, K-9.
Kipper— Fido-loving Anglophiles may want to name their new furry family member after the cartoon canine who starred in the children’s series named after him.
Krypto— It’s been said that a dog is man’s best friend. Well, Kryto is Superman’s best friend! Making his debut in 1955 alongside Superboy in a DC Adventure Comics storyline, in 2005 the pup with superpowers had his own cartoon series (Krypto the Superdog) on Cartoon Network and can be seen in the web TV series Titans, where he is portrayed by canine actors Digby, Lacy and Wrigley.
L
Ladadog— Shortened to “Lad” over the course of the two year run of the TV series Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, Ladadog was portrayed by a Sheepdog dubbed Lord Nelson. The tail-wagging thespian was also lucky enough to land a starring role in The Doris Day Show, with his character answering to the dog’s real life name.
Lady — Did you know that Zunni, the Northern Inuit dog who portrayed Sansa Stark’s direwolf in the first season of Game of Thrones, was adopted by actress Sophie Turner after filming?
Lassie— A recipient over the years of 11 PATSYs (the American Human Association’s Animal Television Star Awards), this charismatic Collie, who has been a canine icon from both the big and small screen for more than 80 years, was the first celebrity dog to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the first dog star inducted into the Animal Actors Hall of Fame.
Lord Nelson— While he answered to his real name on The Doris Day Show, Lord Nelson the Sheepdog also acted as Calico the dog in Doris Day’s last feature film, With Six You Get Eggroll.
Lucky— The name of the Bundy brood’s new barking buddy after their previous four-legged family member Buck Bundy’s passing, fans of Married…with Children soon learned that the Cocker Spaniel was actually the reincarnation of Buck.
M
Marlowe— Named in honor of author Raymond Chandler’s fictional gumshoe Philip Marlowe (a character portrayed by such Hollywood greats as Robert Mitchum, Robert Montgomery and Humphrey Bogart), Marlowe was detective Rick Simon’s canine in the series Simon & Simon. Over the course of the show’s run Marlowe was played by three Anatolian Shepherds– Donny, Dusty and Sakarya’s Midas.
Martin— In a case of life imitating art, a former shelter dog named Ned portrayed Martin, a shelter dog who found his forever friend in the short-lived ABC series Downward Dog. Ned’s journey to Tinseltown began in July 2014 when he was “discovered” at a rural shelter in Mississippi. His big break led him to Paws Chicago, where he conquered his behavioral quirks (fear of loud noises, large people and children) with help from the PAWS Gold Star program. The name Martin means “warlike.”
Maximillion— A German Shepherd named Bracken was among the four Fidos who portrayed the bionic barking buddy of Jamie Somers in the series The Bionic Woman.
Meatball— Inspired by the real life members of the World War II Marine fighter squadron known as the “Black Sheep,” the 1970s NBC series Baa Baa Black Sheep included a fictional canine mascot who was portrayed by a Bull Terrier.
Mignon— Although Arnold the pig was the recipient of a coveted PATSY Award, (an honor once presented to animal actors), the tiny Yorkshire Terrier who portrayed Mignon (the French word for “cute”) won the hearts of television viewers in the 1960s sitcom Green Acres. The talented tail-wagger also made appearances in the TV series Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Muffit— Fido-loving sci-fi fans will remember the name of Boxey’s dog in the original Battlestar Galactica, as well as his robotic daggit Muffit II.
Mumbley— If you tuned in to The Tom and Jerry/ Grape Ape Show or Laff-A-Lympics back in the 1970s you might recall this trenchcoat-wearing, tail-wagging dog detective.
Muppy— A Jim Henson creation, the tiny, shaggy dog with a big ego had high hopes that The Muppet Show would be renamed “The Muppy Show.”
Murray— Once a shelter dog, Collie mix Maui found stardom when he was cast as the Buchman’s barking buddy in the long-running sitcom Mad About You.
Muttley— If you grew up in the 1960s you’ll probably remember the snickering sidekick of Dick Dastardly in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons Wacky Races and Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.
N
Neil— Fans of fifties television might want to name their new pal with paws after the paranormal pooch in Topper. A Saint Bernard named Buck portrayed the ghost dog who stays with the spirits of the husband and wife he had tried to rescue from an avalanche. Putting some “life” into their afterlife, Neil and his new phantom family the Kirbys have fun together in the former Kirby home, and in the process bring happiness to the home’s new owner, Topper.
Number One— A passionate advocate for Pit Bulls, actor Patrick Stewart requested that his canine companion in Star Trek: Picard be a pittie, which gave Dinero–a dog who had been waiting in the wings at a rescue–the chance to step into the spotlight.
Nunzio— One of two canine characters on the ABC sitcom Dharma and Greg, Nunzio was a Cardigan Welsh Corgi who was portrayed over the course of the series by three talented tail-waggers– Bud, Butch and Twiggy.
Nymeria — Named in honor of a warrior queen, Nymeria was Arya Stark’s direwolf in Game of Thrones.
O
Odie— Believed to be a Terrier/Wirehaired Dachshund, Odie (whose name, creator Jim Davis revealed, was inspired by a car dealership commercial) is a happy go lucky canine in Garfield, which made the leap from newspaper comic strip to both the big and small screen.
Oscar— A German Shepherd named Hunter portrayed ex-cadaver-detecting police canine Oscar in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm. The name Oscar means “divine spear.”
P
Paddy— It’s no mystery how the adorable Terrier mix Paddy (whose name means “noble”) stole the hearts of TV viewers who tune in to the long-running British detective series Midsomer Murders. Like Sykes, his predecessor on the show, Paddy is also a rescue dog, having received a new lease on life with help from Dogs Trust.
Pal— Pup-loving little ones who watch PBSKids will recognize the name of aardvark Arthur Read’s erudite dog from the series Arthur.
Paul Anka— Named after the classic crooner, Lorelei Gilmore’s pal with paws in the beloved CW series (and Netflix reboot) Gilmore Girls was portrayed by Sparky, a Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
Pax— The white German Shepherds who collectively portrayed insurance investigator Mike Longstreet’s seeing eye dog on the 70s crime drama Longstreet were lauded for their acting ability with the American Humane Association’s Performing Animal Star of the Year award (better known as the PATSY.) The name Pax is the Latin word for “peace.”
Pharaoh— Although his name was never mentioned, true devotees of Downton Abbey knew that the title of an ancient Egyptian ruler was the name of the pup whose wagging tail signaled the start of each eagerly-anticipated episode of the British series. In real life, the yellow Labrador Retriever, who starred in the first season of the long-running drama, answered to the name “Roly.”
Porkchop— The adventurous animated four-pawed pal of the main character in the cartoon series Doug.
Porthos— Portrayed over the course of the series by Beagles Breezy, Prada and Windy, Porthos (a name of one of The Three Musketeers) traveled through space in the series Star Trek: Enterprise.
Pouch— “Half pooch, half couch”, Pouch warmed the hearts of Chicago Fire fans for the first four seasons of the NBC series.
Pretzel— Two Golden Retrievers named Levi and Trip star as guide dog Pretzel in the CW series In the Dark.
Q
Queequeg— Named after a character from Moby Dick, Queequeg was Special Agent Scully’s Pomeranian in The X-Files. Although the dog met his demise after one season, the show later revealed that the memory of the cute canine lived on through Scully’s email address.
R
Raggs— The animated antics of a pack of puppies entertained pre-schoolers watching PBSKids in the late 2000s.
Reckless— Reckless the Labrador Retriever was the four-legged friend of John-Boy, Jason, Ben, Jim-Bob, Mary-Ellen, Erin and Elizabeth for the first eight seasons of The Waltons.
Ren— The hyper Chihuahua from the 90s cartoon with a cult following, The Ren & Stimpy Show. The name Ren means “water lilly” and “lotus.”
Rin Tin Tin— Born in the battlefields of France in World War I, after his rescue by an American soldier, Rin Tin Tin would become both a cinematic and small screen symbol of courage, with the descendants of the world’s most recognized Rover having proudly carried on his legacy of loyalty. Rin Tin Tin III would play a key role in the creation of the US Military Working Dog training program at California’s Camp Hahn in 1939, and his progeny would serve their country as war heroes and even as a member of a search and recovery team at the Pentagon after the attacks of 9/11.
Roger— When PBS viewers tuned in to Masterpiece to watch The Durrells in Corfu they not only saw the true tale of a British family embarking on a new life on a Greek island, but also the talent of a rescue dog who has been given a new lease on life thanks to the world of entertainment. Sharing the small screen with an array of animal actors, a Lurcher named Mossup (who was rescued from a puppy mill) portrayed Roger, the tail-wagging childhood chum of Gerald Durrell, conservationist and author of the memoir upon which the TV series was based.
Rip— A Bassett Hound called Oscar portrayed Rip (a name chosen in honor of Rip Van Winkle) in the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart.
Rollo–It’s a sure bet that Outlander fans quickly fell in love with the dog who was won by young Ian in a game of dice. A Northern Inuit dog dubbed Mac Dubh (although known by “Dui”) brought the canine character from Diana Gabaldon’s novels to life on the small screen.
Rowlf— A pianist with paws, for generations Rowlf has simultaneously tickled the ivories while tickling TV viewers’ collective funny bones. Jim Henson’s canine creation made his first TV appearance back in 1963, and joined The Muppets in 1976.
Ruff— In the early 2000s the animated pup Ruff Ruffman entertained children as the host of the PBS Kids reality game show Fetch!
S
Santa’s Little Helper— A part of pop (or should that be “pup”?) culture since the 1989 debut of the long-running animated sitcom, Santa’s Little Helper is a Greyhound who found his forever home with The Simpsons.
Schatzi— Whether or not you were a fan of That 70s Show, since Schatzie is a German term of endearment meaning “sweetheart” or “little treasure,” you might want to give your hip hound the name of the Forman family’s Dachshund.
Scooby-Doo— Did you know that the name of everyone’s favorite mystery-solving canine was inspired by none other than Frank Sinatra? The creator of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? misheard Ol’ Blue Eyes croon “doobie doobie-doo” on his classic rendition of “Strangers in The Night” and decided to dub his fictional dog Scooby! If you decide to name your new pal with paws after the cartoon canine, you could also call him by Scooby’s nickname “Scoob” or by the dog detective’s formal name, Scoobert!
Scruffy— A Wire Haired Terrier portrayed a pooch who, along with the two-legged members of his family, could see paranormal entity Captain Daniel Cregg in the 1960s series inspired by the 1947 movie The Ghost & Mrs. Muir.
Shaggydog — A Husky portrayed Rickon’s direwolf in Game of Thrones.
Shamsky— Named in honor of Art Shamsky the MLB baseball player, Shamsky was a bulldog in the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
Shelby— Before he was known as Superman, Clark Kent was a super pal to a Golden Retriever who Martha Kent called Shelby. The four-pawed Smallville star was portrayed by Bud, who appeared in 17 episodes of the CW series.
Simone— Although her moment in the spotlight was brief, The Partridge Family‘s pup during the show’s first season was immortalized on children’s lunch boxes in the early 1970s.
Snoopy— Did you know that Charlie Brown’s Beagle buddy, who can be seen on the small screen every year in such classics as It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas, was almost called Sniffy? The name was already taken, however, by another comic strip canine. Another fun Snoopy fact: everyone’s favorite Peanuts pup was inspired by Charles Schulz’s childhood dog, Spike. (A name which was later used for one of Snoopy’s relatives!)
Snuffles— This cartoon Bloodhound captured the hearts of TV viewers as he helped to capture bad guys in the classic Saturday morning Hanna-Barbera series The Quick Draw McGraw Show.
Speedy— A Golden Retriever named Ajax fetched laughs during his stint on the sitcom The Drew Carey Show.
Spike— A popular name for cartoon pups, Spike was the name of the Pickles’ pup in Rugrats, as well as Snoopy’s big brother in the Peanuts comic strip and several TV specials, including It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown, Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown.
Spunky— A female Fox Terrier portrayed the cool canine companion of The Fonz on Happy Days.
Stan— Kuma, a charismatic Border Collie mix who made the leap from shelter to stardom, starred as Stan the talking dog on the Disney Channel series Dog with a Blog, and also showed off his acting skills on Nick Jr.’s Mutt & Stuff. Rescued from the South Los Angeles animal shelter, Kuma helped his four-legged friends in need by promoting the option of pet adoption in a PSA for the Shelter Pet Project.
Stella— Over the course of its decade-long run, two French bulldogs– Bridget and Beatrice– starred as the character of the Pritchett clan’s canine companion in the hit ABC comedy series Modern Family. Bridget’s portrayal of Stella even earned her a Golden Collar award, and Beatrice used her star wattage to shine a spotlight on adorable adoptables who are hoping to land a role as a forever fur baby when she attended the opening of The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace.
Sprocket— If you were a canine-loving kid back in the 1980s you will remember Sprocket the Sheepdog from Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock.
Stinky— Portrayed over the run of the series by Briard mix pups Chewy and Tramp, Stinky–couple Dharma and Greg’s companion on the hit comedy series Dharma and Greg— was a pup with his own pet, Nunzio (a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.)
Suki— A name which means “beloved,” Suki– an Alaskan Malamute– is Molly Mabray’s canine companion on the PBSKids cartoon series Molly of Denali.
Sweep— A puppet puppy who entertained a generation of British little ones, Sweep the adorable Dachshund was a pal to the main character of Sooty (a bear puppet) in the UK children’s series The Sooty Show.
Sykes— A former stray who found a home in the hearts of both movie buffs and TV viewers, Sykes was a talented Terrier whose acting resume includes Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Young Victoria and the popular British mystery series Midsomer Murders (where he shared his real name with his character). However, dog lovers may remember him most fondly for his portrayal of a smart shelter dog determined to find his forever family in the ThinkBox ad, “Every Home Needs a Harvey.”
T
T-Bone— Clifford The Big Red Dog‘s fellow four-legged friend T-Bone Lewis was drawn as an English Bulldog.
Tet— A Blue Tick Hound played the role of Stringfellow Hawke’s pal with paws in the series Airwolf.
Thurber— An English Bulldog named Bullseye starred in the role of the Salinger family dog Thurber in Party of Five.
Tiaa– In the final season of Downton Abbey the Earl of Grantham continued his tradition of choosing a name associated with ancient Egypt for his canine companions. Robert’s third family member with fur was named after the Queen consort of Pharaoh Amenhotep II. The pup who portrayed Tiaa is named Pringle.
Tiger— The dog who portrayed The Brady Bunch‘s barking buddy in season one of the beloved sitcom had no trouble remembering his screen name, as it was his own name as well!
Triumph— The impertinent puppet pup Triumph the Insult Dog was fashioned in the form of a Rottweiler.
Tuesday— The Dalmatian at Firehouse 51 on the TV series Chicago Fire.
U
Underdog— “There’s no need to fear! Underdog is here!” This rhyming Rover saved the day each Saturday morning from 1964 to 1973.
V
Vincent— The four-legged survivor of Oceanic Flight 815 in the hit series Lost, Walt’s dog was portrayed by two Yellow Labrador Retrievers– Madison and Pono– over the course of the show’s six-year run. The name Vincent means “winning” or “conquering.”
W
Wiener Dog— Of course, a Dachshund portrayed comedian Norm Macdonald’s dog in the comedy series Norm.
Wilfred— Both Australian and American TV viewers enjoyed the antics of irreverent pooch Wilfred, who was portrayed by actor Jason Gann in a dog suit. The name Wilfred means “He who wants peace.”
Wishbone— A Jack Russell Terrier named Soccer portrayed barking bibliophile Wishbone in the beloved PBS children’s series.
Wolf— Several Alaskan Malamutes, including Cody, Chaz and stunt doubles Mica and King, portrayed Sully’s furry sidekick in the long-running series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Y
Yakult— Named after a probiotic yogurt drink, the scene-stealing poodle/Chinese Crested dog star of the ABC sitcom Suburgatory was played by Lambchop, who also showed off her acting chops in the first season of American Horror Story.
Z
Zeus— One half of a duo of Doberman Pinchers (the other being Apollo) who guarded the Robin’s Nest in the original version of the detective series Magnum P.I.
Zuma— Rounding out our list of TV Rovers is Zuma, the heroic Chocolate Labrador Retriever rescue dog in the cartoon series PAW Patrol.
