The Most Famous Dogs in the World

There's no doubt dogs are humans' best friends, as shown by the fact that they accompany us through life, love us, protect us, and even save our lives.

So we've put together the most famous dogs in history, both animated and real, so you can get to know them all and maybe even find some inspiration if you're looking for a name for your dog.

The Most Famous Cartoon Dogs

For children and grown-ups alike, cartoons have given us many unforgettable dogs, ones that stick in our memory forever. Here are the best-known and most fondly remembered in animation history:

• Pluto: Mickey Mouse's dog friend is the only character who isn't humanized. He first appeared in 1930, and is believed to be a Bloodhound. He's known for being big, clumsy, and a lot of fun.
• Muttley: the sidekick of Dick Dastardly in "Wacky Races." A dog of no defined breed, we first met him in 1968. His snickering laugh is unmistakable, and his antics unforgettable.
• Scooby-Doo: the fearful Great Dane companion of Shaggy in the show that bears his name. His signature call is the show's trademark, first airing in 1969. He's also had movie adaptations.
• Dogtanian: this character is based on Alexandre Dumas's novel, The Three Musketeers. The TV series began in 1981 and he's the lead — his breed is uncertain, perhaps a Blue Gascony, since he's born in that French region.
• Santa's Little Helper: a racing Spanish Galgo who, after losing a race and being abandoned, is adopted by Bart Simpson in 1982. He's known for his destructive streak and his innocent, simple-minded nature.

The Most Famous Movie Dogs

As in the previous section, both animated and real dogs star in countless movies for all audiences. Here are some famous names worth highlighting:

• Lady and Tramp: the stars of the romantic story "Lady and the Tramp," from 1955, are a refined female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a mixed-breed dog. The scene where they share a plate of spaghetti and end up kissing is iconic.
• Pongo and Perdita: the most famous Dalmatians on screen, who even have live-action versions. The parents of the large litter first appeared in 1961, and their adventures fleeing the villainous Cruella de Vil have become a timeless classic.
• Beethoven: this enormous Saint Bernard has starred in several movies since 1992. His trademark is his huge size and the sheer amount of drool he can fling when he shakes.
• Max: the Terrier star of the movie "The Secret Life of Pets," released in 2016, centered on the adventures a group of pets have while their owners are away.
• Pancho: the dog who made the Jack Russell Terrier breed popular in Spain became famous starring in Spanish lottery commercials, and also appeared in numerous shows and even has his own movie.
• Rex: TV's most famous detective dog. A German Shepherd as smart as he is food-obsessed. This Austrian series began airing in 1994.

Famous Dogs in Literature

Born from writers' imaginations, many of these dogs have made the leap from page to screen, like the following:

• Niebla: grandfather's Saint Bernard in Heidi, a story created in 1880 and adapted into countless shows and films ever since. He's as big as he is noble.
• Snowy: the Wire Fox Terrier who accompanies Tintin on his adventures also began on paper, back in 1929, and still generates interest to this day.
• Lassie: the most famous Collie started out as a story published in 1938, later making the jump to film and TV, starring in movies and shows.
• Snoopy: Charlie Brown's companion is said to be a Beagle, known for his peculiar outlook on life. He first appeared in 1950.
• Dogmatix: the little dog accompanying the adventures of Asterix and Obelix also started as a written story in 1959, going on to star in shows and films. He's said to be a mini Schnauzer, despite his white coat.
• Odie: the naive companion of Garfield the cat. His breed might be a Dachshund. We first met him in 1978, and he's still a well-known character today.

The Most Famous Real Dogs in the World

Real dogs, not just the ones imagined by writers and animators, have moved us so deeply that they've become unforgettable, as shown by these names:

• Laika: the famous space dog, a mixed-breed stray, died on a mission in 1957 (in reality, she was deliberately sent to her death by the USSR, since they knew she couldn't return). Her memory has lived on.
• Balto: this Husky is considered a true hero, since he braved the snow to deliver a batch of vaccines that saved the lives of the town's children. His story was immortalized in a film released in 1995.
• Hachikō: a genuine symbol of dogs' loyalty to their humans. This Akita Inu greeted his owner coming home from work, always at the same spot and the same time, and kept waiting there even after his owner's death, until his own final days. A statue commemorates his devotion, also captured in a 2009 film.

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