18 adorable dogs from classic television shows

Check out these adorable pooches from sitcoms and beyond.

The all-American family is not complete without a loyal dog. It's no wonder that so many early sitcoms featured an adorable shaggy pet by their side. Detectives and firefighters needed a trusty canine, too. Bearded collies and basset hounds were quite popular breeds for the small screen. But there were poodles, terriers and cute mutts around.

This list of TV dogs from the 1960s and 1970s is not comprehensive, but it does round up a lot of our favorite pooches. Some were regular fixtures on television shows, others made all-too-brief appearances in memorable episodes.


1. Lassie on Lassie

Where else to start? Lassie remains the ultimate story of a boy and his dog. Over 19 seasons, from 1954 to 1974, the drama went through six different collie stars.

2. Dog on Petticoat Junction

Does that adorable face look familiar? Posing here with the Petticoat women, Higgins was only honing his chops for greater success. While only known as "Dog" on the sitcom, he become a household name late in life as the titular hero of Benji. Yes, he's Benji! The mutt was close pals with Edgar Buchanan, who acted with him on Petticoat, Green Acres and Benji.

3. Duke on The Beverly Hillbillies

Is there a better breed for Jed Clampett than a bloodhound?

4. Tiger on The Brady Bunch

In September of 1969, The Brady Bunch kicked off with a house full of kids and pets. In the pilot, Carol and the girls have a cat named Fluffy. Alas, the kitty's time in the spotlight was fleeting, as the feline only appeared once. The Brady dog had a longer life — though not much longer. He also disappeared with no comment from the Brady clan. The cute bearded collie was named Tiger, both on screen and off, and popped up in 10 total episodes between episode one and 38. During the filming of "Ketchoo," the original Tiger was struck by a delivery vehicle on the studio lot. The trainer hurriedly searched for a replacement pooch. Unfortunately, Tiger II was not the actor his predecessor was. The dog proved to be too unruly and was quietly written off the show.

5. Tramp on My Three Sons

This long-running comedy (the second longest sitcom in history, actually) was inspired by The Shaggy Dog, so it's no wonder Fred MacMurray found himself sharing the screen with this fella.

6. Boot on Emergency!

What is a firehouse without a dog? Station 51 eschews the typical dalmation with a couple different buddies. Boot first appears in "Kids," which is coincidentally the screen debut of John Travolta. "Boot is a very sensitive dog," John Gage later says defensively.

7. Henry on Emergency!

Boot was not the only mascot on the rescue drama. Later, this basset hound became a regular fixture on the couch in the station house.

8. Dog on Columbo

Speaking of basset hounds, how could we forget this detective sidekick? Perhaps Columbo named him after the "dog" on Petticoat Junction. He made his appearance in "Etude in Black," the first episode of season two.

9. Flash on The Dukes of Hazzard

Rosco P. Coltrane's somnambulant basset furthered the popularity of the breed. "Velvet Ears" was the perfect sidekick for this country Sheriff.

10. Spunky on Happy Days

Fonzie's dog was perhaps the first on television to seek counseling. In "Spunkless Spunky" the poor guy is in a funk. Dr. Joyce Brothers pops in to help cure his mental woes.

11. Alfa 177 canine on Star Trek

All hail unicorn dog! This adorable alien appears in "The Enemy Within," and like Kirk is split into good and evil dopplegangers. We are still on our quest to figure out who this little guy was.

12. Opie's stray and his 10 friends on The Andy Griffith Show

In "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs," Opie comes in to the station with this perky little guy. Soon, his 10 friends show up for more of that delicious Barney sandwich. Fife then takes them all out to a field in a thunderstorm. But they end up back home in the end.

13. Djinn-Djinn on I Dream of Jeannie

This genie dog looks quite similar to the one on Andy Griffith, no? Perhaps this is the same actor.

14. "The Ugliest Dog in the World" on The Dick Van Dyke Show

Well that's just mean. This episode was nominated for an Emmy, however.

15. Scruffy on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

This wire fox terrier lives in Maine with the Muirs and the spirit of a dead sea captain.

16. Simone on The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family had much in common with its predecessor, The Brady Bunch — right down to a shaggy family dog that lasted a mere season. He was part of the promotional campaign, as you can see from this pin-up from the Partridge comic book.

Image: astoldtostanlee

17. Coco on The Donna Reed Show

This big, fluffy poodle joined the Stone clan in 1961 and weighed in at 135 pounds.

18. Lord Nelson on The Doris Day Show

The sheepdog was billed in the opening credits in the first season, but gets bumped in later seasons. He could have used a better agent.

Image: tvacres

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

9 Comments

VaughnBaskin 31 months ago
Don't forget about Dino and Hoppy from The Flintstones and Astro from The Jetsons.
KevenGumm 37 months ago
How about Fang on Get Smart?
VaughnBaskin 38 months ago
Don't forget about Astro Jetson from "The Jetsons", Bandit Quest from "The Adventures Of Jonny Quest: File O37", and of course Scooby-Doo from "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!"
Karlakpal 42 months ago
You forgot a very important dog “Rin Tin Tin. Really?
MikeTiefenbacher01 49 months ago
Apparently, you somehow managed to show the right dog but the wrong show with #18. While Lord Nelson did play Doris Martin's dog Nelson on THE DORIS DAY SHOW (1968-73), you (obviously) show the cover of TV GUIDE with Lord Nelson and his FIRST TV family, Joan and Jim Nash (Pat Crowley and Martin Miller) from PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1965-67). Doris starred in the movie version of that book adaptation, but with a different dog. Otherwise, the two series were completely unconnected.
CarolKelley 50 months ago
The dog in the photo of Fred MacMurray is NOT Tramp, but the Shaggy Dog from the film. Tramp did not have black/gray spots. I believe that Tramp is reputed to have been a Briard although not the classic type of Briard as Buck from Married With Children. I do think that Tramp and Smiley from Hazel might have been the same dog. I also saw that dog on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show this afternoon.
Tut 52 months ago
Simone Partridge was female, not a "he".
RachKonsdorf 58 months ago
What is the show with a dog and a doctor and th he live on a beach.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?