The Top 10 Best Movie Dogs

5. Hooch- Turner and Hooch

There are lots of canine cops that have appeared on the silver screen. While dogs like Rin Tin Tin might have been a little more professional and Reno might have had Chuck Norris as a partner, Hooch made it on this list because he has all the qualities we’ve come to love in man’s best friend… And he’s got Tom Hanks as a partner. Hooch is a force of nature, a dog of focus, commitment, sheer will… Ok, so he’s no John Wick, but Hooch does set out to avenge the death of his former owner with the help of Tom Hanks. He might not have the raw discipline to be a police dog, but he’s definitely the pooch I’d want avenging my death.

4. Benji- The Benji Series

I don’t think there are any other movie dogs that came close to starring in the same number of movies as Benji (11 so far). He’s definitely set up for retirement. So Benji movies might not be that great, but they’ve been pumping them out since the 70’s. Plus, the little guy is just so cute and feels like he’s smiling all the time. Plus he just comes along to save people who need him most, sorta like a weird furry Mary Poppins. That shaggy mutt is probably the perfect example of what we love most about dogs, kind, compassionate, happy, and always there to help. He might not be the biggest and strongest, but the sheer number of movies he has speaks for themselves.

3. Lassie- Lassie Come Home

One of the most iconic movie dogs of all time is Lassie. She was a brave and loyal companion that was always there when little Timmy needed help (and let’s just say he was an accident-prone child). Lassie was the all American dog that people pictured in their heads when they dreamed of lives in the suburbs with white picket fences and 2.5 children. There’s little wonder that Lassie managed to do so well on TV and the big screen because she’s just such a beautiful dog. Plus, she is just so goddamn perfect. I mean, can you imagine being a dog and having to deal with such impossible Hollywood standards you’re expected to meet? No wonder my local college added a Dog Therapist degree track.

2. Shadow- Homeward Bound

While a lot of people might be bigger fans of Chance or even Sassy (ugh, cat people!), but it’s Shadow who proves himself to be the most dedicated of them all. When the trio accidentally gets left behind, Shadow rallies the others to start a cross-country trip to reunite with their owners. While Sassy and Chance might have been scared of the trials that lay before them, they had the soothing voice of Don Ameche to guide them. Nothing could stand between Shadow and Michael, not even a mountain lion. Dogs are loyal to their masters and when it comes to movie dogs, there are few as loyal as good old Shadow.

1. Old Yeller- Old Yeller

I’m noticing a disturbing trend when it comes to the best movie dogs. It seems like in order to be the best they have to rip out hearts out first. Old Yeller is the classic tale of a boy and his dog and said boy having to take his dog out behind a shed. On the other hand, if the boy didn’t do what needed to be done we probably would have had another Cujo on our hands. It’s a simple story about the dastardly purpose of making us all sob like babies by the end of it. As far as movie dogs go, Old Yeller is a cultural icon with references scattered throughout pop culture. This definitely wouldn’t have been a valid list without paying respect to one of the most well known and beloved of all movie dogs.

Honorable Mention: All the Dogs of the John Wick Franchise

When it comes to movie dogs, few have inspired the sort of rampage that ultra assassin and gun-fu master, John Wick (Keanu Reeves), went on after his little pupper Daisy was killed. Now, any dog owner would do the same if someone dared lay a finger on their best friend. However, that dog tipped a domino that resulted in John going to war with the underworld. Along the way, he found himself a Pitbull who he fondly named “Dog.” So far he’s managed to keep Dog alive, but things are really heating up in the franchise. Of course, as things get worse for Wick, the dogs he meets become more incredible. In Parabellum, he met his colleague Sofia’s (Halle Berry) lethal Belgian Malinois who prove to be damn good back up in a gunfight. Who knows how awesome the dogs will be in the next film.

Shout-Out: Beethoven- The Beethoven Series

While The Beast might have one of the bigger movie dogs on the list above, he’s kind of a shrimp compared to Beethoven. This overgrown mutt found himself on the run and ended up getting adopted by a loving family (and a terrible dad). From the minute this dog sets foot in the Newton household, he butts heads with George. Of course, Beethoven has the advantage of size (and a thicker skull), so George soon finds himself losing the war he started with this canine. As much as I’m a fan of dogs, even I found myself getting fed up with Beethoven by the end of this movie. Still, he’s an icon when it comes to movie dogs and I’d be in the doghouse if I didn’t at least give this big guy a shout-out.

Dishonorable Mention: Cujo- Cujo

Look, I know that some people say that there are “no bad dogs,” but Cujo is a bad, bad dog. Sure, he’s got rabies, but that doesn’t excuse him from being the stuff of nightmares. What else would you expect from the mind of Stephen King though?

There you have it! The best of the best when it comes to movie dogs. Of course, there are plenty more from Einstein in Back to the Future to Milo from The Mask. So, be sure to leave a comment below about which movie dogs are your favorite! Oh, and with more dog movies coming out soon be sure to check back to see if this list gets updated in the future. Until then, don’t forget to pick up after your dogs and keep on watching movies.