What Kind of Dog Was Snoopy?

Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Old Yeller… we knows these dogs by name and by sight. But what breeds are they based on, and what would they look like in real life? – ERM

1) "Lady" from Lady and the Tramp:

Cocker Spaniel

Disney's beloved film Lady and the Tramp (1955) tells the story of a stray mutt (the Tramp) falling in love with the upper class Lady.  Lady, a sweet, doe-eyed dog with long ears, is a Cocker Spaniel. Learn more about the breed here. 

2) "Toto", from the Wizard of Oz:

Cairn Terrier

What kind of brave, loyal dog was Toto, the scrappy little dog that stuck by The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy through thick and thin? Toto is a Cairn Terrier, a courageous breed from the wild north of Scotland. Learn more about the Cairn here.

3) "Scooby-Doo" from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?:

Great Dane

The beloved Scooby-Doo, a talking dog from the children's animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is based on the appearanec of the large-bodied and sweet-tempered Great Dane breed. Learn more about the Great Dane here.

4) "Shadow" and "Chance" from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey:

 Golden Retriever and American Bulldog

If you were a kid in the nineties, you probably watched Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), a film about two dogs and a cat who are separated from their family and need to find their way home by themselves. What kinds of dogs were the the headstrong Chance and the wise Shadow? Chance is an American Bulldog (portrayed by Photocontest Submitter Frankie, above), while Shadow is a golden retriever. Read more here.

5) "Lassie" from Lassie Come Home:

Collie

What kind of dog is Lassie, the heroic, devoted, and intelligent hero dog from Lassie Come Home (1934)? Lassie is a Collie, more specifically, a Sable Collie. Other coat colour variations include tri-colour, blue merle, and white. Read more about the Collie here.

6) "Beethoven", from Beethoven:

St. Bernard

In the Beethoven films, a large, fun-loving dog named Beethoven joins a family and gets into lots of mischief and adventures. This large breed and attention-getter is based on the St. Bernard, who is indeed a great family dog! Learn more about the St. Bernard here.

7) "Frank" from Men in Black:

Pug

In the Men in Black movies, an alien being named Frank takes the shape of a small dog to get by on Earth. What kind of breed does he imitate? A pug, of course! This funny, loveable breed loves being the centre of attention. Read more here.

8) "Fang" from the Harry Potter series:

Boarhound/Great Dane in novels, Neapolitan Mastiff in films

In the Harry Potter novels, Rubeus Hagrid the gamekeeper has a dog named Fang, who is described to be a large boarhound (or Great Dane) who slobbers constantly. In the films he is portrayed by a Neapolitan Mastiff, which is a different breed, but is also large and was used for hunting boars. Learn more about the Neapolitan Mastiff here.

9) "Old Yeller" from Old Yeller:

Black Mouth Cur in book, Mastiff/Yellow Lab Cross in film

We're not going to say don't watch the 1957 film Old Yeller, or read the book it's based on by Fred Gipson, but at least don't get into it without being prepared to cry afterwards. What kind of dog, though, is the beloved Old Yeller? In the book he is a Black Mouth Cur, and in the film he is a Mastiff/yellow lab cross. The above Black Mouth Cur, aptly named for their lovely dark muzzles, is represented by Photocontest participant Foster.

10) "Snoopy" from the Peanuts comics:

Beagle

With those lovely floppy ears and sweet expression, it's no wonder that the famous Snoopy from Charles Schultz's Peanuts comics was based on a beagle. Read more about the beloved beagle here.