Hollywood’s best in show
Ranking the top dogs in the biz
Who’s the best dog ever? Well, obviously, your dog is the best dog in the entire world. But which is the best movie dog? A lot of memorable pups have romped on the big screen over the years, from Lassie to Max in the new
Secret Life of Pets. USA TODAY’s Kelly Lawler presents the definitive Top 10.
1 DUG from Up (2009) Dug is the best movie dog because Dug is your dog. At least, that’s what it felt like when Pixar put voice to all the little quirks of your best friend. “I hid under your porch because I love you.” “Squirrel!” That’s how your dog thinks, and that’s why you love him/her.
2 MARLEY from Marley & Me (2008) Marley ( sob) is great ( sob). He’s cute ( sob) and loyal ( sob) and we miss him ( sob) very much.
3 BEETHOVEN from Beethoven (1992) The perfect balance of adorable and mischievous, the St. Bernard that helped a family love one another.
4 BUDDY from Air Bud (1997) He can play basketball. Buddy does not need more to make him great. You hear that, all you sequels where he played football and whatnot? Basketball was enough.
5 HERCULES, AKA THE BEAST from The Sandlot (1993) The most misunderstood dog in movie history just really liked baseballs. Especially priceless ones signed by Babe Ruth. Plus, he was better as a team mascot than “The Beast.”
6 LASSIE from Lassie Come Home (1943) The original. The movie dog all other movie dogs need to live up to.
7 UGGIE from The Artist (2001) Uggie died almost a year ago, but not before publishing a book and becoming the first dog to leave his paw prints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Not bad for the scene-stealer from an Oscar best-picture-winning movie.
8 TOTO from The Wizard of Oz (1939) We are very, very happy the Wicked Witch of the West did not get “your little dog, too.” Toto is the low-key MVP of The Wizard
of Oz, like when he pulls the curtain back on the Wizard himself. Dorothy really would have been lost without him.
9 LADY AND TRAMP from Lady and the Tramp (1955) What is cuter than cute dogs? Cute dogs who fall in love and eat spaghetti together.
10 CHANCE AND SHADOW from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) This movie taught us that our dogs love us as much as we love them. And they miss us as much as we miss them. And they are always trying to come home to us.
If you got through this list without tearing up a bit, you’re probably a cat person. And we can’t help you.