Call us softies or suckers for nostalgia, but there’s just something about our childhood shows and stories, that makes us smile. When they come complete with a four-legged lead, we’re just about sunk. Take a stroll down memory lane and revisit a few familiar furry faces. 

Wishbone

What’s the story, Wishbone?  The story is: we learned more from this well-read pup than we did from any English Lit class! Whether he was “Cyranose” or “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame”, we were instantly transported right into a classic tail, er, tale with gusto. Notable line (as Mr. Darcy): “Oh, Bingley, you know I don’t dance. You know I have four left paws.”

PBS 

 Spike

A baby’s best friend, through and through! Spike was the perfect representation of the ideal family dog and a willing participant in all things imagination. Whether he was a stand-in dinosaur for Tommy Pickles or a quick getaway for our baby heroes, he was always loving and always game!

Pooh's Adventures Wiki

 The Homeward Bound Trio

Chance, Shadow, and Sassy were the OG best friends. Loyal to a fault, they stuck together and made the long journey home to reunite with their family. These dogs (and cat) taught us about friendship, working together, and the importance of never giving up. Excuse me, my eyes are watering up already.

Walt Disney Pictures

 Hush Puppy

While Lamb Chop for sure got the most attention on Lamb Chops’ Play Along, Hush Puppy’s calm, positive demeanor always made a joke land. He was always in a good humor and never failed to make us laugh with a knock-knock joke. Where Lamb Chop delivered the sarcasm, he gave us the sweetness.

YouTube: VideoClipsForBabies

 Dog

Oh, Dog. As one half of the iconic CatDog, you never failed to balance out Cat’s jaded quips with your sunny optimism. One of Nickelodeon’s stranger offerings, Dog still managed to make his mark on our hearts. Oh, and his voice, Tom Kenny, went on to become SpongeBob.

NeonStartapeInvasion

 Buddy

Pro inclusivity, anti-bullying, and with a decided stance against animal abuse, Air Bud was actually kind of ahead of its time. While Buddy was certainly a pro at sinking hoops, he was even more a pro at worming his way into our hearts. Show of hands – who gave their own dog vanilla pudding cups after this movie?

MovieWeb

 Fly

Surrogate mama to everyone’s favorite talking pig, Fly looked out for the young and those unable to care for themselves. She also showed us the power of growth and being always willing to learn, as she overcame her own prejudices and learned a few things about the lives of sheep.

Cineplex

Gidget

AKA the Taco Bell Chihuahua, she had us all speaking Spanish and craving a Baja Chalupa. This pint-sized pooch was full of sass – who can forget that time she took on Godzilla? In fact, Gidget became so synonymous with the brand that people were coming into Taco Bells to only buy the plushes and not any food, leading to the brand eventually moving away from their miniscule mascot. Gidget also continued her star-studded career with an appearance as Bruiser’s mom in Legally Blonde 2.

Taco Bell

Business Insider

 Shiloh

This bright-eyed Beagle tugged at all our heart strings and kicked off quite a trend of wishing for a pup of our own to follow us home. With a thankfully happy ending, this tear-jerker never fails to make us want to hug our dogs a little closer.

Shiloh Wikia

 Copper

“We’ll always be friends, won’t we?” This tale of unlikely friends overcoming their strict and historical differences of bloodlines is a testament to the power of true friendship. Though we may grow up, grow apart, and grow hardened, Copper is always there to remind us that some bonds can never be broken.

Walt Disney Pictures

 101 Dalmatians

This movie for sure made us realize that one dog is just NOT enough!  101 doggies in one room = our idea of heaven!

FilmNet

 Who was your childhood best dog-friend? Let us know which fictional dog still has your heart!