My Top 10: Movie Dogs

Having a pet is really important in a lot of people's lives. They can comfort you when you're down, give you exercise if they require lots of walking and countless memories when together. One type of pet that is great at giving all of that is a dog.

A dog's loyalty is unmatched and they are there for so many people when needed. Even when they are fighting for their life and their dog gets help from a stranger.

The film industry have showcased the qualities of a dog in so many wonderful and memorable ways over the decades. So much so that it has given us characters that will be remembered with such fondness for all-time.

Some have made us laugh and smile through moments of comedy and some have made us cry due to acts of amazing courage and unselfishness.

In this top 10, I will be rating all of the best dogs in film. This is judged on what those dog characters do in their respective film, their importance and the legacy they have left. For live dogs, the skill in their training will also come into account.

Before I announce my top 10, I must mention quite a few honourable mentions as there were some highly memorable film dogs that I had to regrettably leave out. Unfortunately missing out on my top 10 were Beethoven from Beethoven, Enzo from The Art Of Racing In The Rain, Buck from The Call Of The Wild, Copper from The Fox And The Hound, Lucy from Wendy And Lucy, Bolt from Bolt, Max from How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Fly from Babe, Two Socks from Dances With Wolves, Toto from The Wizard Of Oz, White Fang from 1991's White Fang and Brandy from Once Upon A Time In .... Hollywood.

10) Tramp (Lady And The Tramp) - The first of three animated entries in this list and it comes from possibly the most famous film about dogs.

What makes mixed breed Tramp such an important character is his free spirit personality that helps American Cocker Spaniel Lady see the world outside of her owners house, eventually find love and give us possibly the most iconic romantic scene in film history.

9) Gromit (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit) - A firm character favourite from this British animation franchise, Beagle Gromit is Wallace's assistant and loyal companion.

The more times you watch their adventures, the more you realise that Gromit is the glue to him and Wallace's partnership. Without him, their success would have been very different.

8) Uggie (The Artist) - One of most famous film dogs in recent years, this talented Parson Russell Terrier become a star after his appearance in Oscar Best Picture winner 'The Artist' back in 2011.

His amazing talent gave us many memorable scenes and impressive sequences that many dog owners will appreciate.

That success gave him many major awards including getting his paw prints cemented at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

7) Sam (I Am Legend) - When you are in a world where a virus has wiped out almost the entire human race, you definitely need a dog by your side for company and protection.

German Shephard Sam showed wonderful and believable chemistry with Will Smith. The loyalty and bravery the dog shows in this film made us heavily invested in their character.

6) Togo (Togo) - Based on the true story of a legendary sled run in Alaska back in 1925, Siberian Husky Togo showed that size and strength does not matter when leading a group of sled dogs.

Tracking through tough conditions when transporting serum during a pandemic, this dog's achievements were perfectly celebrated and executed in this 2019 adventure drama.

5) Hachi (Hachi: A Dog's Tale) - Based on the true story of the Akita dog Hachiko sees a professor (played by Richard Gere) create a special bond with an abandoned dog.

This drama is a big tear-jerker and is the perfect portrayal of a dog's loyalty. It is also worth reading up on the true story once checking this out.

4) Milo (The Mask) - A dog performance that is easily forgotten. While this 1994 action comedy has Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz taking the plaudits, it is the main character's trusty canine sidekick Milo that has many scene-stealing moments.

This Jack Russell Terrier showed amazing talent during several well executed comedic and dramatic scenes. Also, his friendship with lead character Stanley Ipkiss is great to see develop throughout.

3) Pongo & Perdita (One Hundred And One Dalmatians) - If dog power couples were a thing, these two would be top of the charts.

Their love is unmatched and when their 15 puppies get stolen by the evil Cruella DeVil, the risk that these two take to get them backalong with many other Dalmatian puppies is a proud achievement by many species.

2) Shadow (Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey) - From the popular 90's family adventure, the wise and loyal Golden Retriever Shadow is a dog everyone should respect.

When he as well as American Bulldog Chance and Himalayan cat Sassy feel their lives are in danger, it is up to Shadow to lead them through the American wilderness and back to their owners.

1) Maya (Eight Below) - If you have seen this 2006 family adventure, you will understand why I have chosen this spectacular Siberian Husky to be top of my list.

Inspired by the true story of an Antarctic expedition in 1958, a couple of explorers are forced to leave their sled dogs as they fend for survival.

This is an unreal story of courage, survival and friendship. While the entire dog cast showed wonderful charisma on screen to make them an engaging watch and enhance many scenes, the leader Maya is the one that stands out above the rest.