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Top Dogs

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (by Baum, Lyman Frank)
The Call of the Wild (by London, Jack)
Peter Pan (by Barrie, James Matthew)
Odyssey (by Homer)
David Copperfield (by Dickens, Charles)
White Fang.

Dogs deserve their appellation of “man’s best friend.” Just ask the American Kennel Club.

Canine importance to human civilization cannot be understated. Dogs appear in art: Egyptian tomb paintings, Greek and Roman sculptures, Chinese pottery, and more. Dogs feature in our lingo, although mostly in pejorative terms. They have served as hard-working career partners, loving companions, protective guardians, and even food. Therefore, no one should be surprised to learn that dogs feature as popular characters in literature from the 8th century B.C. to modern-day literature.

Lassie. This popular 1950s television show starred a collie by the name of Lassie and was based on the book Lassie-Come Home by Eric Knight, which was published in 1940.

Toto. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum wouldn’t be nearly as popular as it is without Dorothy’s Cairn Terrier.

Clifford, the Big Red Dog. The first book of this lengthy series of children’s books by Norman Bridwell features the adventures of a giant red dog and his young mistress, Emily.

Buck. The St. Bernard-Scotch Shepherd co-star of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild rises above abuse with the help of a kindhearted boy.

Old Yeller. This heart-wrenching story of love and loyalty by Fred Gipson features a Labrador-Retriever mix.

Nana. The gentle Newfoundland nursemaid in the movie based on J. M. Barrie’s children’s story, Peter Pan, devotes her attention and care to the well-being of the Darling family’s children.

Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo tells the story of a 10-year old girl, Opal, and the beloved mutt she rescues.

Argos. Refusing to die until his master returns from his adventures, the loyal dog of Odysseus helps to confirm his master’s identity. His part is small, but important, in Homer’s Odyssey.

Snowy. A white fox terrier serves as the faithful sidekick to Tintin, a young Belgian reporter in The Adventures of Tintin, a popular European comic which began in 1929.

Tock. The faithful companion in The Phantom Tollbooth (1961) by Norton Juster accompanies his master, Milo, on pun-filled adventures.

Ghost. Yes, the loyal direwolf of George R. R. Martin’s epic A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t exactly a dog, but he’s a fabulous canine companion.

Fang. The slobbering, scaredy-cat boarhound shows unexpected courage in defending Hagrid in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Jip. A minor character resembling his spoiled and pretty mistress in Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield demonstrates pure canine loyalty.

Shiloh. The spunky beagle of Phyllis Reynold Naylor’s book of the same title forms an inseparable bond with his young rescuer, Marty.

Ribsy. Beverly Cleary’s series about Henry Huggins gives faithful sidekick, Ribsy, his own book in the sixth and final installment.

Dogmatix. This minor character’s name is a pun in yet another wildly popular European comic by René Goscinny, which ran from 1959 to 2009.

White Fang. Jack London strikes again with another canine-centric novel of loyalty, love, and triumph over hardship and abuse.

By Karen M. Smith