AKC Names the 125 Top Pop Culture Dogs

Who is the top American pop culture dog?

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and AOL’s PawNation.com, “Joe Cool” himself, otherwise known as Snoopy, tops the list.

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, the AKC recently ranked the 125 top dogs in American culture, from film and literature to sports and art.

Second place surprisingly went to Texas A&M’s mascot Reveille, over rival mascots Jack the Bulldog from Georgetown (he ranked No. 9 on the list), UGA from the University of Georgia and Handsome Dan from Yale. Reveille, a Collie, even ranked higher than Lassie (who just missed the top 10 at No. 11).

“There is no question that America loves dogs,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “One look at popular culture proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that dogs have always had a profound influence on our daily lives.”

AKC experts created the initial list of dogs they felt made the biggest pop culture impact over the years. The public was then invited to vote each week from September through December 2009 in a series of 11 polls. Nearly 76,000 people voiced their opinions of the top 125 dogs.

The list counts down from Snoopy at the top to General Patton’s Bull Terrier William the Conquerer (aka Willie) in 125th place.

The following pooches made the top 10:

1. Snoopy
2. Texas A&M’s Reveille
3. Scooby Doo
4. Eddie from the TV show “Frasier”
5. Pound Puppy toys
6. Painting “Dogs Playing Poker”
7. Song “How Much is that Doggie in the Window?”
8. Georgetown’s Jack the Bulldog
9. The song “Who Let the Dogs Out”
10. Brian Griffin from the TV show “Family Guy”

These were the top dogs in each category:

Cartoons: Snoopy
Television: Eddie from “Frasier”
Movies: Lassie
Literature: Clifford the Big Red Dog
Song: “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?”
College Mascot: Texas A&M’s Reveille
Advertising Mascot: Bush’s Baked Beans’ Duke
Art/Fashion: Painting “Dogs Playing Poker”
Toys: Pound Puppies
Famous Dogs: The National Crime Prevention’s crime dog McGruff

In addition to Reveille placing second, the AKC notes some other surprises in the list:

Paw Print Bullet Major Upsets: Pound Puppy toys (No. 5) and “Dogs Playing Poker” (No. 6) received more votes than old-time favorites Toto from “The Wizard of Oz” (No. 24), Benji (No. 27) and Rin Tin Tin (No. 46).

Paw Print Bullet Political Dogs: Bo Obama captured the spotlight early in 2009 but landed in the 42nd spot. He still received more votes than Bill Clinton’s Buddy (No. 44), FDR’s Scottish Terrier Fala (No. 55) and even Richard Nixon’s Cocker Spaniel Checkers, referenced in his famous “Checker’s Speech” (No. 65).

Paw Print Bullet Dogs Bark to a Different Tune: Patti Page’s 1953 song “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” came in at No. 7, while “Who Let the Dogs Out?” (No. 9) by the Baha Men outranked Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” (No. 22).

Paw Print Bullet Newcomers Beat the Classics: Newcomer Brian Griffin, from the TV show “Family Guy,” landed near the top of the list at No. 10 while classic animated dogs such as Huckleberry Hound (No. 38) and Underdog (No. 53) were much farther down the list.

The complete list can be found here.

PHOTOS: tvguide.com and tvtropes.org

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.