History Main / DogsAreDumb

* In the Italian comic book ''Lupo Alberto'', set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, dogs are on average as smart as the other animals. In particular the most preminent one, Moses (a bobtail sheepdog), runs the [=McKenzie=] farm not just by his considerable strength but by virtue of having more common sense and being far more money savvy than most other characters (the only one who has him beaten in the common sense department is Alberto, who is a wolf) and has shown himself much smarter than Gideon the cat (not that it's actually that difficult), and the one time he was forced to take a long vacation he hired a temporary replacement through an agency that sent ''another'' bobtail sheepdog who did an exceptional job.

Compare and Contrast to CatsAreLazy (if an ordinary cat is dumb) and/or BuffoonishTomcat (if they are the exceptionally clumsy, goofy, clownish, ludicrous and cartoony counterpart to the [[CatsAreLazy lazy counterparts]]), and other creatures/etc that had been stereotyped or depicted with [[TheDitz lacking in intelligence]] such as DumbDinos, DoofyDodo, MooseAreIdiots, and FrazettaMan.

** Normally inverted in these stories, except perhaps for Bruce the Rottweiler in “The Survivor.” Even Bolt, who is frequently depicted as ComicallyMissingThePoint, is otherwise intelligent. An especially notable example is seen in “The Imaginary Letters,” where Zaui, who plays a stupid pooch on TV, is shown watching a trivia-based quiz show — and rattling off the correct answers in rapid-fire fashion.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': Brian was generally the smartest character on the show, before {{Flanderization}} set in and he went from the OnlySaneMan to an KnowNothingKnowItAll StrawHypocrite. Even after, he's still at least of average human intelligence (he can drive, read, writes a best-seller by exploiting stupid readers, etc...), and possibly about as ''smart'' as he was in the first few seasons, just less moral.

** However, Odie might actually be a case of ObfuscatingStupidity. One cartoon showed him reading Literature/WarAndPeace while Garfield and Jon were gone, and another showed he's a wiz at Sudoku.

--->'''Snarky!Hawke:'''Is it brilliant or horrible that you play Diamondback with my dog? \\

* ''WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts'': Goofy is somewhere in between. He's generally portrayed as [[TheFool a simple country bum]] type. As ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games show, he's generally the wisest of his friends. Or he's so dim-witted that he can have moments of [[DumbassHasAPoint incredibly]] [[TooDumbToFool clear]] [[TheCuckoolanderWasRight insight]]. It all [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on what's right for the story.]] More precisely, Goofy ''the character'' is accident prone and a bit dim. Goofy the ''[[AnimatedActor actor]]'' is still a bit accident prone, but not nearly as dumb.

* Brain the aptly named dog in ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'', who can understand English, use machines, disguise himself, and generally ends up cracking the case (along with Penny) instead of the show's eponymous character.

* "Bandit" in ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' is fairly intelligent for a dog, and often saves Jonny and the team from danger.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee'': Same deal with Monroe.

* Kevin from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus'' is actually quite intelligent, often occasionally helping Bogus out with any problem that arises in the Anybody residence.
* Applejack's dog Winona from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is rather intelligent and a great animal herder. Although she can get rather [[GenkiGirl frisky]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' subverts and reverses it at the same time with CatsAreMean - the dog, Ren, is the JerkAss, AxCrazy and LargeHam, while Stimpy, the cat, is the CloudCuckoolander, StupidGood and [[GenreBlindness Genre Blind]].

* Santa's Little Helper from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' varies from episode to episode but (especially in later episodes) is often presented as being pretty clever. Oddly though, his cleverness is usually applied in stealing food. Though as anyone with a dog will tell you, 99% of dog intelligence is focused on food and getting to places they're not supposed to sleep.

* ''Mad About You'' has Murray, a Border Collie mix, which runs after mice until it runs into a wall, causing itself head trauma. And there are no mice in the flat.

* Ein the "data dog" from ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' is hinted to be very intelligent, but none of the crew ever notice. It's also implied that [[spoiler:he's a better hacker than ''Ed'' in one episode.]]
* Akamaru from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is quite the efficient partner for his master, [[HotBlooded Kiba Inuzuka]], either as his HeadPet or his BigFriendlyDog. Justified, since the Inuzuka clan's business revolves around veterinary issues and dog training.
* Menchi from ''Manga/ExcelSaga'' is quite clever, and fully aware of her position as "emergency rations".
* For the most part, the dogs in ''Manga/MassuguNiIkou'' aren't explicitly stupid. The closest examples of this trope are Hanako, who is more of a CloudCuckoolander than anything else, and Shokora, whose main problem is that he is LiteralMinded. Mametarou and Sora are subversions: they might have dumb moments, but give no indication that they lack intelligence. Averting this trope outright are Sebastian, Gen, and Jack - Sebastian being fairly down-to-Earth, Gen being an honorable and sensitive GentleGiant, and Jack being a very intelligent JerkAss (later a JerkWithAHeartOfGold).
* In ''Manga/ChisSweetHome'', all the dogs play the trope straight and Chi's very much afraid of them. However, in the second season one of the Yamada's neighbors has a hyper puppy, and David subverts the trope by rescuing Chi in episode 76.
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Shigure, the Dog from the EasternZodiac, [[ObfuscatingStupidity acts stupid]] and seems harmless at first glance, but he's really the only Member of the Zodiac with a plan. It's played straighter in the 2001 anime, where his manipulative side isn't shown and he's [[AdaptationalComicRelief made into pure comic relief]].
* The defining characteristic of Sapphie (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) from ''Toys/{{Jewelpet}}'' is being smart.

* The dogs in the movie ''Film/{{Babe}}'' are the leaders of all the farm-animals, and most intelligent; meanwhile the cat is pure evil.
* The dogs of ''Film/CatsAndDogs'' are able to run a hi-tech spy organization against the evil cats. Though some moments of stupidity still ensue (such as a WireDilemma when [[AnimalsSeeInMonochrome dogs are colorblind]]).

* ''Literature/OldYeller'' is realistically (non-anthropomorphically) smart, and is able to save members of his family from other animals several times.
* ''Literature/WhereTheRedFernGrows'' has two main dogs, also portrayed in a completely non-anthropomorphic, realistic way. Old Dan doesn't really fit this trope as he's not exactly dumb, but Little Ann averts it outright by being distinctly the brains to Dan's brawn. Both are very well-trained.
* Gaspode the Wonder Dog from the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series is an equal-level thinker with most humans he interacts with, and currently makes his life as the thinking-brain dog (like a seeing-eye dog, only with providing thoughts instead of vision) of Foul Ole Ron. He's also basically the OnlySaneMan in the Canting Crew.
** Similarly, the Dog Guild in ''Literature/MenAtArms'', although none of them were loyal (Gaspode ''is'' loyal, and seriously resents it). By contrast "Laddie", the Discworld version of Franchise/{{Lassie}} in ''Literature/MovingPictures'', is completely moronic and a clueless, blond-furred [[TheDitz ditz]], but because he ''behaves'' like a Wonder Dog is expected to behave, everyone thinks he's clever.
** ContinuityDrift had a part to play here however. Originally in ''Literature/MovingPictures'' Gaspode has had his intelligence magically boosted to human levels and there is no real evidence Laddie was especially dim by normal canine standards. By ''Men At Arms'' all dogs are as reasonably intelligent, although not so much as Gaspode (who can speak as well as most humans and even write (badly mangled) Morporkian, as well as being deeper in his thinking, the result of a different magical reason than in Moving Pictures). Laddie becomes retroactively that much worse. It is mentioned that the type of intelligence displayed by dogs is something they got from humans, along with names, cruelty and a cringing inferiority complex. Wolves are displayed as pretty smart but with a one-track mind controlled by instincts and thoughts wholly unlike dogs as a result.
** According to Angua (in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant''), a bimorphic werewolf who spends too much time changed into a wolf becomes more wolflike in thinking, more prone to react either with flight or fight to unknown things, and unable to reason like a human. Her father, Baron Guy von Uberwald, has regressed so much that when he is in human form he speaks mostly in monosyllabic one-word sentences, in a loud voice like a bark, and has to be reminded to wear clothes. Anytime Angua and her relationship with Carrot comes up, someone (usually Angua) mentions that anything that is part wolf and part human is a dog, which sort of explains a few things about Big Fido and his ideas about wolves.

* Mouse from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is just as intelligent as a human, though he isn't a normal canine, but rather a "Foo Dog" (essentially a spirit-world canine from the mountains of Tibet).
* [[IntelligentGerbil Headies]] in [[Creator/StrugatskyBrothers the Noonverse]] are a species of dog-like aliens that are psychic, extremely pragmatic as a species and much, ''much'' smarter than humans; after a few decades, [[spoiler:they just decide that they learned everything worth learning from humans and abruptly severe all diplomatic contacts with them]].

* Huan, the Hound of Valinor, from ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', was able to speak three times, went through a conflict of loyalties and ended up helping Beren and Lúthien in their quest. (He and Lúthien managed to defeat [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]] by themselves.)

* Kojak from ''Literature/TheStand'' is revealed to be not only one of the hardiest dogs left in America, but the smartest... and ends up one of the heroes. He follows the other characters halfway across the continent, then [[spoiler:rescues Stu from certain death]]. He's almost a [[MartyStu Marty Pooch]].
* Subverted in the ''Literature/{{Uplift}}'' series - it's hinted at that after Chimps and Dolphins, dogs are the next animals humanity plans to Uplift, implying that they are fairly intelligence.

* Kludge from ''Literature/VarjakPaw'' may not be very bright, but he's loyal to his friends and can speak cat...somewhat.
* W. Bruce Cameron's works such as ''Literature/ADogsPurpose'' and ''Literature/ADogsWayHome'' depicts dogs as naive rather than stupid. Being dogs, there just are some things they can't comprehend. The characters can be quite insightful and clever when needed.

* The Veterinary Sketch on ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' featured Stephen Fry as a babblingly stupid dachshund fancier, getting on the nerves of Hugh Laurie's cat-owning character. The end of the sketch reveals that the dachsie is, quite sensibly, taking Stephen in to the vet's to be put down.

* The dog in ''Series/MadAboutYou'' is actually fairly clever.
* Despite his laziness Buck the Bundy's dog from ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' is smarter than his owners. Granted, this is not a significant challenge and does not prove that Buck is above canine-normal intelligence. He knows what channel ''Jeopardy'' comes on. That's pretty good for a dog, really.

* [[Series/SueThomasFBEye Sue Thomas']] dog is very smart.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'''s dog Fu Dog is smart as humans, but he's a magical creature.

* All of the dogs on ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' are intelligent, and Blue often seems to come across as smarter the human host, be it Steve, Joe or Kevin.
* Mr. Peanutbutter on ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' plays heavily with this trope. He's a yellow Labrador who, while never exactly portrayed as "dumb," certainly seems oblivious to unpleasant things around him, not the least his supposed "best friend" [=BoJack=] constantly insulting him (his occasional dog-like actions like fetching, chasing the mailman or rolling around on the ground don't help). In later seasons it's deconstructed, showing, that in large part, he deliberately adopts an AntiNihilist attitude to avoid dealing with problems he doesn't like or understand. It's also PlayedForDrama in his marriage to Diane Nguyen, as Mr. Peanutbutter seems unable to grasp why his wife doesn't appreciate his grand romantic gestures.
* Goofy, of the WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts, is somewhere in between. He's generally portrayed as [[TheFool a simple country bum]] type. As ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games show, he's generally the wisest of his friends. Or he's so dim-witted that he can have moments of [[DumbassHasAPoint incredibly]] [[TooDumbToFool clear]] [[TheCuckoolanderWasRight insight]]. It all [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on what's right for the story.]] More precisely, Goofy ''the character'' is accident prone and a bit dim. Goofy the ''[[AnimatedActor actor]]'' is still a bit accident prone, but not nearly as dumb.

* Pork Chop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' is portrayed as extremely intelligent by dog standards, to the point where he has human-like mannerisms (though he can't speak intelligibly, he pantomimes frequently.) The series makes it clear that most dogs in the cartoon's world don't act like Pork Chop, however.

* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/DrZitbagsTransylvaniaPetShop'' with Dr. Zitbag's skeletal canine companion Horrifido. Quite often, Horrifido proves to be smarter and more rational than Zitbag.
* Brian from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was generally the smartest character on the show, before {{Flanderization}} set in and he went from the OnlySaneMan to an KnowNothingKnowItAll StrawHypocrite. Even after, he's still at least of average human intelligence (he can drive, read, writes a best-seller by exploiting stupid readers, etc...), and possibly about as ''smart'' as he was in the first few seasons, just less moral.

* Dukey in ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'' is often the voice of reason for his human friend Johnny and constantly exasperated by his silly antics. He is also occasionally the voice of common sense among the Test family.

* Same deal with Monroe on ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee''.

* In the Italian comic book ''Lupo Alberto'', set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, dogs are on average as smart as the other animals. In particular the most preminent one, Moses (a bobtail sheepdog), runs the [=McKenzie=] farm not just by his considerable strength but by virtue of having more common sense and being far more money savvy than most other characters (the only one who has him beaten in the common sense department is Alberto, who is a wolf) and has shown himself much smarter than Gideon the cat (not that it's actually that difficult), and the one time he was forced to take a long vacation he hired a temporary replacement through an agency that sent ''another'' bobtail sheepdog who did an exceptional job.

* Boot from the British newspaper strip ''ComicStrip/ThePerishers'' was certainly smarter than his boy owner Wellington. Unfortunately whenever Boot attempted to articulate his thoughts Wellington could only hear barking.

* The dogs in ''Citizen Dog'' were jerkasses of normal intelligence while the cats were cheerful ButtMonkey[=s=] who were easily entertained by string.

* The dogs in the movie ''Film/{{Babe}}'' are the leaders of all the farm-animals, and most intelligent; meanwhile the cat is pure evil.

* ''Series/InspectorRex'': The protagonist dog is definitely not a dumb. Not only he is useful to solve murder cases, but also is very capable of outsmarting criminals.
* The dog in ''Series/MadAboutYou'' is actually fairly clever.
* ''Series/{{Lassie}}'' is usually smart enough to [[TimmyInAWell communicate with humans through barking and body language]].

* Despite his laziness Buck the Bundy's dog from ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' is smarter than his owners. Granted, this is not a significant challenge and does not prove that Buck is above canine-normal intelligence. He knows what channel ''Jeopardy'' comes on. That's pretty good for a dog, really.

* An aversion in ''Series/MythBusters'', as they showed that, yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. They also proved that almost ''none'' of the supposed tips for throwing a bloodhound off the scent actually worked, including the original literal RedHerring (the dog was temporarily distracted by the prospect of food, but the handler quickly got him back on track).
* The dogs in ''Series/EerieIndiana'', who plot to take over the world.

* Koromaru from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' has a human-like intelligence. He may not be smarter than most of the humans in the party, but he could probably give [[IdiotHero Junpei]] a good run for his money.
* Poochy in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland''. He's practically indestructible in that game, and as one bonus level so aptly puts it, Poochy ain't stupid.
* Your Mabari war hound in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' averts this as it is explicitly stated to have human-level intelligence; he's perfectly capable of obeying complex orders and fully understanding human speech, and you may sometimes suspect he's the smartest member of [[DysfunctionJunction your party]].

* The protagonist, Jake, from ''VideoGame/DogsLife'' is an immature goofball but he's an exception more than the rule (and even Jake can be clever when he needs to be).

* ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'': Inverted. Muttley, the snickering hound, is smarter than Dick Dastardly and company. Admittedly this doesn't say much.
* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' is smarter than his humans more often than not. He proved at times to be quite naive but compared to Eustace and Muriel and many citizenes, not setting the bar high here, he is a genius. A straighter exception would be Shirley, one of the most knowledgeable and dryly intelligent characters in the show and one of the few who helps Courage.
* ''WesternAnimation/WatchMyChops'' is all about the attempts of a talking clever-by-human-standards dog to keep his secret under wraps.

* Same deal with Monroe on ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' subverts and reverses it at the same time with CatsAreMean - the dog, Ren, is the JerkAss, AxCrazy and LargeHam, while Stimpy, the cat, is the CloudCuckoolander, StupidGood and [[GenreBlindness Genre Blind]].
* Gromit, from ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit''. No voice, but easily as intelligent as (if not more than) any other character in the shorts/films. Preston in "WesternAnimation/ACloseShave" is violent ''and'' fairly intelligent, he's also [[spoiler:a robot]]. Gromit's ability to be a master of the [[SilentSnarker silent snark]] is further evidence of his genius. You know, if being a dog who can build a rocket isn't enough.
* Brian from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was generally the smartest character on the show, before {{Flanderization}} set in and he went from the OnlySaneMan to an KnowNothingKnowItAll StrawHypocrite. Even after, he's still at least of average human intelligence (he can drive, read, writes a best-seller by exploiting stupid readers, etc...), and possibly about as ''smart'' as he was in the first few seasons, just less moral.
* Pork Chop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' is portrayed as extremely intelligent by dog standards, to the point where he has human-like mannerisms (though he can't speak intelligibly, he pantomimes frequently.) The series makes it clear that most dogs in the cartoon's world don't act like Pork Chop, however.
* Santa's Little Helper from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' varies from episode to episode but (especially in later episodes) is often presented as being pretty clever. Oddly though, his cleverness is usually applied in stealing food. Though as anyone with a dog will tell you, 99% of dog intelligence is focused on food and getting to places they're not supposed to sleep.
* Dukey in ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'' is often the voice of reason for his human friend Johnny and constantly exasperated by his silly antics. He is also occasionally the voice of common sense among the Test family.

* Mr. Peabody (''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'', ''WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman'') is the smartest being ''ever,'' despite being a dog. He is so intelligent that he builds a time-machine that not only transports him anywhere in time and space, but also allows the traveller to understand the language and dialect of the natives. This allows him to fix errors in history using his super intelligence. In the original series, Mr. Peabody basically treats Sherman as a pet, even introducing himself "I'm Mr. Peabody, and this is my boy, Sherman." In the movie, he's more of a [[GoodParents loving father]].
* Snoopy is generally the most intelligent member of the ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' gang; Peppermint Patty even thinks he's human, and refers to him "that kid with the big nose." Snoopy dictates complaint-letters to politicians, plays baseball better than anyone else on the team, surfs, and generally shows up Charlie Brown at everything. He's also the most popular one.

* "Bandit" in ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' is fairly intelligent for a dog, and often saves Jonny and the team from danger.
* Brain the aptly named dog in ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'', who can understand English, use machines, disguise himself, and generally ends up cracking the case (along with Penny) instead of the show's eponymous character.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': Being a trained attack dog for the Goddamn Batman, the Bat-Dog is extraordinarily smart.
* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'': Frisket is fairly intelligent, even managing to understand the Web Riders bizarre beeping language without difficulty (when presented with a Web Rider who knew his name, he reacted to the statement and THEN sniffed, recognizing the speaker).

* Kevin from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus'' is actually quite intelligent, often occasionally helping Bogus out with any problem that arises in the Anybody residence.
* All of the dogs on ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' are intelligent, and Blue often seems to come across as smarter the human host, be it Steve, Joe or Kevin.
* Mr. Peanutbutter on ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' plays heavily with this trope. He's a yellow Labrador who, while never exactly portrayed as "dumb," certainly seems oblivious to unpleasant things around him, not the least his supposed "best friend" [=BoJack=] constantly insulting him (his occasional dog-like actions like fetching, chasing the mailman or rolling around on the ground don't help). In later seasons it's deconstructed, showing, that in large part, he deliberately adopts an AntiNihilist attitude to avoid dealing with problems he doesn't like or understand. It's also PlayedForDrama in his marriage to Diane Nguyen, as Mr. Peanutbutter seems unable to grasp why his wife doesn't appreciate his grand romantic gestures.
* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/DrZitbagsTransylvaniaPetShop'' with Dr. Zitbag's skeletal canine companion Horrifido. Quite often, Horrifido proves to be smarter and more rational than Zitbag.

---> '''Jaken''': (''Thinking'') "He is unable to escape... even with the power of his true demon form? Or is he helpless '''because''' he is in that form?! A giant dog... isn't the hardest prey to hang on to... why doesn't he just transform back and slip free? Or does this form also have... the brain of a dog?"

* Rantanplan from ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'' is literally TooDumbToLive (or at least dumber than his own shadow), having nearly drowned or otherwise killed himself numerous times.
* Ms. Lion, ''the [[GenderBlenderName male]] [[ADogNamedCat dog]]'', is absolutely TheDitz and CloudCuckooLander of the ComicBook/PetAvengers. Founding Pet Avenger [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Lockjaw]], on the other hand, is smarter than the average dog, and superpowered to boot. Lockjaw isn't actually a dog. He's an Inhuman whose exposure to the Terrigen Mists changed him into a dog-like shape. [[DependingOnTheWriter Usually.]] Except when that's just a story that the Inhumans like to tell to gullible visitors.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Rocky}}'', the title character (a dog) tries to get a friend's advice on trying to play some obscure HipHop music video on a Swedish music TV station, since he doesn't know any current pop music. The final panel has the friend laughing as he watches Rocky introduce a video by Vengaboys. In the English language version of the comic, the reference is changed to Music/NoDoubt.
* On her fifth birthday Sabrina from ''ComicBook/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'' gets a {{familiar}}, Salem the cat. She gets mad at the fact it's a cat, not a puppy, but her aunts mention amongst themselves that dogs aren't smart enough to be familiars.

* A strip of ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' featured a scientist who invented a device that could translate what dogs are saying so he could understand them. Several dogs onscreen were barking, which was translated to, "Hey!" "Hey, hey, hey!" "Hey, hey!"
** That's not so much "Dogs are dumb," more like "ThisIsReality, and while the [[SlidingScaleOfAnimalCommunication communication system]] of dogs is very useful, they aren't [[AnimalTalk using a secret language like ours,]] so that every bark has a meaning that is just waiting to be [[SpeaksFluentAnimal translated]] into a grammatical English sentence."
** On the other hand, dogs who use the written language (surprisingly many of them) are portrayed as using poor spelling and grammar.
* Kenny from ''ComicStrip/DogsOfCKennel'', although most of the other dogs are an aversion of the trope.

* The rottweiler from ''WesternAnimation/OverTheHedge'', whose only spoken words (in a WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo-like voice) are "Play? Play!" This was specifically done to avoid the rottweiler breed's typical portrayal as vicious attack dogs, which is a common fear among children, their target audience.
* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/TheAristocats'' portrays the two dogs Napoleon and Lafayette as being on par with the mountain-men from ''Film/{{Deliverance}}'' (in a comedic way).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'' has Monchi, the Mitchells' pet pug, who is shown as being about on par with your average potted plant in intelligence. He has nigh-permanent FishEyes mounted on top a vacant, tongue-lolling grin, spends most of the film lazing around or being carried, and at one point attempts to jump his own reflection. He's so ugly and weird that the titular machines are unable to discern if he's a dog, a pig or a loaf of bread, [[LogicBomb which causes them to short-circuit]].

* The eponymous ''Film/{{Beethoven}}'' is not exactly a canine genius. He's not exactly a moron either, there is significant evidence that many of his "accidents" are in fact planned out, and he is also extremely quick to pick off on people's emotions and is exceedingly patient.
* Chance in ''Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney''. [[CatsAreSuperior Sassy]] and [[TeamDad Shadow]] [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this repeatedly. It's more likely that he was meant to be young and naive, as compared to every other dog in the movie and sequel who range from quite knowledgeable (Shadow), to street smart (Riley).

* When the crew of the ''Series/RedDwarf'' go to a parallel universe, Cat is disappointed to find that, instead of a female opposite, he gets to meet a male humanoid who presumably evolved from Debbie Lister's dog. The dog doesn't exactly exude intelligence (though in fairness neither does Cat).
** Part of the reason the Dog appears so dumb is because the Cat has actually become, while not actually human and/or intelligent, at least more so than he was in, say, series one. The Dog was introduced as a one-time joke and is therefore almost exactly as "doglike" as the cat was "catlike" in the first series.
*** The ''Red Dwarf'' tabletop game gives both species nearly identical hits and bonuses to their stats. Both get a minus to dealing with other creatures socially, Cats because they're narcissistic and lack empathy, Dogs just because they're a bit uncouth and unrefined. (As the text puts it, Dogs are social beings, but in a "hanging-out-with-the-boys" sense, not a "let's-put-on-a-tux-and-go-to-the-Queen's-reception" sense.)
* ''Mad About You'' has Murray, a Border Collie mix, which runs after mice until it runs into a wall, causing itself head trauma. And there are no mice in the flat.
* ''Series/TopGearUK'' Dog, Richard Hammond's real-life pet Labradoodle, during her brief stint on the show.
* Darren from ''Series/TheFerals'' and ''Series/FeralTV'', whose Intelligence stat was on par with that of a mushroom.

* The dog in ''VideoGame/DuckHunt''. Look at that dopey expression when you shoot a duck. And when you fail... it laughs, entertained at your failure, while you're no doubt [[TooDumbToLive feeling sociopathic, looking very frustrated and have a loaded shotgun in your hands.]] Unfortunately, you can't ShootTheDog.

* The dog enemy in ''VideoGame/BloodCrusher2'' is notably simple, consisting of just three behaviors; stand out of sight waiting for the player, run in a straight line at the player to attack, and ''chase any grenades the player throws''.
* Dogs in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' are rather infamous for falling off of cliffs and into lava, and for attacking anything the player attacks, which could mean their death.

* ''Webcomic/{{PVP}}'' - Scratch Fury, Destroyer of Worlds, uses a mind-enhancing machine on Kirby in order to create his own nemesis - but unfortunately, even after multiplying his intelligence by 1000, he's still dumber than a sack of hammers, and tends to forget that he can speak, whenever he takes a nap...
* Pooch from the webcomic ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}''. If he's not stupid, he's definitely very young and/or naive. In contrast, his cat companion, Percival, is sublimely arrogant and sophisticated. He is, however, just as dumb as Pooch and can be easily swayed with food or toys. He's a bit of a hypocrite and it's played for laughs.

* The Simple Dog from ''Webcomic/HyperboleAndAHalf'' is incapable of operating a staircase or getting out from under a blanket, and when put in sled-dog booties to prevent damage to the wooden floor, stared up with an expression captioned in the story's accompanying cartoon as "Where R My Legs?" Allie's other dog, Helper Dog, appears to be of normal canine intelligence, but on the other hand is a hair-triggered mass of neuroses and melodrama.

-->'''Dylan''': Good thing dogs are so dumb.

* GIR from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' helps add onto the stereotype of dogs being dumb. He has to wear a lime green dog suit to "blend in", and humans gullibly buy it even though green dogs don't exist. While wearing the dog suit, GIR does a lot of comedically stupid things like saying "Meow!" to a bystander or running around in a circle ''while leashed to a tree''. And after he runs out of leash, he trips then goes the reverse direction and does this over and over.
* Astro from ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' is pretty dumb, despite being able to talk. That said, he does recognize a bad thing or person when he sees one, and will warn and help the family. In one episode, he was made into a super genius, but became insufferable as a result.

* The Diamond Dogs from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' aren't the sharpest crayons in the box. Averted with Applejack's sheepdog Winona, however.
* Niblet, from the 2010 version of ''[[WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010 Pound Puppies]]'' (who is, incidentally, a sheepdog) is far outstripped in the intelligence department by his teammates... including the squirrels. However, see the Pound Puppies example under aversions for a counterargument.

--->'''Scooby:''' "Third level - lots of luck."\\

* Harry from ''WesternAnimation/{{Stanley}}'' combines this trope with a SurferDude speech pattern.
* Dudley from ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'' has an assortment of dog stereotypes, plus he occasionally chews on his butt.

[[folder: Music]]

* Bagel in ''WesternAnimation/TheBagelAndBeckyShow'' is a dog, and not too bright.
* Ed from ''WesternAnimation/BestEd'' is a dog who is not very bright and often causes trouble when he tries to help his best friend Buddy, a much smarter squirrel.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DynomuttDogWonder'', Dynomutt is Blue Falcon's idiot robot-dog sidekick.
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' had an episode where Dexter gives a dog capability of speech and it drives him insane because all it says is what it sees going on.
--->"It's a thing! I-I-I found a thing! It's here, the thing, I found the thing, and here it is, it's the thing, right here, a thing!"
*** And then it plays with the trope. [[ParentalObliviousness Dexter's parents never notice]] the dog can speak English. Also, when the dog's true owner shows up, [[UncattyResemblance he speaks exactly like the dog does]].
--->'''Man''': Hey! It's my dog! I found my dog!\\
'''Dog''': Hey, it's my man! I found my man!\\
'''Both''': I found you, I found you, I found you! I found you!\\
'''Man''': Let's go for a ride! You wanna go for a ride?\\
'''Dog:''': Yeah, ride, let's go for a ride!\\
'''Both''': Let's go for a ride!
*** Dexter also tries to repair Dynomutt at Blue Falcon's request, but Dexter scraps him as being a "goofy idiot sidekick" (which he is).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones''' Dino (only arguably a dog anyway) was smarter than Fred in many cases. But so was the cat. Hoppy was about as smart as Barney.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gasp}}'', Dogbox is easily the dumbest of the animals in the household; making him stupider than the goldfish and the cockroach.
* Mandy's dog Saliva from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''. Despite being owned by the smartest character on the show, he is quite stupid.

* ''WesternAnimation/HuckleberryHound'', despite being smart enough to walk among humans, is still dumb. There are occasional hints that this is ObfuscatingStupidity, as while he sometimes succeeds through blind luck, there are other times when he is smart enough to overcome his foes (like Powerful Pierre and Dinky Dalton).

* The [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Bugs Bunny]] cartoon ''Foxy By Proxy'' features a fat fox hound who is so dumb he couldn't spell "cat" if he was spotted the "c" and the "a." Yet somehow the big lummox winds up triumphant at cartoon's end. Mostly because Bugs got too distracted in scoffing at the other dogs' failure and threw his guard over his tail.
** Speaking of ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'', there was also a similar dog character named Willoughby who made occasional appearances during the 1940s. He was based on Lennie from ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen'', so this trope speaks for itself.

** On the topic of WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, his 1944 cartoon "WesternAnimation/HareRibbin" features a hunting dog with a Russian accent as the main antagonist, who is just as easy to trick as Bugs' other foes and even initially fails to see that Bugs is a rabbit when he encounters him for the first time.

--->'''Scooby''': "Third level - lots of luck."\\
'''Shaggy''': [[LikeIsLikeAComma Like]], what did you say, Scoob?\\
'''Scooby''': RI don't row, Raggy.

'''[[IgnoredEnamoredUnderling Smithers]]:''' ...Uh... if ''you'' did it, sir?\\

* Chance in ''Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney''. Shadow [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this repeatedly. It's more likely that he was meant to be young and naive, as compared to every other dog in the movie and sequel who range from quite knowledgeable (Shadow), to street smart (Riley).

** On the topic of WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, his 1944 cartoon "''WesternAnimation/HareRibbin''" features a hunting dog with a Russian accent as the main antagonist, who is just as easy to trick as Bugs' other foes and even initially fails to see that Bugs is a rabbit when he encounters him for the first time.

* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Normally inverted in these stories, except perhaps for Bruce the Rottweiler in “The Survivor.” Even Bolt, who is frequently depicted as ComicallyMissingThePoint, is otherwise intelligent.

* ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'': [[spoiler:The [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] in the end is Ray's true identity-a past-timeline Missile who manipulated Sissel into saving Lynne and Kamila while on his QuestForIdentity, having went ten years into the past and taking TheSlowPath back to the present. The Dog LITERALLY Was The Mastermind.]]

* Rare for a FurryComic, but ''Webcomic/BetterDays'' has this, WordOfGod claims that all have "a little touch of the Downs".

'''[[IgnoredEnamoredUnderling Smithers]]:''' ...Uh... if YOU did it, sir?\\

* Novelist Creator/DeanKoontz tends to write canine characters as smarter than most dogs (even excluding ''Watchers'', which involves a genetically engineered dog of human intelligence).
* Mouse from Literature/TheDresdenFiles is just as intelligent as a human, though he isn't a normal canine, but rather a "Foo Dog" (essentially a spirit-world canine from the mountains of Tibet).

* Huan, the Hound of Valinor, from ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', was able to speak three times, went through a conflict of loyalties and ended up helping Beren and Lúthien in their quest. (He and Lúthien managed to defeat [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sau]][[BigBad ron]] by themselves.)