History Main / HeroesLoveDogs

** Stannis mentions his affection for dogs -- "loyal creatures" in his eyes. Played with in that during the Siege of Storm's End, after horses and cats had been consumed, he and his men were forced to [[EatTheDog eat all the hounds in the castle's kennels in order to survive]].

* In ''Manga/SpiderManJ'', a manga adaptation of Spider-Man, gives Peter a pet dog named Par, along with cat named Leo and a bird named Don. Their names, when said together (as 'Leopardon') form a shoutout to an old Super Sentai show about Spidey.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': In ''ComicBook/Hawkeye2012'' #1, [[Characters/HawkeyeClintBarton Clint Barton]] makes sure to get a severely injured dog treated after he saves Clint from being shot at by some thugs while he is unarmed (the dog took a liking to Barton because he gave him a slice of pizza) and ends up getting hit by a car because of it. When one of the criminals responsible for wounding him arrives at the vet to attack Clint, he yells "Who throws a damn dog into traffic --" while punching them. The dog, while now severely banged up, is seen living with him by issue #2. For added points, the dog's called [[ContrivedCoincidence Arrow]], but Clint changes it to Lucky to highlight the unlikely survival. Clint's successor [[Characters/HawkeyeKateBishop Kate Bishop]] also qualifies, as along with his codename, she also takes Lucky under her guard.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles:'' Harry Dresden has a [[CanisMajor rather large dog]] named Mouse who happens to be an EvilDetectingDog and a descendant of a Chinese guardian spirit.

Contrast RightHandCat and RightHandAttackDog, compare KindheartedCatLover and IntrovertedCatPerson. Related to but not necessarily mutually inclusive with FriendToAllLivingThings.

* ''Series/StargateSG1'': in "Chain Reaction", after bluffing his way into Senator Robert Kinsey's house, O'Neill wastes no time befriending Kinsey's dog, which turns out to be useful when [[spoiler:a password is the dog's name.]][[note]]In real life, the dog actually belonged to Richard Dean Anderson.[[/note]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': In ''ComicBook/Hawkeye2012'' #1, [[Characters/HawkeyeClintBarton Clint Barton]] gets a dog after he saves him from being shot at by some thugs while he was unarmed (the dog took a liking to Barton because he gave him a slice of pizza) and ended up getting hit by a car because of it. The dog, while now severely banged up, is seen living with him by the second issue. For added points, the dog's called [[ContrivedCoincidence Arrow]], but Clint changes it to Lucky to highlight the unlikely survival. Clint's successor [[Characters/HawkeyeKateBishop Kate Bishop]] also qualifies, as along with his codename, she also takes Lucky under her guard.

* Krypto inspired Creator/BillFinger to add Ace the Bat-Hound to the [[Characters/BatmanBatFamily Batman Family]].

* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} got a dog in the first issue of [[ComicBook/Hawkeye2012 his 2012 ongoing]] after he saved him from being shot at by some thugs while he was unarmed (the dog took a liking to Barton because he gave him a slice of pizza) and ended up getting hit by a car because of it. The dog, while now severely banged up, is seen living with him by the second issue. For added points, the dog's called [[ContrivedCoincidence Arrow]], but Clint changes it to Lucky to highlight the unlikely survival. Clint's successor Kate Bishop also qualifies, as along with his codename, she also takes Lucky under her guard.
* ComicBook/{{Impulse}} had a pet Jack Russell Terrier named Dox.
* Kamala from ''ComicBook/MsMarvel2014'' doesn't have her own dog. But when Lockjaw, the big friendly Inhuman dog, gets sent to help her out for a bit she falls in love with him. It helps that not only is he adorable, but he is the size of a small car and can teleport, great assets in a fight.

* In ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'', the titular character has his CanineCompanion Snowy.

* In ''Fanfic/NumberjacksAdvanced'', one of the Numberjacks' allies is a stray dog named Mitzy, who helps them out by distracting the meanies.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': Korra has a giant Polar Bear-Dog named Naga.

*** A bit of lore in the third game has a warning to a new ambassador to Ferelden that using the term could cause a major incident. Not because it's a slur, but because they might interpret it as their dogs being insulted. Directly insulting their dogs would likely start a war.

* The wannabe hero ''{{VideoGame/Nightshade}}'' is, fittingly, a huge dog fan ("What a pretty woofums!"). Cats don't agree with him, though.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon''

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesDiamondAndPearl''

* Ash Ketchum from ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' has a canine Rock-type Pokémon called [[NobleWolf Lycanroc]]. The two have been friends since it was a Rockruff and before it officially joined Ash's team. Of course, Ash is well-known as a friend to ''all'' Pokémon, canine or otherwise.

* ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'': The future Richard III is given a wolfhound by his older brother, and he adores the dog. It's just one of the many ways the author gives him a HistoricalHeroUpgrade.

* ''Series/MarieAntoinette'': In the 2022 series about the queen, her beloved pug Mops is ripped away from her arms when she arrives in France as she is not supposed to bring any possessions from Austria. She fights for her dog's return, and eventually Louis delivers Mops back to her. TruthInTelevision as this did happen, and Mops went on to live a life of luxury in Versailles and dying peacefully before the revolution.

* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} got a dog in the first issue of [[Comicbook/Hawkeye2012 his 2012 ongoing]] after he saved him from being shot at by some thugs while he was unarmed (the dog took a liking to Barton because he gave him a slice of pizza) and ended up getting hit by a car because of it. The dog, while now severely banged up, is seen living with him by the second issue. For added points, the dog's called [[ContrivedCoincidence Arrow]], but Clint changes it to Lucky to highlight the unlikely survival. Clint's successor Kate Bishop also qualifies, as along with his codename, she also takes Lucky under her guard.

* In the second book of the ''Our Own League'' series, which has CharacterFocus on Superboy, Conner liberates a wolf-like animal that [[ShockAndAwe shoots electricity from his crystal horn]] from Brainiac's ship, names him Cobalt, and adopts him as the Titans' TeamPet. According to WordOfGod, Cobalt was created as a more "alien" equivalent to Comicbook/KryptoTheSuperdog.

* As pointed out in the Website/{{Cracked}} article above, at the beginning of ''Film/{{Gladiator}},'' the German peasants are the [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Ragtag Bunch Of Misfit]] underdogs fighting against the all-powerful invading Romans in an attempt to protect their homeland. Problem is, the movie wants you to root for the Romans, because that's the side the protagonist, Maximus, and TheGoodKing, are on. Solution? Give them a dog. Even if it doesn't make any sense.

* The Houndmaster of ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'' is clearly attached to his Irish Wolfhound and is by far the most heroic of the assorted adventurers you can choose from. His damage animation shows him shielding his hound from harm with his own body, and his battle quips mostly revolve around praising and reassuring his hound. The bond is mutual, many of the Houndmasters battle and camp skills highlight the hound's dedication, with abilities like "lick wounds" and [[FuzzTherapy "therapy dog"]] for healing and reducing stress. As a duo, they are the most stoic unit when facing certain death at the hands of [[spoiler:the Heart of Darkness]].
-->"Steady, girl. If we're called, we answer."

-->"The hound comes first. Then me. Then you..."

* We've got the crocadog in ''[[{{VideoGame/JakIIRenegade}} Jak II: Renegade]]'', who's only loyal to [[{{TheHero}} Jak]] [[spoiler: and his younger self]]. Of course, Jak is [[{{FriendToAllLivingThings}} good with animals]]...

** In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', one member of S.E.E.S. is Koromaru, an albino Shiba Inu who is taken in and cared for after he is discovered to have a Persona of his own and becomes the TeamPet. Shinjiro bonds quickly with Koromaru and cooks fancy meals for him. A female PlayerCharacter in the game's PSP port can forge a Social Link with him. Furthermore, in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', Koromaru fights alongside Ken Amada.

* Played straight, then subverted, then played straight again in ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead''. In [[VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadSeasonTwo season two]], [[PlayerCharacter Clementine]] can be kind to a stray dog, Sam, she finds in an abandoned campsite. After she [[spoiler:doesn't want to share some canned beans she found, the dog attacks her, mauling her arm and forcing Clem to kill him in self-defence]]. From now on, due to that event, Clem is afraid of dogs. She can overcome it in [[VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadSeasonFour season four]], if the player chooses to seek out interactions with [[TeamPet Rosie]], and Clem can end up as Rosie's new master after [[spoiler:Marlon's death]].

* From ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', Superboy has [[ADogNamedDog Wolf]]. Kid Flash and Artemis also have a dog post-TimeSkip.

* Mystery Incorporated has their (or more specifically, Shaggy's) Great Dane, [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo]].

* [[AntiHero Not so much a hero as a protagonist]], but the eponymous main character of ''Film/JohnWick'', after the death of his wife, receives a gift from her from beyond the grave: a Beagle puppy, whom she ordered delivered to him before her death to keep him company and help him deal with his grief. John is shown to be ''very'' loving of the puppy... then the bad guys [[KickTheDog kill her]]. [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Bloodshed ensues]].

** Ninten from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 1}}'' has a dog named Mick.

[[quoteright:200:[[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superboy-krypto_6467.jpg]]]]

* ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'': Keith Goodman/Sky High likes to spend his spare time walking his dog, John.

* In ''Manga/SpiderManJ'', a manga adaptation of Spider-Man, gives Peter a pet dog named Par, along with cat named Leo and a bird named Don. Their names, when said together (as 'Leopardon') form a shoutout to an old Super Sentai show about Spidey.
* ''Literature/{{Anpanman}}'' has Cheese, Anpanman's pet dog. He found Cheese as a stray when he was a little boy and was the first creature he gave part of his head to to eat.
* ''Manga/NurseAngelRirikaSOS'' depicts dogs more positively than cats. After all, the heroine loves her pet dog Herb. Herb even helps her [[EvilDetectingDog detect evil]].

* All the girls in ''Manga/SchoolLive'' have a thing for Taromaru, though Taromaru [[AnimalsHateHim doesn't like Miki much]]. In the manga, she never even ''met'' Taromaru as he is a minor PosthumousCharacter, though one chapter's cover does show Miki photographing a puppy who doesn't seem to like her.

* ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'': Richard is a huge dog lover, dating back to when he was a child. According to Jeffrey, he cried his eyes out when his childhood dog died and he immediately takes to Seigi's adopted dog, saying he loves dogs very much and wants to cuddle him, which the dog is less than fond of. He also quickly sets to training it and agrees to adopt another dog with Seigi. Perhaps this is why he likes Seigi's puppylike nature so much?

* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'':
** Inverted. [[ByronicHero Rorschach]] clearly doesn't have a high opinion of dogs at all. [[spoiler:When he discovers that two dogs owned by a kidnapper were fed the child's body as means of disposing of the evidence, he promptly kills them.]] Though calling Rorschach a hero is [[NinetiesAntiHero a bit of a stretch]].
** Played straight with [[CoolOldGuy Nite Owl I]]'s dog Phantom, which marks him as the most mentally stable person in the entire cast.

* Krypto inspired Creator/BillFinger to add Ace the Bat-Hound to the [[Characters/BatmanBatFamily Batman Family]].
* In ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'', the titular character and his CanineCompanion Snowy.
* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} got a dog in the first issue of [[Comicbook/Hawkeye2012 his 2012 ongoing]] after he saved him from being shot at by some thugs while he was unarmed (the dog took a liking to Barton because he gave him a slice of pizza) and ended up getting hit by a car because of it. The dog, while now severely banged up, is seen living with him by the second issue. For added points, the dog's called [[ContrivedCoincidence Arrow]], but Clint changes it to Lucky to highlight the unlikely survival. Clint's successor Kate Bishop also qualifies, as along with his codename, she also takes Lucky under her guard.
* Uncle Sam, the collie CanineCompanion to the protagonist of the UsefulNotes/WorldWarI serial ''ComicBook/GoldenEyesAndHerHeroBill''. Even though they're in the middle of a war, both Golden Eyes and Bill dote on Uncle Sam constantly. In contrast, the German patrol that spots Uncle Sam shoots at him.
* ComicBook/{{Impulse}} had a pet Jack Russell Terrier named Dox.
* Kamala from ''ComicBook/MsMarvel2014'' doesn't have her own dog. But when Lockjaw, the big friendly Inhuman dog, gets sent to help her out for a bit she falls in love with him. It helps that not only is he adorable, but he is the size of a small car and can teleport, great assets in a fight.

* ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'': [[AntiHero Asuka]] has [[CanineCompanion an old bulldog pet]] following her around. He began to hang out with her because he noticed that [[BloodKnight she was a fighter]] just like him.
* In ''Fanfic/WonderfulMazinja'', [[TheCape Taylor]] makes masks -called Wonder Masks- that grant people super-powers. When she manages to make Wonder Masks for [[AntiVillain Rachel]]'s dogs, everyone who has fought alongside Taylor wants to get a "Wonder Dog".
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Izuku is a NaiveAnimalLover who loves both dogs and cats. The sight of the former in K.E.L.E.X.'s hologram is enough to steal his attention away from the fact that he just learned that [[TheAgeless he's virtually immortal]].
* In ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'', Team MNVW adopts a puppy that Izuku found [[AbandonedPetInABox abandoned in a box]]. After naming her [[DeathbringerTheAdorable Lulu-Bell, Lord of Thunder]], the team quickly finds themselves distracted from studying for their final exams by how much fun it is to play with her. Nora and Weiss also begin competing for Lulu's affection and are incensed after Pyrrha takes her out for a walk.

[[folder:Films]]
* [[AntiHero Not so much a hero as a protagonist]], but the eponymous main character of ''Film/JohnWick'', after the death of his wife, receives a gift from her from beyond the grave: a Beagle puppy, whom she ordered delivered to him before her death to keep him company and help him deal with his grief. John is shown to be ''very'' loving of the puppy... then the bad guys [[KickTheDog kill her]]. [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Bloodshed ensues]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': Prince Eric. This is, in fact, the entire reason why we know he's PrinceCharming in the beginning. The first thing we see him do is affectionately play with his dog, and hardly fifteen minutes later he nearly gets himself killed saving his dog's life.
* Film/MadMax1 is different from the other road warriors. Because he has a dog, and that makes him a good guy. Said dog is absent in the sequels, however.
* Stanley and his dog Milo in ''Film/TheMask''.

* In ''Film/ShootEmUp'', the hero Smith refuses to kill the BigBad's dog, Duchess, claiming "I like dogs." He later adopts Duchess as his own.
* Carl ends up adopting Dug as he prepares to rescue Russell in ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}''. Or at least accepting that Dug has adopted him as his "Master".
* Creator/ChuckNorris's ''Film/LoneWolfMcQuade''.

* Almost every Creator/MelGibson movie has his character either owning a dog or being on friendly terms with one.
* In ''WesternAnimation/Epic2013'', MK is clearly very fond of her goofy pug, Ozzy.
* In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', the Kents have a pet dog named Shelby when Clark is a child, and another dog named Dusty when Clark is an adult. Away from the Kent farm, Clark is shown petting dogs... [[MissingTrailerScene in trailers]].
* Chuck and Hercules Hansen in ''Film/PacificRim'' bring their English bulldog Max with them to the Hong Kong Shatterdome -- the first hint that Chuck is more than the JerkAss he appears to be is him being nice to his dog. Mako is also seen being affectionate with Max and he's the official decal for Striker Eureka's tech team, drive suits, and PR mascot.
* In ''Film/Dune1984'', one character actually charges into action against the evil Harkonnen while clutching a pug dog to his chest. Mind you that's not the safest position for a dog to be in...
* In ''Film/{{Defendor}}'' film Defendor has a small figurine of a dog in his truck with the word "Defendog" written under it, maybe implying an imaginary sidekick dog.
* In ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'', Eggsy forms a tight bond with his canine companion, J.B.
* ''Film/CrimsonTide'': YMMV on how heroic [[TheCaptain Captain]] [[AntiHero Ramsey]] is, considering that [[BloodKnight he almost starts World War III]], but there's no denying that he loves his dog. His [[MartialPacifist more reasonable]] [[NumberTwo XO]] Hunter also has a dog whom he's fond of.
* In ''WesternAnimation/IsleOfDogs'', Atari is more of a dog person than his anti-dog uncle, [[MayorPain Mayor]] [[BigBad Kobayashi]], and Chief's pack (except Chief [[TookALevelInKindness at first]]) take a liking to him right away. He also carries supplies like a first-aid kit for dogs, grooming supplies, and treats. He intended to use them for Spots, but he doesn't hesitate to use them for any dog he helps.
* ''Film/TheLongKissGoodnight'': During her attempt to rescue themselves being locked in a freezer with her, Charly asked Caitlin if they should get a dog, in which the latter agreed with that. [[spoiler:They did get a dog in the end]].
-->'''Charly''': Hey, should we get a dog?
* Used and lampshaded in ''Film/KnivesOut''. Benoit Blanc, the GreatDetective character, is fond of dogs and remarks that in his experience they're excellent judges of character. The victim owns a pair of German Shepherds who occasionally pop up and interact with the characters. The sympathetic protagonist is accordingly seen showering them with affection [[spoiler: though it backfires on her when one of them happily decides to play "fetch" with her... using an item the dog has unwittingly found that could reveal she's more involved in events than she wants Blanc to realise. Also, when the victim's spoiled {{Jerkass}} grandson shows up, the dogs react with aggressive snarling. Guess who turns out to be the mastermind behind events.]]
* In ''Film/OnceUponATimeInHollywood'', Cliff Booth is shown doting on his pitbull Brandy. By way of contrast, Creator/RomanPolanski, who's not the villain but not particularly sympathetic either, doesn't want to be bothered with his and Sharon's dog.
* ''Film/ReeapTheWildWind'': Despite his moments of jealousy and HonorBeforeReason, Steve is a well-meaning man who wants to stop the wreckers and do right by honest sailors. He has a little dog that he's very attached to.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'': Miguel is very close to stray dog, Dante.
* Averted in ''Film/Daredevil2003'', which has a DeletedScene where Foggy complains that he bought a seeing-eye dog for Matt Murdock, not knowing [[SuperSenses he had no use for it]].
-->'''Foggy:''' I hate to bring it up again, but I spent 3,000 dollars on that seeing eye dog...\\
'''Matt:''' I didn't ask you for the dog--I didn't want a dog!\\
'''Foggy:''' Can I tell you something else? Seeing eye dogs bond for life--yours ran away. What does that tell you about how emotionally available you are?\\
''([[ActuallyPrettyFunny Matt laughs]])''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'': Fergus owns at least two Scottish deerhounds.
* ''Film/TheFlyII'': The main character, Martin, befriends a lab dog when he's a young boy, but ends up witnessing it being used as a guinea pig for a teleportation experiment that goes horribly wrong, turning the poor animal into a horrifically deformed mutant. A few years later, Martin, now a biological adult thanks to his insect DNA giving him RapidAging, discovers that the scientists kept the dog alive in a pit, feeding it slop. It acts aggressively towards everyone, but when it realizes Martin is the boy who befriended it years ago, it weakly wags its tail and allows Martin to pet it. [[spoiler:Martin then performs a MercyKill on the dog with chloroform to put it out of its misery.]] Later, when Martin has completed his metamorphosis into a grotesque man-fly beast, it's shown he nonetheless retains his humanity when he pets the guard dog sent after him and leaves it unharmed (the ''humans'' that come after him... [[CruelAndUnusualDeath they're not so lucky]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'': Jack owns Zero, a cute ghost dog.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles:'' Harry Dresden has a [[CanisMajor rather large dog]] named Mouse who happens to be an EvilDetectingDog and a descendant of a Chinese guardian spirit.
** In an interesting type of {{foil}}, the god Hades himself is shown as a dog lover, doting on his beast Cerberus, whose name, as he points out, means 'Spot'. [[spoiler: This is one of the signs that he's not a bad guy [[EverybodyHatesHades despite his reputation]], and ends up helping Dresden out.]]

* ''Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium'':
** 'Literature/BerenAndLuthien'': Although Huan is Celegorm's loyal wolfhound, he takes a liking to the heroes Lúthien and Beren. Although he helps Lúthien, Huan still wants to be loyal to Celegorm. When Celegorm and his brother Curufin attempt to murder Lúthien and nearly murder Beren, Huan abandons Celegorm for good: and it is said that no dog of any kind would love or obey Celegorm ever again.
** In ''Literature/TheFallOfGondolin'', Tuor is captured and enslaved by the Easterlings. When Tuor eventually runs away, his master Lorgan sends his soldiers and his hunting dogs after him...to no avail because Tuor had befriended Lorgan's dogs, so they didn't bother him even if they found him.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Invoked with an entire ''family'' of heroes. In the first chapter, the five Stark children and their bastard brother find six orphaned direwolf pups, which will grow up into mighty wolves. There are four males and two females; one of the males is an albino outcast. Naturally, the bastard adopts the albino, the three Stark boys take the other males, and the two Stark girls take the females. The wolves become their closest companions, reflecting each child's personality, fate, and [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent more]].
** Downplayed with Sandor Clegane, the Hound, who loves dogs far more than he likes people but who is by no means heroic. In the case of the Cleganes, ItRunsInTheFamily. The man who earned House Clegane the title was a Lannister dog-handler and the family crest is or, three dogs passant sable (or in plain English, three black running dogs on a yellow field).
* ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'': The future Richard III is given a wolfhound by his older brother, and he adores the dog. It's just one of the many ways the author gives him a HistoricalHeroUpgrade.

* Gilbert Markham with his dog Sancho in ''Literature/TheTenantOfWildfellHall'' -- he even gives his girlfriend's young son one of his puppies. Creator/AnneBronte loved to make use of this trope, as also seen in ''Literature/AgnesGrey''.
* Haplo in ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle''. An unusual example because [[spoiler:the dog is the literal manifestation of Haplo's soul]].
* ''Literature/ABoyAndHisDog'': It's just him and his dog AfterTheEnd. Oh, wait! There's a girl that also survived. Then again, this is Creator/HarlanEllison writing, so the boy is [[SubvertedTrope hardly a hero]].
* In ''[[Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy The Well Of Ascension]]'', Vin takes advantage of this trope by having her [[VoluntaryShapeshifter kandra]] companion take the form of a dog.
* In ''Literature/WolfHall'', Thomas Cromwell likes small dogs that remind him of the one he had to abandon in his youth; as an adult, he acquires a number of them and calls them all Bella after that first pet. He genuinely sympathizes with Anne Boleyn when she's crying over the fatal (and suspicious) fall of her spaniel from a window and knows very well not to suggest she just get a new one.
* In Travis J.I. Corcoran's ''Literature/{{Aristillus}}'' series, not only do the protagonists love dogs, many of them ARE (uplifted) dogs. One of the defining differences between each side of the central conflict is how they feel about the existence of the dog species with genius intellect living on the moon.

* At first subverted and later played straight in ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' with the hellhound Mrs. O'Leary. Her original owner was Quintus (aka Daedalus, creator of the Labyrinth), a son of Athena who betrayed a sacred oath. When he died, Percy took in the dog.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Angel, which is lampshaded by Angelus, offers to send Angel "to that big puppy pound in the sky" as revenge for all those puppies he's saved. PlayedForLaughs when Gunn assures him that he'll get along fine with The Conduit — as long as he likes cats. Whoops.

* In ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "The Hunt", Hyder Simpson is killed along with his dog Rip while hunting and they wander the afterlife. Eventually they reach the gates of Heaven, but he is refused entry when the attending angel says he can't take this dog. He promptly refuses to go. [[spoiler:It turns out that the Devil was trying to trick him into going to Hell, but by refusing to abandon the pooch he gets to take it into the real Heaven.]]
* Shorty and his crew in ''Series/PitBoss'' do, too, unsurprisingly.

* Captain Janeway from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' has Molly, an Irish Setter. An early moment in the pilot episode has her convincing her fiancé to care for the pregnant Molly while she's gone (which turns out to be far longer than either of them had anticipated).
* In ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', Captain Jonathan Archer absolutely adores his pet beagle Porthos. In "A Night in Sickbay", he's willing to throw away humanity's burgeoning relations with the Kreetassans when Porthos becomes infected with a virus after visiting their planet. Admittedly, it's not a very good episode but it does illustrate how much he loves his dog.
* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' starts with Jean-Luc Picard at his family vineyard after he left Starfleet. He now has a dog named "Number One".
* In ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'', protagonist Will rescued and adopted 6 stray dogs at various points in his life. While he's anxious and unsociable around people, his interactions with the dogs bring out a kinder and more cheerful side to him.

* K-9, the robotic dog from ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* In ''Series/CasesOfTheFirstDepartment'', Maj. Vaclav Plisek says he likes animals, and he thinks that a victim's disappeared dog is an important lead in the case, which proves to be right. He later adopts the dog because the victim's mother couldn't take him (she had a flat full of cats). Brandy appears in several subsequent episodes, just being cute or biting his colleagues.
* Sam from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' loves dogs. He's adopted at least two dogs over the course of his life and doesn't keep them mostly due to his dangerous and nomadic lifestyle. PlayedWith with Dean who, due to his experiences with hellhounds, dislikes dogs for a few seasons. However, later he spends an episode being able to communicate with all animals and befriends a German Shepherd, telling the dog that he wishes he could adopt him but, like Sam, believes his lifestyle is too dangerous. Then, in the final season, he does find a PostApocalypticDog and adopts him.

* In ''{{Series/Longstreet}}'', Mike has a seeing-eye dog named Pax. In the pilot, he was initially against having a dog, not out of hate; but because to him, it was a reminder of his blindness. However, he comes to love Pax and is devastated when [[spoiler: Pax nearly dies of a fatal stab wound.]]
* ''Series/Daredevil2015'':
** Discussed in "Rabbit in a Snowstorm". When [[HandicappedBadass Matt]] shows up to work sporting a bruise over his right eye from his fight with the Russians in the previous episode, Foggy and Karen suggest he get a seeing-eye dog.
--->'''Foggy Nelson:''' You need a dog.\\
'''Matt Murdock:''' ''[smiles]'' I'm not getting a dog.\\
'''Foggy Nelson:''' What, you don't like dogs? Who doesn't like dogs?\\
'''Karen Page:''' I--I love dogs.\\
'''Foggy Nelson:''' ''Everybody'' loves dogs.
** While he is a very violent AntiHero who kills criminals with extreme prejudice, [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Frank Castle]] adopted a dog the Kitchen Irish had been using for fights after he machine-gunned the previous owners. It's arguably one of the few things he is still emotionally attached to as Finn and the other Kitchen Irish get Frank to confess where he hid their money he had stolen by threatening to kill the dog. He does confess, knowing full well the money's been booby-trapped with a bomb.
* In the second season of ''Series/{{Fi}}'', Deniz rescues his Göksel from a drughouse and shelters him in his home. Then he unquestioningly goes back and helps rescue his beloved dog Çomar, too.
* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': It's mentioned a few times that Beck wants a dog. When Jade wants to win him back, she thinks of buying him a Rottweiler. Another episode has him dog-sitting for his neighbor.

* Adapting a case listed on the comic book folder, ''Series/Hawkeye2021'' has Kate Bishop ensuring to save from incoming traffic a one-eyed dog who bit one of her adversaries. It's one of the things Yelena Belova, who in [[Film/BlackWidow2021 her debut]] showed an interest in dogs, compliments about her. And Lucky is [[BigFriendlyDog so lovable]] that even a [[KnightInSourArmor cynical, jaded hardass]] like Clint can't help but become fond of him.

* Magnus of ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' desperately wants a pet dog, but dogs just run right off the damn moon. [[spoiler: He opens a dog training school after the campaign.]]

* ''VideoGame/TheBardsTale'' has an AntiHero {{Jerkass}} protagonist, a compulsive liar and cheat, who however not only does he pick up a dog companion early in the game, [[spoiler:but he sheds a genuine tear and vows revenge when the dog is killed by a monstrous minion of the apparent Big Bad.]]
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}''. B. B. Hood has a puppy she takes with her everywhere, even to Hell. Considering [[FauxAffablyEvil her personality]], it's probably another thing meant to [[TheFakeCutie lull her enemies into a false sense of security]] long enough so that she can stab them, gut them, riddle them with bullets, and sell their body parts on the black market.

* Protagonist of VideoGame/InazumaEleven GO! Tenma has [[OldDog Sasuke]], a dog he rescued when it was still a puppy.

* Sora, of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', pals around with King Mickey's dog Pluto in the first few hours of the game. In VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII, his girlfriend Kairi spends an even longer time befriending the dog.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGear''

** Good old Lucas and Boney in ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}''.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', one member of S.E.E.S. is Koromaru, an albino Shiba Inu who is taken in and cared for after he is discovered to have a Persona of his own and becomes the TeamPet. Shinjiro bonds quickly with Koromaru and cooks fancy meals for him. A female PlayerCharacter in the game's PSP port can forge a Social Link with him. Furthermore, in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', Koromaru fights alongside Ken Amada.
* In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', Chie explains to the PlayerCharacter in her Social Link that she and her best friend, Yukiko, met as children over a dog that Yukiko's parents wouldn't let her keep, so Chie took care of the dog instead. In the [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation anime adaptation]], Chie even has a picture of the dog, [[https://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Chie_Satonaka?file=Chie_has_a_picture_of_her_pet..jpg who has grown into a big ol' upper]].

* Collete in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. Her personal side quest to name every single stray dog in the game further shows how much of a dog lover she is.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', we have Estelle...who unfortunately cannot ever get Yuri's dog Repede to like her even though she's the purest girl of the group. Even during their many victory quotes, Repede remains dismissive of her many attempts to get close to him, much to her chagrin. In contrast, Yuri's bond with Repede couldn't be any tighter than it is.

* ''VideoGame/MarvelsAvengers'' added Hawkeye to the playable roster in the "Future Imperfect" expansion. Following a prologue, the first mission features Clint heading to his apartment to retrieve some A.I.M. intel that he had hidden in his dog’s collar, and when it’s discovered that an A.I.M. raiding party was ahead of them, chasing them down to retrieve both Lucky and the intel - and Clint is far more concerned with retrieving his dog. Following completion of the mission, Lucky can be found in the control room of the Avengers' Helicarrier, and can affectionately petted by all of the playable Avengers.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SushiPack'', one of the superheroes on the RealityTV show, [[ShowWithinAShow "The World's Mightiest Heroes"]] has a CanineCompanion, who ends up [[DarkHorseVictory winning the competition]]. Later, when that superhero gets married, the dog is his Best Man.
* Where would WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse be without his beloved dog, WesternAnimation/PlutoThePup?

* It's never been seen in-show, but Noah from ''[[WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Total Drama Island]]'' has several times been mentioned to have a golden labrador.
* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoe,'' Snake Eyes has Timber, a wolf whose life he saved and who then loyally followed him around afterward.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Applejack owns a dog named Winona.
* Then of course there's Ryder, leader of the ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrol''. Seriously, could you ''imagine'' him as a cat person?
* Milo Murphy from ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw'' has the BadassAdorable Diogee.