Brian Griffin- the second most intelligent member of the Griffins, next to Stewie of Family Guy, happens to be a dog. And like most dogs, he enjoys car rides, treats, and the occasional belly rub. But unlike traditional dogs, Brian goes on dates, enjoys a good book, and cracks sarcasm at his family. It's an element of why Family Guy is very successful in its 25 years and counting. Moreover, while most TV dogs are designed for kids, Brian is the first canine that appeals to adults.
But what dog breed or breeds embodies Brian Griffin, and how do the traits bring out his character? Before, we analyzed the breed of The Simpsons' dog, Santa's Little Helper, and clarified that he's a greyhound. Although it's a standard trivia piece about the animated sitcom, linking together the breed and character was a fun pursuit. There's nothing that I enjoy more than character build-up on a show, as the creation can reel the audience in and generate interest.
As a dog lover, I love seeing various dogs on screen, as they each bring something to the table, or in their perspective, under the table as they hope for dropped munchings from our plates, which isn't a good thing, as dogs can't have table scraps due to their ingredients that aren't "friendly" for our four-legged family members.
Getting back on track, let's find out what dog breed is our beloved Brian Griffin is and how the breed, or breeds, match up to his character's personification.
The dog breed of Brian Griffin on Family Guy
Digging into the answer, Brian is a light-coated yellow labrador retriever, according to the dog info site Dogster. Like many labradors (and my late one), they think they're human, and Brian fits the bill regarding his own human traits, but as Family Guy is an animated sitcom, the traits are greatly exaggerated.
But anything goes on TV.
Labradors have a lifespan of 10-12 years, and while generally a healthy breed, they're prone to some problems, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions. That's how my lab passed away at twelve, from heart cancer, and it's wrenching to think about, despite that Mollie passed in 2007.
Brian is seven on the show, meaning he has at least three more years left if he is real. But in a cartoon world, he's forever seven.
When he "died" in season 12's "Life of Brian," fans were angry about it, and while I was pretty mad myself, there had to be a motive behind it. Sure enough, three episodes later, Brian was resurrected by Stewie as a Christmas gift.
Upon observation (though not officially confirmed), I noticed that Brian has some Beagle qualities, as he can be energetic and needs attention, if not from his family, then from other people. While labs crave attention as well, beagles make it their personal mission. However, both breeds thrive on it.
Another clue to the beagle theory is that Brian resembles the infamous Snoopy. Similar to the Peanuts character, Brian is a writer, though not as successful as Snoopy. Then again, the beagle has been writing for 75 years, so Brian has time to improve his craft.
Brian Griffin's "past" history
Brian was retooled from one of Seth MacFarlane's earlier works, Steve the Dog from Cartoon Network's Larry and Steve from 1997. MacFarlane developed the seven-minute short while he was a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. While the show only lasted one episode, it served as the "pilot" for Family Guy after Fox executives watched Larry and Steve and its predecessor, Life of Larry.
Much of the two animated shorts' plots and situations carried on into Family Guy, with a few noticeable changes. Steve's coloring and structure were changed while keeping his original voice, which Seth MacFarlane did. Larry was redesigned as Peter Griffin, even keeping his less-than-average intelligence.
Here's the original Family Guy pilot, Larry and Steve.
$50,000, and a year-and-a-half later, Family Guy debuted on Super Bowl Sunday 1999, following the Big Game. The pilot was well-received by critics and audiences alike due to its satirical humor and the unorthodox family life of the Griffins. Twenty-five years later, Peter and his humble clan are still reeling in the laughter.