Dogs are called man’s best friend. These furry creatures help us with a lot of different things. They work for us, guard our houses, protect us from harm, help us in our daily lives, stay by our sides as our friends and entertain us.

Dogs have worked their ways not only into our hearts, but also into popular culture. These cuddly pets have been featured in books, movies, cartoons, sitcoms and comics.

Television shows, for example, showcase a lot of popular doggy characters. Whether as main characters, the important side kick, or the family pet, dogs have found their way into the small screen. Here are the top ten most popular and well-known dogs on television.

10. Lassie

Lassie is a classic, and has been around since – don’t be surprised – 1938! She’s been around for nearly seven decades! Lassie was not only popular on television, but also in books, radio shows, and movies even today. In fact, remakes of Lassie’s movies were released in 2005 and 2006! Turn to the adults nearest you and ask if they know Lassie. Chances are, Lassie was a big part of their childhoods, too.

A bit of trivia for Lassie fans: Lassie has always been played by a male collie, even though she’s a female character. Males don’t shed fur and are bigger, so children outgrow them slower. All of the dogs that played Lassie have also always been descendants of the collie that played the first Lassie, trained by the same people.

9. Porthos

Science-fiction enthusiasts will know this one: Porthos is the pet beagle of Captain Jonathan Archer in the television show Star Trek: The Enterprise. Porthos was born in a litter of four English beagles. As you might guess, his siblings were called Athos, Aramis, and d’Artangan, after the main characters of Dumas’ "The Three Musketeers."

Unlike the other animals on the show, Porthos was the first pet that became a mainstay among the cast. He was with the Captain for all of the ten years of his service, remaining by his side and endearing himself to the other characters in the show.

Porthos liked cheese, and was mostly played by two female beagles.

8. Krypto The Superdog

Everyone knows Superman, otherwise known as the Man of Steel, the Last Son of Krypton and the Greatest Superhero of them all. What most people don’t realize is that Superman also had a dog called Krypto. Krypto was Superman’s pet dog as a child back on their home planet, and now Krypto is saving the day on Earth!

Krypto and Superman are most popular in the comics industry but they have also been popular as cartoon characters. Superman stars in a few animated series of his own, while Krypto has a series all about him: Krypto the Superdog.

Krypto has all the powers of Superman, such as super strength, laser eyes, and flight. His powers are proportionate to a dog’s, though. For example, Krypto has a better sense of smell and hearing than Superman. Krypto is also as smart as your average human, though with doggy tendencies. Who can resist a dog with a cape flying around to save the day?

7. Brian Griffin

Beware, this dog can burst out into song. Brian Griffin is a dog in the cartoon series Family Guy, and a peculiar one at that. Brian is like any other dog – he eats garbage, sleeps at the foot of his owner’s bed, licks himself, plays fetch, barks at other dogs, and fears the vacuum cleaner. What’s unique about him is that he has many qualities that are only found in humans. For one, Brian can talk. He also walks on two legs, drives a car, and has a very sharp wit. In fact, he’s smarter than his owner, who’s been known to be intensely stupid.

The show itself may be brain-breaking for some people with the amount of ridiculousness that it has, but Brian himself is endearing to the audience. He’s a dog that can shoot you down at debate!

6. K-9

K-9 is the term used to call fictional robotic dogs in the television series Dr. Who. Okay, so maybe K-9 is not a biological dog, but you have to admit that it’s an endearing idea in its own right. K-9 appears in all of the seasons and as part of different groups. K-9 is popular enough that producers are making a show with the robot as the main character! Don’t you wish that in the future, dogs like K-9 could exist? K-9 can warn you of danger, obey your commands, blow up to pieces and sacrifice itself to save your life….

5. Santa’s Little Helper

No, Santa’s Little Helper is not an elf. He’s actually a greyhound owned by the Simpson’s family in the long-running cartoon TV series. For all of the Simpson’s inane type of humor, the way the family acquires Santa’s Little Helper is actually quite touching. Homer, father on the show, bet on dog racing. The dog he bet on, SLH, was considered the long shot – and for good reason. SLH finished last and was abandoned by his owner. Homer picked the dog up, brought him home, and it was a good Christmas for all.

The Simpsons strange brand of humor aside, Santa’s Little Helper is portrayed pretty realistically for a dog. In fact, all of the things that Santa’s Little Helper does involve nothing but things that normal dogs do: eat, bark, drink from the toilet, lick himself, and sleep.

4. Eddie

Eddie is a Jack Russell Terrier owned by Frasier and Martin in the television series, "Frasier". Eddie sounds just like a normal dog at first glance, but his human-like understanding of the things going on around him, as well as his tendency to taunt Frasier, is very entertaining.

Eddie is popular for being "the Dog That Knows It All", though his intelligence can be portrayed rather inconsistently on the show. One moment he does exactly as you tell him to, while being unable to follow even the command ’sit’ the next.

Eddie was played by a dog named Moose at first, and was later played by Moose’s son, Enzo.

3. Goofy

Like Lassie, Goofy is one of the oldest dogs existing in popular culture today. Goofy is part of the cast of Disney’s Mickey Mouse universe, and is one of Mickey’s closest friends. Goofy’s an anthropomorphic dog, which means that he has very human characteristics. Apart from the fact that he has human facial expressions, talks, and walks on two legs, he also functions in society like any human would.

There are two very lovable things about Goofy: his naïve stupidity and his completely goofy laugh.

2. Snoopy

Snoopy is another fictional dog that many people know about. Snoopy is the pet beagle of Charlie of the Peanuts comics fame. The comic was later adapted for television. Snoopy started out as a normal dog, but he eventually evolved into one of the most dynamic and popular characters in the world of comics. Many toys and merchandise are made with Snoopy’s resemblance and he even has a store in his name.

Snoopy used to be a silent character, but eventually started getting thought bubbles of his own.

1. Scooby Doo

Of course, the number one popular dog in television is Scooby Doo. The ridiculously funny dog is known by many people all over the world after the immense popularity of the long cartoon series and movie. Scooby is a great dane owned by a group of friends that always encounters various ’supernatural’ mysteries that they later solve, mostly through the accidental help of Scooby.

Scooby is a frightful, large dog with anthropomorphic characteristics. He can talk, walk on his hind legs, and generally interact in a way that makes you think he’s just a human in a suit. He can also eat 10 times his body weight and still be hungry. Scooby’s favorite snack is the Scooby Snack, which he will go through great lengths for.

If you thought these pooches were popular, then you definitely have to check out the Top Ten TV Families, some of which are definite contenders in the list of the Top Ten Addictive TV Series.