With the arrival of the dog days of summer, the time has come to celebrate the literal TV dogs of Paramount+. Since the earliest days of television, dogs have been scene-stealers. Human performers get all the accolades for their small-screen work, but it’s their canine costars that can stop the show with a mere head-tilt. Now tell me: Can Sir. Patrick Stewart do that?
The dogs of the Paramount+ library are a memorable pack, whether they’re offering comic relief, emotional support, or a helping paw. From a sitcom legend like Eddie on Frasier (1993), to a couple of loyal companions in the Star Trek universe, to a docuseries sidekick, we’ve fetched for you six of the goodest live-action pups on Paramount+. The shows they’re featured on are pretty grrr-eat, too.
Top Paramount+ dogs
- Nico of Couples Therapy
- Number One of Star Trek: Picard
- Eddie of Frasier (1993)
- Tiger of The Brady Bunch
- Cerberus of SEAL Team
- Porthos of Star Trek: Enterprise
1. Nico, Couples Therapy
Nico is far more than just the pet of renowned psychotherapist Dr. Orna Guralnik, the (other) star of the SHOWTIME® docuseries Couples Therapy. She’s a soothing presence in an office that can get very tense very fast. After all, this is where couples go when their relationships are on rocky ground. And while Dr. Orna keeps her manner serene, she’s not in the habit of coddling the show’s participants. The individuals on her couch are pushed to articulate the roots of their pain and anger, and many end their sessions looking exhausted at the effort involved in finding the right language for their feelings. Watching from her dog bed, Nico offers a kind of wordless support. Yes, Dr. Orna’s emphasis on communication is necessary to the couples’ healing, but there’s something to be said for the power of quiet companionship and a nose boop, too.
WATCH: Couples Therapy (Seasons 4 & 5 available with subscription to Paramount+ Premium plan only; Seasons 1-3 available with subscription to any plan.)
2. Number One, Star Trek: Picard
Fans of the Star Trek canon will appreciate that Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) of Star Trek: Picard calls his beloved dog Number One – the same moniker he used for First Officer William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in Star Trek: The Next Generation. While this Number One sports a fur coat instead of a Starfleet uniform, he offers the same kind of unwavering loyalty that made Riker Picard’s most trusted officer. The pit bull is Picard’s companion during the time in which the former Starfleet captain is reflecting over personal losses and career mistakes. Number One lumbers alongside Picard through the vineyards of Château Picard, his presence representing the slower, more contemplative life that the legendary leader has embraced during his retirement. His name, however, hints at his human’s unfinished business out in the cosmos. When Picard returns to the final frontier, Number One stays behind, patiently awaiting his captain’s return.
WATCH: Star Trek: Picard
3. Eddie, Frasier (1993)
Eddie of the comedy series Frasier is either sidekick or nemesis, depending on which of the Crane men you talk to. To Martin Crane (John Mahoney), a retired cop sharing a condo with his psychiatrist son Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), his pet terrier is his ride-or-die, a BFF with whom he’s used to sharing food and furniture. Frasier, however, prides himself on aesthetics and social standing. A mutt who snatches bacon from his breakfast table and sprawls across his Eames furniture is hardly compatible with his carefully curated lifestyle. But as much as Frasier fusses, his rants are no match for Eddie’s deadpan stare. Like the no-nonsense Martin, this pupper is wholly unimpressed by his housemate’s airs, and is indifferent to his credentials and status-signaling. He need only shoot a withering doggy look to bring the highfalutin Frasier back down to earth.
WATCH: Frasier
4. Tiger, The Brady Bunch
With six kids under one roof, the Brady home is never short on chaos, and The Brady Bunch’s pet dog Tiger is often right in the thick of it. Whether tagging along on family adventures, chasing after kitties, or finding some harmless mischief to get into, this shaggy mutt brings an extra dose of energy and cuddliness to the lives of his humans. While some TV canines stand out because of their heroism or comedic camera-mugging, Tiger wins over viewers with his ordinariness. He’s simply a loveable family pup who dotes on his humans, and his presence through the Bradys’ everyday ups and downs makes this sitcom household feel like a real-life home.
WATCH: The Brady Bunch
5. Cerberus, SEAL Team
Cerberus of SEAL Team isn’t just some cute, fuzzy companion waiting to greet Bravo Team after a dangerous mission. Not that he isn’t cute (he is), or that there’s anything wrong with being a housepet (there isn’t). But this description sells him short. As a military working dog, he’s a full-fledged member of the squad, helping his teammates find explosives, track hostages, and subdue dangerous targets. In a unit where every mission carries life-or-death stakes, Cerberus functions as far more than just a mascot. He is a trusted partner whose skills and instincts save lives – a loyal brother-in-arms who just happens to have four legs.
WATCH: SEAL Team
6. Porthos, Star Trek: Enterprise
A Starfleet captain is expected to remain nice and steady in the face of whatever the galaxy throws his way. But when the weight of command becomes a little too heavy for Jonathan Archer of Star Trek: Enterprise (Scott Bakula), he can always turn to Porthos. This loyal beagle serves as Archer’s sounding board, security blanket, and secret-keeper. Unlike Archer’s human peers, Porthos’ demands are few – some belly-rubs here, a cube of cheese there – and he doesn’t question Archer’s choices or come to him with petty human grievances. He’s simply a faithful and floppy-eared friend who will follow his man to the ends of the earth, and the far corners of space.
WATCH: Star Trek: Enterprise
Which Paramount+ dog is the best?
It is impossible to name a “best” Paramount+ dog. Some are snuggle experts, while others sniff out explosives. Some are clowns, while others are confidants. Every contender has something special to offer – on top of their fundamental adorableness, of course. (That part is a given.)
Plus, we’ve just covered the real-life dogs and dog-characters within the Paramount+ library. Paramount+ is also home to plenty of great animated dogs, like the PAW Patrol and Blue’s Clues pups, whose talents range from speech to flight! Trust us: Comparisons between good dogs are futile. Might as well love them all – we sure do.
