Pop Culture's Best In Show For Every Breed

I can't watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show without wondering about dog breeds, or more specifically why breeds look the way they do.

That's because dogs are often defined by the look of their breed, and we assume certain things about their temperament and even give them a basic personality profile based on their breed.

But dog breeds get to break free of these generalities when they're featured in pop culture, and breeds we assume are weak, like the Maltese or the Pomeranian, are made mighty by the gods of geekdom.

I never want to go near a Pomeranian again after seeing this cute little guy in Blade: Trinity!

Pop culture franchises also do a really good job of turning killer dog breeds into total lovers, which is a much more realistic transition. Remember that vicious pit bull Backup in Veronica Mars?

Yeah, he was a real brute, just like that vicious German Shepherd Samantha from I Am Legend or that angry and violent Bullmastiff Butkus from Rocky.

Of course, some breeds have a hard time burying the bad rep they gain from starring in movies and TV shows, like poor Cujo the Saint Bernard who became the stuff of nightmares for all 80s kids. 

See Our Favorite Pop-Culture Dogs For Every Breed here