Time to Celebrate Everyone's Favorite Beagle

Did you know that August 10th is one of our canine friend’s special days? It’s the birthday of one of the most famous and loved iconic pooches ever: Snoopy! Here, a vet offers some fun facts about Charlie Brown’s canine pal.

A Star Is Born

There’s actually a little confusion about Snoopy’s real birthday. The beagle first made his appearance in the third Peanuts comic strip on October 4, 1950. But, the birthdate was clarified in a Peanuts strip published on August 10, 1968. In that strip—recently reposted by the Charles Schulz Museum’s official Twitter—the Peanuts gang, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Patty, Violet, and Shermy, throw Snoopy a surprise birthday party.

Origins

If you didn’t know, Snoopy didn’t always belong to Charlie Brown. Some older strips propose that he first belonged to Shermy or Patty. But, in the movie Snoopy, Come Home, Lila owned him first. In the movie, Snoopy seeks out Lila, and is then persuaded to live with her again, but is foiled by a ‘No Dogs Allowed’ sign. The roving beagle ends up going back to Charlie Brown, who told him to “Stay.” Snoopy did just that! But, an animated video clip has recently surfaced shedding new light on the matter. This warm-hearted bit shows Charlie Brown meeting Snoopy as a puppy.

An Esteemed Career

Consider the fact that Snoopy spends most of his time lounging on top of his doghouse’s roof, and you’ll see that Snoopy has had quite a remarkable life. He’s been an author, Boy Scout, golfer, baseball shortstop, jaguar, figure skater, tennis player, and World War 1 flying ace. He also worked in courts of law, giving him Legal Beagle as a nickname. As busy as he was, Snoopy also made time for his best friend, Woodstock; his alter ego, Joe Cool; and his girlfriend, Fifi, whom he rescued from The Red Baron in The Peanuts Movie.

Siblings

Snoopy has some pretty cute siblings: Spike, Andy, Olaf,  Belle, Rover, Molly, and Marbles. He is closest to Spike, the fedora-wearing, mustache-faced bachelor who lives in the desert and talks to cacti. Belle, Snoopy’s sister, also had a run with being famous, as she was the model and inspiration for a few fashion designers, including Lagerfield, Armani, and de la Renta. This combined famed stature led to a traveling exhibition of Snoopy and Belle’s doggie fashion.

Want to know more about beagles? Contact your local animal clinic.