• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Of Dogs and Trek Species and Characters

Dingo

Dingo

Captain
Captain
I know Canis Familiaris is truly man's best friend but I have often wondered what breeds of dogs would match up with various alien species in Star Trek, based off the saying that pets do resemble their owners. Here's a partial list I've invented:

1. Klingons - Pitbulls (nuff said. Loyal animals and tough as nails)
2. Vulcans - Akitas (Akitas are known for being reserved)
3. Bajorans - Dachshunds (scrappy little dogs)
4. Hirogen - Rhodesian Ridgebacks (hunters bred to tackle lions)

And here's my take on what breeds fit the personalities of certain characters in trek.

1. Benjamin Sisko - Bullmastiff
2. Kathryn Janeway - Irish Setter (obviously)
3. Tom Paris - Belgian Malinois (clever breed)
4. Chakotay - Neopolitan Mastiff (a quality of stregnth and calm courage)
5. B'Elanna Torres - Airedale Terrier (a scrappy and spirited)
6. Tuvok - Akita Inu (see Vulcan entry)

What are your takes on which dog breeds match best with various species/characters...
 
Oh man...I'm almost loathe to post this because of the stereotype, but...

Cardassians: German Shepherds.

(Though if you want to avoid the obvious Third Reich/Cardassia comparison, you could choose the very similar Belgian Malinois, also commonly used for police work.)
 
I get the feeling that Garak would have a Maltese.
Maybe that's because the actor that played him also played Liberace in a TV movie back in the 80s and Liberace had a Maltese in real life.
 
I always thought that Archer would have had a bigger dog than a beagle, seems more in character. Maybe a breed more closely associated with water.
 
I always thought that Archer would have had a bigger dog than a beagle, seems more in character. Maybe a breed more closely associated with water.
Click to expand...

Perhaps a Newfoundland.

I get the feeling that Garak would have a Maltese.
Maybe that's because the actor that played him also played Liberace in a TV movie back in the 80s and Liberace had a Maltese in real life.
Click to expand...

Or a Bichon Frise.

Oh man...I'm almost loathe to post this because of the stereotype, but...

Cardassians: German Shepherds.

(Though if you want to avoid the obvious Third Reich/Cardassia comparison, you could choose the very similar Belgian Malinois, also commonly used for police work.)
Click to expand...

How about Doberman Pinschers (they were originally bred to protect a tax collector named Doberman).
 
Hm...Dobermans make sense, too--but I kind of like the idea of a police/military dog because they serve the state.
 
Dobermans were German military dogs as well and even US military dogs until after the Vietnam war.
 
True enough, then...I guess, though, that I tend to think of Dobermans as guards of individual households more often than as police dogs--maybe because that's the modern image of the breed.
 
That is the breed's modern image, yes, but they were serving alongside the German Shepherd counterparts as military dogs until the 1980s. Doberman bites are too hard for the escalation of force continuum of modern peacekeeping operations, so a dog handler in my unit told me. That's why they don't use them, the Rotties or the Pitbulls.

Oh, and I wonder what sort of dog Dukat might own. Maybe a Doberman or a Rottweiler?

Damar I can see him owning a Malinois or a German Shepherd.

Miles O'Brien's dog of choice, I could guess as a border collie.
 
That's interesting background to know!

I can see that with O'Brien, definitely. :)

Now, oddly enough...I've also got a choice for Tekeny Ghemor. Yeah, he was a two-appearance character, but still. I say Great Dane. I've only encountered one of these dogs once, but I was just blown away by how gentle and utterly calm that dog was, especially for a dog of such stature. Further reading on the breed confirms it: great with children, gentle in temperament. (On the downside, however, it seems they are short-lived and prone to quite the number of health conditions...also, unfortunately, a match. :( )

I think all around, Tekeny would do well with a Great Dane.
 
The question is, what kind of a dog would Gul Skrain Dukat have?
As for Corat Damar I could imagine him with a crossbreed, possibly based around an Alsatian (Aka German Shepherd) a loyal, intelligent and obedient dog but with an individuality that is not common to the breed.

(BTW Nerys Ghemor I see the German Shepherd as a lving and very loyal dog with a strong desire to defend their families and homes. The GS is one of the most intelligent canines around and boasts a long neck;). So I don't see them as affirming the negative stereotype, I'd blame Hollywood for that! I have a GS crossbreed at home and she is one the most unique dogs that I have ever known, bless her.)


And Ghemor's Great Dane? That is an inspired choice in my opinion, I can imagine one lying on the floor of the Legate's study basking in the Cardassian sun.
 
I see Garak as owning a Bichon Frise or a Spaniel or Poodle of some sort.

Kira Nerys would definitely own some variety of Terrier to mix well with her fiery personality.

Picard I can see as owning a Pug.

Riker is fairly obvious, an Alaskan Malamute.

Deanna Troi I can see owning a Golden Retriever.
 
Did we actually get to see the Troi family dog in "Dark Page"? Or am I completely hallucinating that?

Whatever dog Garak has...I imagine it as something that requires careful grooming, and is sometimes seen wearing outfits in cold environments. I think he'd spend the time to do all of that! He seems like the type who would enter a dog show. (Dunno why...but I can see it.)

A pug for Picard? Hmm...for some reason I got the idea of something a bit more frou-frou than that.
 
Well, I can imagine Neelix owning a Collie or a chocolate Lab, due to his friendly and ebullient nature.
 
I could see the Doctor owning a Jack Russell Terrier or some similar small and annoying breed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top