25. The Shaggy Dog (2006)

OH GOD THE EYES. What a waste of a perfectly good shaggy dog. Would not, could not hug.

24. Zero in The Nightmare Before Christmas

You can’t hug a ghost.

23. Copper, the hound in The Fox and the Hound

Copper is a bad friend and a real dud and I won’t hug him. Don’t show me the puppy pictures, I can’t be swayed.

22. Slink in Toy Story

A real cutie, but where would my arms go?

21. Gromit in Wallace & Gromit

Flaubert said, “We must never touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.” With Gromit I’m worried about the clay.

20 and 19. The Lady and The Tramp

The sexual tension between these two dogs makes me profoundly uncomfortable.

18. Milo from The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Also too well-developed as a sexual being for my liking, but it’s easier to overlook because he’s a pug.

17. Toto in The Wizard of Oz

I have nothing against Toto, but I’ve never thought about hugging him. Maybe he’s too small?

16. Old Yeller

Steals meat and chickens. Lets a child off the hook for tormenting a bear. Fathers puppies willy-nilly. Has rabies. All in all a very bad influence. But look at that face!!

15. Balto

Yet another dog just looking to get laid, but at least he saves Nome from diphtheria! When I have a hard time getting through a run, I think of this scene:

14. Winn Dixie from Because of Winn Dixie

I haven’t seen this movie, but I would absolutely hug this dog.

13. Shiloh

Everything Copper could have been, but wasn’t.

12. The Footstool Dog in Beauty and the Beast

He’s so wiggly! Look at his tassle-tail!

11. Air Bud

Think of the victory hugs we’d share!

10, 9 and 8. Sandy in Annie (1982, 1999, 2014)

All good dogs, and getting better with time.

7. Beethoven

Man, I love a good large-skulled dog.

6. Dug in Up

Imagine hugging Dug! He’d probably say, “I’m hugging you because I love you.” I love you, Dug!

5. Lassie

A really good dog.

4. Roly from 101 Dalmatians

I think about “I’m hungry, mother, I really am” at least once a week. All 100 other Dalmatians can go screw themselves for not recognizing Roly as the best.

3. Max from The Little Mermaid

Probably the whole reason Ariel wanted to live on land. The source of all of Prince Eric’s personality.

2. Hercules/“The Beast” from The Sandlot

A near-perfect dog. Not ranked higher because of drool. As my friend Ryan says, the Boo Radley of this film.

1. Nana from Peter Pan

She just looks like she could really use a hug.

Other Dogs of Note, in No Particular Order: Skip from My Dog Skip, “Benji,” whoever that is, the dogs in The Incredible Journey, that sheepdog in Babe, Will Smith’s dog in Independence Day, the dog who starts the Twilight Bark in 101 Dalmatians, and also the Colonel, who seems cool, the less creepy Shaggy Dog from 1959, the aggressive sled leader in Snow Dogs that Cuba Gooding Jr. subdues by biting his ear, Baxter from Dodgeball, post-return, The Beverly Hills Chihuahuas.

*I would hug any of them.