If you grew up anywhere near a bookshelf, a school library, or a slightly chaotic classroom rug, chances are you met Clifford the Big Red Dog long before you understood what owning a dog actually involved.
Bright red. Absolutely enormous. Utterly gentle.
Clifford is the dog who taught generations of children that kindness matters, responsibility matters, and maybe you should think twice before promising a puppy “all your love forever”.
Pickles’ Aside: I was promised snacks forever. I am still waiting.
The Creator: One Rejection, One Sketch, One Giant Dog
Clifford was created by Norman Bridwell, and the origin story is quietly brilliant.
In the early 1960s, Bridwell was a struggling illustrator whose work had been rejected multiple times. During a meeting with a publisher, an editor noticed a small sketch of a big red dog in his portfolio and suggested turning it into a children’s book.
That sketch became Clifford.
The idea was simple but powerful:
- What if a child loved her dog so much that it grew?
- What if that love made the dog enormous, not scary?
- What if being big didn’t mean being bad?
Pickles’ Aside: I approve of any story where affection has consequences.
The Books: Big Dog, Bigger Heart
The first Clifford book was published in 1963, and it didn’t take long for the series to explode. Over time, the Clifford the Big Red Dog books became staples of early reading, classrooms, and bedtime routines.
What made them work wasn’t just the size gimmick. The stories focused on:
- Kindness and empathy
- Taking responsibility for mistakes
- Learning how your actions affect others
- Navigating childhood emotions in simple, accessible ways
Clifford regularly caused chaos. He knocked things over, got in the way, and misunderstood situations. But he always meant well, and he always learned.
That combination of gentle humour and moral grounding is why the books have endured for decades.
Pickles’ Aside: I also knock things over while learning valuable life lessons.
From Page to Screen: Clifford Goes Hollywood
In 2021, Clifford made the leap to live-action with Clifford the Big Red Dog, introducing him to a whole new generation.
The film leaned hard into the original message:
- Love makes us grow
- Being different isn’t a flaw
- Responsibility comes with attachment
Modern CGI brought Clifford’s scale to life in a way the books could only suggest, showing just how disruptive a truly giant dog would be in a real city. Cars, streets, buildings, nothing was quite safe from an enthusiastic tail wag.
Reactions were mixed, but for many families, it worked exactly as intended. It reintroduced a gentle, old-fashioned message in a very loud, modern world.
Pickles’ Aside: If I were that big, I would also accidentally destroy infrastructure.
So… What Breed Is Clifford Supposed to Be?
Officially, Clifford is inspired by a Bloodhound, and it makes a surprising amount of sense.
Bloodhounds are known for:
- Long, droopy ears
- Deeply affectionate, gentle temperaments
- Strong bonds with their humans
- A habit of following their nose instead of instructions
They are famously patient with children and incredibly loyal. They are also large, powerful dogs who have absolutely no idea how much space they take up.
Sound familiar?
Clifford exaggerates these traits to a cartoonish extreme, but at his core, he reflects what Bloodhounds are really like:
- Soft-hearted
- Family-focused
- Accidentally chaotic
- Devoted to their people above all else
The key difference, of course, is size. A real Bloodhound is big. Clifford is “rethink your housing situation immediately” big.
Pickles’ Aside: Even I know when I don’t fit through a door. Clifford did not.
Why Clifford Still Matters
Clifford the Big Red Dog isn’t really about having a giant pet. He’s about what happens when love is unconditional, when mistakes are met with patience, and when kindness is stronger than inconvenience.
He’s also a quiet reminder that dogs don’t become good companions by accident. They grow into who they are through care, consistency, and yes, a bit of chaos along the way.
Pickles’ Aside: Love responsibly. And maybe measure the sofa first.
Think a Bloodhound could be your perfect breed? Check out our Breed quiz