Brian Griffin

Grew up… on a farm in Austin, Texas. Brian, a talking dog, was born to normal canine parents. He was taken away from his mother at a young age, and ended up attending Brown University and settling in Rhode Island.

Living… with the Griffin family in Quahog, R.I., after Peter Griffin took him in as a stray. Brian lives a very human life; he speaks fluent English, has relationships with human women and enjoys a drink or two. (Or 10.) Despite his human mind, Brian is still forced to deal with his canine body: “I could take my sweater off too, but I think it’s attached to my skin.”

Profession… struggling writer. Brian fancies himself a bit of an intellectual. He writes fiction, screenplays and essays. He also engages in the traditional literary activity of heavy drinking. “Hey barkeep,” he once shouted, “whose leg do you gotta hump to get a dry martini around here?”

Interests… reading literature, drinking, and rolling around in the trash. Brian, even though he enjoys the finer things in life, is not above the simple pleasures of being a dog: “Gosh, I’d like to help you, Peter, but I’ve got to go out in the hall and chew on the back of my ass for about five minutes.”

Challenge… putting up with the stupidity of his owners. Brian often resorts to alcohol in order to cope with his life’s troubles. He can become belligerent after a few dry martinis. “I’m not drunk, all right?” he claimed one night. “I just have a speech impediment, and a stomach virus, and an inner-ear infection!”

Personality… wry, sophisticated, and intelligent. Even more than the child prodigy, Stewie, Brian is the most cerebral member of the Griffin family. That’s pretty darn impressive for a dog. Now who’s a good boy?! Yes, Brian, you’re a good boy!