Have you ever wondered what breed of dog Max belongs to from the popular children’s cartoon and motion picture “The Grinch?” Well, you’re not alone. This cute, scruffy little dog has piqued the interest of many movie watchers over the year, prompting the question as to what kind of dog he is.
Max is a mixed breed dog. There is no official statement about what his breed is, but it’s clear that he is more of a mutt than anything. Some have narrowed it down to Terrier mix, but that is not confirmed in any official capacity.
Even though it’s been difficult to pin down Max’s exact breed, we do know he is a mixed breed. We’re going to take a closer look at why we think this is and examine his role as a character in The Grinch movies.
Keep reading to learn all you need to know about the Grinch’s cute little canine companion.
It isn’t easy to pin down an exact breed for Max, but his curved brown ears and tan fur suggest some kind of mixed breed.
He has no defining character traits that point to any breed in specific, except for possibly a Terrier mix.
Terriers are energetic little dogs that often can look scruffy based on the exact kind of Terrier. They are a little feisty and have a high energy capacity, which fits Max’s character quite well.
These little dogs were originally bred as hunting dogs whose primary purpose was to kill vermin like mice and rats and protect their family’s home or property. Terriers can come in different sizes, but most are small or very small. However, some breeds of Terrier can become larger, such as the Airedale Terrier.
Airedale Terriers, also known as “The King of Terriers,” is among the world’s most versatile breed of dog, distinguishing themselves as fierce hunters, athletes, and loyal companions.
A typical male of this breed stands at around 23 inches at the shoulder, relatively large for a Terrier.
Their fur is typically tan with wiry strands of black laced throughout. The way their fur grows on their face gives them the appearance of having a beard and a mustache.
Even though they’re not the biggest out there, these dogs are known to be bold, stubborn, and determined, never backing down from a fight. Despite their ornery nature, they are still typically patient and docile with children.
If you are interested in owning a Terrier, there are a few things you should know.
Terriers generally make good pets, although they may require some patience. They are stubborn, extremely energetic, and require special grooming to maintain their typical appearance.
Max has appeared in various renditions of the film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” originally a children’s book written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss.
In most of his roles, he is a frightened and timid dog who does the Grinch’s bidding reluctantly. However, some character portrayals paint him as a loving and loyal canine companion and friend to the Grinch.
Max is always shown as intelligent, definitely smarter than your average canine, no matter which version you’re watching. Many have equated his role to that of the Grinch’s butler.
Despite the cruel and mean nature of his master, Max chooses to stick by his side. Max can sense that deep down that the Grinch has a good heart, but past wrongs have since buried his heart under a thick layer of malice. Even while his master performs dastardly deeds, he sticks by him as a loyal and caring companion.
She was adopted from a shelter, and her name was Kelly. Even though it was obvious she too was a mixed breed; it’s thought that she could have been either an Airedale or a Wheaton Terrier mix. This is because of the distinct color of her wire-haired coat and her relatively small size.
The canine character Max from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a mixed breed, thought to be some kind of Terrier mix based on his appearance and personality.
Max is a loyal friend and companion to his domineering and cruel master, the Grinch, but always seems to play a key role in softening his master’s hard heart.
If he is indeed a Terrier, it fits him well. Terriers are bold, stubborn, and determined little dogs with a sophisticated and intelligent air, just like Max.
They won’t back down from a fight and love to protect their family. These dogs can make excellent pets if you’re willing to deal with their feisty personalities. Additionally, they may require special grooming to maintain the hair of their coats properly.
We hope the information about Max we’ve compiled for you in this article has answered all of your questions and given you some insight into this little dog as a character.
Remember to check our other articles for more information on other popular canine characters and what breeds of dog they belong to.
Is The Dog From The Grinch Still Alive?
It might come as a surprise for many that the Dog from the grinch was not played by one dog, rather it was played by 6 dogs – Kelly, Chip, Topsy, Stella, Zelda, and Bo. Since one character was played by 6 dogs, it would be impossible to find out – is the Dog from the Grinch is still alive. But if the question is the dog from the Grinch still alive is asked from the perspective of movie, the dog is alive even at the end of the movie. The movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas is about Grinch, a green creature who hates Christmas and tries to spoil Christmas for other kids. He is accompanied by Max, his loyal dog. At the end of the movie, we see Grinch apologising for his pranks and Max and Grinch join the Whos celebration feast.
( Source: Twitter)
In 2018, a number of news articles regarding the dog Max from the Grinch came out. Some theories of his and the Grinch’s relationship and others regarding the dog who played the character Max. One of the theories stated that Max was a dog that was castaway by someone who did not want him. Grinch from the movie is understood to take Christmas gifts thrown away by others, and there are chances that Max was such an unwanted Christmas Gift. If this were the case it would answer the fierce loyalty that Max has towards Grinch.
In the television special, Max has slightly changed in appearance, mainly in his face. He was voiced by Dallas McKennon, then voiced by Henry Gibson and now Frank Welker (narrator of “Maxs Playhouse” DVD segment “The Care and Feeding of a Grinch”). His only two speaking lines are “Yipe!” and “Raaaahhh!” performed by Dallas McKennon, while being hit by the Grinchs whip. He has brown curved ears and tan fur.
Max is the dog and companion of The Grinch, debuting as the secondary antagonist in the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Max is also a prominent character in the television special, the film adaptation, and the musical adaptation (See The CGI Version of Max). He acts as The Grinchs reindeer in the book and its adaptations.
For more Max news, see “How Max Stole the Show” to discover what happened to the real-life pooches after the cameras stopped rolling…
In addition to their inherent charm, the dogs’ film training socialized the animals, teaching them to be responsive to direction and, perhaps most importantly, ensured that they were housebroken! As a bonus, most of the new “Max” owners find that their little star can do tricks they hadn’t seen before. Bryan Ellenburg, Bo’s owner, thought that Bo just didn’t enjoy his walks because he would often strain against his leash. Then Ellenburg realized that he’d been inadvertently signaling Bo to strain forward—Bo must’ve thought he was still pulling the Grinch’s sleigh!
A strong, individual personality is just one of the perks of adopting a shelter animal. Having already “lived a little,” all of the dogs on the Grinch have a unique disposition. Stella, the speaking Max, is sweet and gentle and docile while Topsy can be downright stubborn! Topsy’s new owner, Marnie Cooper—who was also the acting coach for Taylor Momsen, AKA little Cindy-Lou Who—adores Topsy’s strong will and loving demeanor, and finds her new pet well-suited to her home. In fact, all of the four new “Max” dog owners—in addition to Schumacher, who kept the lead dogs, Kelly and Chip—find their movie star pets loving and sweet, with great personalities.
Max was actually played by six different dogs, and all were mixed-breed shelter rescues. The two lead dogs were Kelly and Chip—with Kelly doing most of the stunts—and the other four were Topsy, Stella, Zelda, and Bo. Animal trainer Roger Schumacher spent 3 and 1/2 months practicing with the animals prior to filming to perfect their stunts and acclimate them to the set environment. This period not only allowed the canine stars to become their character, but also allowed the trainers to discern which particular behaviors each dog was comfortable doing. As a rule, the animals were only expected to perform the actions they were willing to do based on their individual personalities and physical capabilities. Topsy, for example, was the resident scratcher, while Zelda was trained to scoot in a sitting position. She struts her stuff in the film when Max is forced to smooch the materialistic mayor of Whoville and then scoots off in disgust. Bo’s special trick was pulling the sleigh and Stella’s was to speak and back up.
In case you’re wondering if the dogs were initially frightened of Carrey in full Grinch-regalia, AHA monitored the pre-production training and observed that the dogs were desensitized to all of the actors’ make-up and costumes during training, as well as familiarized with their own costumes and safety devices. For example, Max’s antlers and long, floppy ears were actually a lightweight headpiece that the dogs wore throughout their training, and by the time filming began, the little divas were well adjusted to their accoutrements. Max also adorns a mini hardhat and Rudolph nose, although he gets to swipe off the clownish, red nose with his paws in the movie.
FAQ
Is Max the dog from Grinch still alive?
What kind of dog is Max from the Grinch 2020?