No matter your age, you’ve most likely heard of Mr. Peabody and Sherman. The first time this genius dog graced our television screens was as part of The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. This brilliant dog and his adoptive son have spent many years keeping us entertained, teaching us about history, and most importantly, leaving us questioning what kind of dog Mr. Peabody actually is. Have no fear, we have that answer.

According to his creators, Mr. Peabody is a Beagle. Yes, we know, there aren’t many beagles running around that look like this cartoon character, especially with the glasses. This is why many of those associated with the old show and the movie revival from 2014 prefer to use the term beagle-ish dog when referring to Mr. Peabody. Let’s learn a bit more about this dog and his adopted human son, Sherman.

Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History

Whether you’re old enough to have watched The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show as a child or grew up watching reruns several years later, it’s hard to deny the laughs this animated show brought to our homes. What was unique about this cartoon was the variety show concept and segments they included. One of those segments, Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History, or Mr. Peabody and Sherman as many of us called it, was used to teach us a bit about history while keeping children entertained.

Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History segment joined The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show in 1959 and ran for 5 years ending in 1965. The premise of the show was simple. Mr. Peabody, the world’s smartest being and usual-looking beagle is lonely. To fight his loneliness, he adopts a human son named Sherman whom in many ways, he treats more like his pet. In hopes of teaching Sherman a bit about the world, Mr. Peabody builds a time machine, which he calls the “should have been machine.”

While kids who tune in learn a bit about famous names and places from history, keep in mind that it is improbable history. Beethoven wasn’t around to see 1950s vehicles. You’ll also notice that most historical figures portrayed in the show aren’t the brightest and often need Mr. Peabody and Sherman to help them out of certain historical situations.

The Movie Adaption

Like many cartoons and television shows from “back in the day,” Mr. Peabody and Sherman found their way onto the big screen in 2014. The movie was brought to us by the team at DreamWorks and focused more on Mr. Peabody and Sherman’s personal lives. That doesn’t mean history doesn’t still get jumbled in the movie though. The team, who act more like a father and son this go around, is left to fix things after their adventures have messed up history’s timeline and things aren’t quite as they should be.

With the success of the movie, Mr. Peacock and Sherman did what any celebrity would do, they went to Netflix. Once reaching the streaming giant’s platform, the father and son duo underwent yet another change. Instead of doing all the traveling, they are hosting their own television show, from the comfort of their own penthouse, while they interview famous people from throughout history. The revived show lasted for 4 seasons on Netflix and produced some hilarious streaming for both those who were feeling a bit nostalgic and new fans of the team.

How Does Mr. Peabody Compare?

As we’ve already mentioned, Mr. Peabody’s creators claim he is a beagle. This declaration also came with the added fact that he is not a purebred dog. Of course, most of us could notice that simply by watching the cartoons but it is nice when the creators speak up and set the record straight by saying he is a mix. When looking at Mr. Peabody you can notice the hound-like ears. AKC beagles can also be white. Unfortunately, that seems to be where the similarities in appearance end.

The personality of a beagle is quite well-known. They are fun-loving, boisterous dogs with lots of curiosity and love. Mr. Peabody, on the other hand, is more reserved, intelligent, and curious. We must give him credit, however, for his growth over the years. He has adapted from having an adopted son he viewed as a pet to having one that is treated like a true child with love and respect.

In Conclusion

While Mr. Peabody is intended to be a beagle, it’s important to remember that he isn’t truly a purebred. Like with most mixed breeds, he has his own quirks that make him unique. The most noticeable of these quirks is the fact that he’s an animated dog, with a son, a voice, and an abnormally large IQ, but that’s beside the point. Now that you know more about Mr. Peabody, you can sit back and enjoy the laughs and nostalgia he brings to our lives.

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Featured Photo Credit: Characters by Jay Ward Productions,  DreamWorks Animation LLC.  All rights reserved to the copyright owners.