Oliver Twist Inspired Dog Names

Dogs and pop culture go well together; there are numerous canine characters featured in a vast range of pop culture works, especially in media and literature. In the novel Oliver Twist, a dog is also prominently featured – Bull’s-Eye, the vicious dog owned by Bill Sikes.

Oliver Twist tells the story of the titular character, an orphan whose mother died just after giving birth to him in the town of Mudfog. Due to the “Poor Law”, Oliver is placed in a farm supervised by Mrs. Mann. Here, he lives his first nine years before moving to a workhouse. The treatment towards him is horrible; he is barely given any food and is hated by other people he mingles with.

Eventually, he finds himself meeting a man known as the “Artful Dodger” and introduces him to a man named Fagin. Unbeknownst to Oliver, Fagin is actually a criminal who trains young boys to become pickpockets. He also meets Bill Sikes, one of Fagin’s gang members who is a professional burglar. Sikes is often accompanied by his nasty and hostile dog named Bull’s-Eye.

Bill Sikes is considered the primary antagonist in the novel and has become as iconic a character as Oliver Twist himself. His constant companion, Bull’s-Eye, is also memorable in his own right. Most analysts claim that his dog mirrors his own cruelty; Sikes is known to physically harm his dog and others who cross him, including his own lover, Nancy. But despite his master’s harsh nature, Bull’s-Eye remains by Sikes’ side, which goes to show just how loyal dogs are.

Another dog with the name Bull’s-Eye is the famous mascot for Target Corporation. Unlike the canine in the novel, however, Bull’s-Eye the Target Dog is actually well-known and beloved by almost all Americans. Formerly called Spot, Bull’s-Eye is a Miniature Bull Terrier who serves as the official Target mascot.

Bull’s-Eye is recognizable for his pure white coat and red bull’s-eye target painted on his left eye. He is also frequently featured in the corporation’s store signage, commercials and marketing campaigns. Even though the character is supposedly male, the dog used to portray him is female. The first ever Target dog is nicknamed “Smudgie” while the current Bull’s-Eye comes from a renowned breeder from Massachusetts. Other than marketing purposes, stuffed toys of Bull’s-Eye are also distributed by Target during special events or as a symbol of employee recognition.