Running Inspired Dog Names

In the grand scheme of dog names, Bandit is easily one of the most popular of all-time, next to the likes of Spot, Buddy, and Fido and for good reason. Dogs are often as mischievous as bandits, known to steal food, socks, toys, and plenty of other items around the house. The name works just as well in the running world, as they are certainly the stray runners many people encounter after finding them chasing bikes, cars, rabbits, and various other fast-moving objects. 

But while the name itself has a bit of a negative connotation in terms of its actual meaning, many famous dogs throughout history have been quite the opposite: heroes of a rare type and quality. If you need any further examples, feel free to search for Bandit the Rescue Dog or Bandit the Therapy Dog. 

While there may have been earlier instances in pop culture, few were as well-known and popular as Bandit, the Bulldog Pug sidekick of the Quest family from both Johnny Quest and Johnny Quest: The Real Adventures, the prior hitting the TV screens of American families in 1964. 

In contrast to many of Hannah-Barbera’s other dogs of the time, Bandit was one of very few who was not anthropomorphic, instead taking on the regular shape, size, and proportions of the breed he was supposed to be: a Bulldog, even though he appears to be mixed with something else given his overall look, ability, and demeanor. But like most of his cartoon companions, he was still able to understand English incredibly well and was also known to use complex facial expressions to convey his state of being. He was originally voiced by Don Messick, although the audio production team supposedly mixed in actual dog barks for the sake of realism. 

Even though Bandit was a far cry from his walking-talking cartoon counterparts, he shared many of their characteristics, especially that of Scooby Doo, in that although he often positioned himself as a brave soul around his friends and family, he was a bit of a coward when it came to the most intense situations, not unlike that of a real dog, who may not be able to handle the real rigors of a crime-fighting group. And yet, his quick-turn reservations never quite seem to stop him from helping Jonny, Haji, Dr. Quest and Race foil the plans of their foes, often being a pivotal member of the team. 

In turn, even when the show got extra intense, Bandit also carried the role of comic relief, a familiar duality to many dog owners that helped to round out his personality, leaving him to be as entertaining as to many as their own dogs prove to be.