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|color=Brown
 
|color=Brown
 
|age=5
 
|age=5
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|owner='''Previous''': [[Santa's Little Helper's original owner|Unnamed]]<br>
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|owner='''Previous''': [[Santa's Little Helper's original owner|Unnamed]]<br>'''Current''': [[Simpson family]] (Homer and Bart)
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|relatives = '''Children''': [[Greyhound Puppies]]<br>'''Brother''': [[Santa's Little Helper's Brother|Unnamed Brother]]<br>'''1st mate''': [[She's the Fastest]]<br>'''2nd mate''': [[Rosa Barks]]
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'''Current''': [[Simpson family]] (Homer)
 
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|relatives = '''Children''': [[Greyhound Puppies]]<br>
 
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'''Brother''': [[Santa's Little Helper's Brother|Unnamed Brother]]<br>
 
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'''1st mate''': [[She's the Fastest]]<br>
 
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'''2nd mate''': [[Rosa Barks]]|
 
 
|job='''Formerly''': Racing dog and police dog and one of Mr. Burns hounds<br>
 
|job='''Formerly''': Racing dog and police dog and one of Mr. Burns hounds<br>
 
|appearance=[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]
 
|appearance=[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]
 
|voiced by=[[Frank Welker]]<br>[[Dan Castellaneta]]}}
 
|voiced by=[[Frank Welker]]<br>[[Dan Castellaneta]]}}
   
āˆ’
'''Santa's Little Helper''' (born March 12) also known as '''No. 8''' or '''Suds McDuff of Sixpakistan''', is the [[Simpson family]]'s dog.
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'''Santa's Little Helper''' (born March 12) also known as '''No. 8''' or '''Suds McDuff of America''', is the [[Simpson family]]'s dog. Santa's Little Helper has been with the Simpson Family family the whole series instead of dying like other animals have.
  +
āˆ’
 
  +
Oddly for a domestic dog, he has been shown to still be alive thirty years in the future, as a highly evolved canine with a large cerebellum ("[[Holidays of Future Passed]]") and a creature stitched together out of pieces of both he and [[Snowball II]], in which form he is known as "Santa's Little Hybrid" ("[[Days of Future Future]]").
  +
 
== Racing Life ==
 
== Racing Life ==
 
[[File:SLH racing.JPG|left|160px|thumb|Santa's Little Helper races at the [[Springfield Downs]].]]
 
[[File:SLH racing.JPG|left|160px|thumb|Santa's Little Helper races at the [[Springfield Downs]].]]
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[[File:Bart_and_Santa's_Little_Helper.png|thumb|190px|left|Santa's Little Helper licking [[Bart]]]]
 
[[File:Bart_and_Santa's_Little_Helper.png|thumb|190px|left|Santa's Little Helper licking [[Bart]]]]
   
āˆ’
Santa's Little Helper's life with the Simpsons was not always easy. Due to his disobedience and destructive behavior nearly caused the Simpson family to give him away, but he passed an obedience class, thus he could stay.<ref>[[Bart's Dog Gets an F]]</ref> Santa's Little Helper nearly died of gastric torsion (referred to in the show as a "twisting of the stomach") because Homer initially couldn't afford $750 for the required operation.<ref>[[Dog of Death]]</ref> He also broke two legs when Bart's treehouse was demolished by [[Charles Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]]' slanted oil well drill (The latter of which caused Bart Simpson to hate Mr. Burns immensely).<ref>[[Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)]]</ref>
+
Santa's Little Helper's life with the Simpsons is not always easy. Due to his disobedience and destructive behavior nearly caused the Simpson family to give him away, but he passed an obedience class, thus he could stay.<ref>[[Bart's Dog Gets an F]]</ref> Santa's Little Helper nearly died of gastric torsion (referred to in the show as a "twisting of the stomach") because Homer initially couldn't afford $750 for the required operation.<ref>[[Dog of Death]]</ref> He also broke two legs when Bart's treehouse was demolished by [[Charles Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]]' slanted oil well drill (The latter of which caused Bart Simpson to hate Mr. Burns immensely).<ref>[[Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)]]</ref>
 
Santa's little helper is sometimes a bad dog.
 
Santa's little helper is sometimes a bad dog.
   
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Santa's Little Helper has also shown aptitude in other areas. When neglected by the Simpson family, he ran away, and was adopted by Mr. Burns, and made into a very fearsome guard dog. When Bart was searching for Santa's Little Helper, Bart managed to reawaken Santa's Little Helper's good memories of him. It shown that while the Simpson family sleeps in the night, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II both watch old episodes of "Lassie" on TV.<ref>[[Bart's Comet]]</ref> When Homer and Marge are investigated by Child Protective Services, one of the things noted in the report is "dogs mating on dining room table." At which Santa's Little Helper shamefully turns away.<ref>[[Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily]]</ref>
 
Santa's Little Helper has also shown aptitude in other areas. When neglected by the Simpson family, he ran away, and was adopted by Mr. Burns, and made into a very fearsome guard dog. When Bart was searching for Santa's Little Helper, Bart managed to reawaken Santa's Little Helper's good memories of him. It shown that while the Simpson family sleeps in the night, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II both watch old episodes of "Lassie" on TV.<ref>[[Bart's Comet]]</ref> When Homer and Marge are investigated by Child Protective Services, one of the things noted in the report is "dogs mating on dining room table." At which Santa's Little Helper shamefully turns away.<ref>[[Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily]]</ref>
   
āˆ’
One time, Bart brings Santa's Little Helper to school for show and tell, and Mrs. Krabappel and the entire class, except for Martin Prince are fascinated by him. Mrs. Krabappel feeds him cookies, and the class dotes on him, but they later put him away, and Santa's Little Helper gets into the heating ducts. This later indirectly causes Skinner to be fired.<ref>[[Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song]]</ref>[[File:Homer_and_Santa's_Little_Helper_sleep.jpg|thumb|homer and Santa's Little Helper sleep]]
+
One time, Bart brings Santa's Little Helper to school for show and tell, and Mrs. Krabappel and the entire class, except for Martin Prince are fascinated by him. Mrs. Krabappel feeds him cookies, and the class dotes on him, but they later put him away, and Santa's Little Helper gets into the heating ducts. This later indirectly causes Skinner to be fired.<ref>[[Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song]]</ref>[[File:Homer_and_Santa's_Little_Helper_sleep.jpg|thumb|Homer and Santa's Little Helper sleep]]
   
 
He also becomes a great hero after he saves Homer in a cornfield maze, and then becomes enrolled as a police dog, teamed up with Officer Lou. Both Lou and Santa's Little Helper make a good team, foiling crimes together. After biting Bart's left leg (due to the fact he got angry when the court stated that he violated one of the police codes while catching [[Snake Jailbird]]), Santa's Little Helper is sent off by the Simpson family to live with Lou. Later on, once Springfield Elementary is in danger and Bart isn't able to escape, Santa's Little Helper comes in to save him, and goes back to living with the Simpsons.<ref>[[Stop or My Dog Will Shoot!]]</ref>
 
He also becomes a great hero after he saves Homer in a cornfield maze, and then becomes enrolled as a police dog, teamed up with Officer Lou. Both Lou and Santa's Little Helper make a good team, foiling crimes together. After biting Bart's left leg (due to the fact he got angry when the court stated that he violated one of the police codes while catching [[Snake Jailbird]]), Santa's Little Helper is sent off by the Simpson family to live with Lou. Later on, once Springfield Elementary is in danger and Bart isn't able to escape, Santa's Little Helper comes in to save him, and goes back to living with the Simpsons.<ref>[[Stop or My Dog Will Shoot!]]</ref>
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Santa's Little Helper has been implied to be bisexual. At the time, the Simpson family is watching a gay pride parade marching down Evergreen Terrace, and one of the groups marching is the Gay Dog Alliance. The marching dogs are clothed in a series of typically camp gay costumes, and Santa's Little Helper, showing excitement by panting, shows an interest in several of the dogs, one of whom winks at him. Santa's Little Helper's attempt to join the dogs is thwarted by the fact that he is currently on a leash, noticing his interest, Homer decides to take the family away from the pride parade.<ref>[[Jaws Wired Shut]]</ref>
 
Santa's Little Helper has been implied to be bisexual. At the time, the Simpson family is watching a gay pride parade marching down Evergreen Terrace, and one of the groups marching is the Gay Dog Alliance. The marching dogs are clothed in a series of typically camp gay costumes, and Santa's Little Helper, showing excitement by panting, shows an interest in several of the dogs, one of whom winks at him. Santa's Little Helper's attempt to join the dogs is thwarted by the fact that he is currently on a leash, noticing his interest, Homer decides to take the family away from the pride parade.<ref>[[Jaws Wired Shut]]</ref>
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  +
==Physical Appearance==
  +
  +
He is a Greyhound with light brown fur.
   
 
== Offspring ==
 
== Offspring ==
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*[[Two Dozen and One Greyhounds|25 offspring]] with [[She's the Fastest]]: Rover, Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover II, Fido II, Rex II, Cleo, Dave, Jay, Paul, Branford, Dave II, Jay II, Paul II, Branford II, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Donner, Blitzen, Grumpy II, King, Queenie, Prince and The Puppy Formerly Known As Prince.<ref>[[Two Dozen and One Greyhounds]]</ref>
 
*[[Two Dozen and One Greyhounds|25 offspring]] with [[She's the Fastest]]: Rover, Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover II, Fido II, Rex II, Cleo, Dave, Jay, Paul, Branford, Dave II, Jay II, Paul II, Branford II, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Donner, Blitzen, Grumpy II, King, Queenie, Prince and The Puppy Formerly Known As Prince.<ref>[[Two Dozen and One Greyhounds]]</ref>
 
*AĀ [[Today, I Am a Clown|litter of puppies]] with [[Dr. Julius Hibbert|Dr. Hibbert]]'s dog [[Rosa Barks]], these puppies were given away to townspeople, these include Willie, Krusty and Snake.
 
*AĀ [[Today, I Am a Clown|litter of puppies]] with [[Dr. Julius Hibbert|Dr. Hibbert]]'s dog [[Rosa Barks]], these puppies were given away to townspeople, these include Willie, Krusty and Snake.
  +
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
*[[Bart]] seems to love him so much, as fans often say Bart is his owner.Ā Besides [[Marge Simpson]], Bart and Santa's Little Helper have the best relationship out of the series.
  +
*Santa's Little Helper is the only pet that has not died or been given away the whole entire series; he only ran away once.
  +
* Throughout the entirety of the series, Santa's Little Helper has constantly looked severely malnourished, despite never having a major canon health problem. This may be a parody of the Simpson family's dysfunction and neglect, or due to his being a greyhound. Greyhounds are very slender dogs.
   
 
== Appearances ==
 
== Appearances ==
  +
{{Incomplete}}
 
{{scroll|
 
{{scroll|
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*{{Ep|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire}}
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* '''{{Ep|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire}}'''
āˆ’
*{{Ep|The Crepes of Wrath}}
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* {{Ep|The Crepes of Wrath}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Bart Gets an "F"}}
+
* {{Ep|Bart Gets an "F"}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Simpson and Delilah}}
+
* {{Ep|Simpson and Delilah}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish}}
+
* {{Ep|Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Dancin' Homer}}
+
* {{Ep|Dancin' Homer}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Dead Putting Society}}
+
* {{Ep|Dead Putting Society}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Bart vs. Thanksgiving}}
+
* {{Ep|Bart vs. Thanksgiving}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Itchy & Scratchy & Marge}}
+
* {{Ep|Itchy & Scratchy & Marge}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment}}
+
* {{Ep|Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Bart's Dog Gets an F}}
+
* '''{{Ep|Bart's Dog Gets an F}}'''
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Brush with Greatness}}
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* {{Ep|Brush with Greatness}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|The War of the Simpsons}}
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* {{Ep|The War of the Simpsons}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Three Men and a Comic Book}}
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* {{Ep|Three Men and a Comic Book}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|When Flanders Failed}}
+
* {{Ep|When Flanders Failed}}
āˆ’
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror II}}
+
* {{THOH|Treehouse of Horror II}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Radio Bart}}
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* {{Ep|Radio Bart}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Bart the Lover}}
+
* {{Ep|Bart the Lover}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Separate Vocations}}
+
* {{Ep|Separate Vocations}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Dog of Death}}
+
* '''{{Ep|Dog of Death}}'''
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Homer the Heretic}}
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* {{Ep|Homer the Heretic}}
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*{{Ep|Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie}}
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* {{Ep|Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Brother from the Same Planet}}
+
* {{Ep|Brother from the Same Planet}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Last Exit to Springfield}}
+
* {{Ep|Last Exit to Springfield}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Homer's Barbershop Quartet}}
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* {{Ep|Homer's Barbershop Quartet}}
 
*{{Ep|Bart's Inner Child}}
 
*{{Ep|Bart's Inner Child}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood}}
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* {{Ep|Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Homer the Vigilante}}
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* {{Ep|Homer the Vigilante}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Bart Gets an Elephant}}
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* {{Ep|Bart Gets an Elephant}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song}}
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* {{Ep|Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song}}
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*{{Ep|Bart's Comet}}
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* {{Ep|Bart's Comet}}
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*{{Ep|Two Dozen and One Greyhounds}}
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* '''{{Ep|Two Dozen and One Greyhounds}}'''
 
* {{Ep|The Springfield Connection}}
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*{{Ep|Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)}}
 
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*{{Ep|Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)}}
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* {{Ep|Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)}}
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*{{Ep|Radioactive Man}}
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* {{Ep|Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)}}
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*{{Ep|Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily}}
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* {{Ep|Radioactive Man}}
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*{{Ep|Bart Sells His Soul}}
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* {{Ep|Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily}}
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*{{Ep|Lisa the Vegetarian}}
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* {{Ep|Bart Sells His Soul}}
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* {{Ep|Lisa the Vegetarian}}
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*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror VI}}
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* {{THOH|Treehouse of Horror VI}}
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*{{Ep|King-Size Homer}}
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* {{Ep|King-Size Homer}}
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*{{Ep|The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular}}
 
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*{{Ep|22 Short Films About Springfield}}
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* {{Ep|The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular}}
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*{{Ep|You Only Move Twice}}
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* {{Ep|22 Short Films About Springfield}}
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*{{Ep|Hurricane Neddy}}
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* {{Ep|You Only Move Twice}}
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* {{Ep|Hurricane Neddy}}
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*{{Ep|El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)}}
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* {{Ep|El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)}}
*{{Ep|The Springfield Files}}
 
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*{{Ep|The Canine Mutiny}}
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* {{Ep|The Springfield Files}}
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*{{Ep|Trash of the Titans}}
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* {{Ep|The Canine Mutiny}}
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*{{Ep|Simpsons Bible Stories}}
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* {{Ep|Trash of the Titans}}
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*{{Ep|Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?}}
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* {{Ep|Simpsons Bible Stories}}
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*{{Ep|Behind the Laughter}}
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* {{Ep|Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?}}
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*{{Ep|A Tale of Two Springfields}}
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* {{Ep|Behind the Laughter}}
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*{{Ep|Insane Clown Poppy}}
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* {{Ep|A Tale of Two Springfields}}
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*{{Ep|Jaws Wired Shut}}
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* {{Ep|Insane Clown Poppy}}
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*{{Ep|The Frying Game}}
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* {{Ep|Jaws Wired Shut}}
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*{{Ep|Helter Shelter}}
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* {{Ep|The Frying Game}}
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*{{Ep|Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington}}
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* {{Ep|Helter Shelter}}
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*{{Ep|Old Yeller-Belly}}
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* {{Ep|Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington}}
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*{{Ep|Today, I Am a Clown}}
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* {{Ep|Old Yeller-Belly}}
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*{{Ep|She Used to Be My Girl}}
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* {{Ep|Today, I Am a Clown}}
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*{{Ep|Stop or My Dog Will Shoot!}}
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* {{Ep|She Used to Be My Girl}}
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*{{Ep|Midnight Towboy}}
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* '''{{Ep|Stop or My Dog Will Shoot!}}'''
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* {{Ep|Midnight Towboy}}
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*{{Ep|Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind}}
 
āˆ’
*{{Ep|The Good, the Sad and the Drugly}}
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* {{Ep|Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind}}
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*{{Ep|How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?}}
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* {{Ep|The Good, the Sad and the Drugly}}
  +
* {{Ep|How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?}}
*{{Ep|Donnie Fatso}}
 
āˆ’
*{{Ep|The Ned-liest Catch}}
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* {{Ep|Donnie Fatso}}
āˆ’
*{{Ep|Holidays of Future Passed}}
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* {{Ep|The Ned-liest Catch}}
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*{{Ep|Moe Goes from Rags to Riches}}
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* {{Ep|Holidays of Future Passed}}
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*{{Ep|To Cur, with Love}}
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* {{Ep|Moe Goes from Rags to Riches}}
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*{{Ep|Homerland}}
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* {{Ep|To Cur, with Love}}
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*{{Mov}}
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* {{Ep|Homerland}}
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*{{game|Bartman: Avenger of Evil}}
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* {{Ep|Specs and the City}}
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*{{game|Virtual Springfield}}
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* {{Ep|Brick Like Me}}
 
* {{Ep|Pay Pal}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror}}
 
  +
* {{Mov}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Tapped Out}} (unlockable)
 
  +
* {{game|Bartman: Avenger of Evil}}
*{{Advert|Slaughter is the Best Medicine}}
 
  +
* {{game|Virtual Springfield}}
*{{Couch|Squashed Santa's Little Helper couch gag}}
 
 
* {{game|The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror}}
*{{Couch|Angry Santa's Little Helper couch gag}}
 
 
* {{game|The Simpsons: Tapped Out}}
 
* {{Advert|Slaughter is the Best Medicine}}
 
* '''{{Couch|Squashed Santa's Little Helper couch gag}}'''
 
* '''{{Couch|Angry Santa's Little Helper couch gag}}'''
 
}}
 
}}
   
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==References==
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== Citations ==
  +
{{Reflist}}
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<references/>
 
   
 
{{Simpsons characters}}
 
{{Simpsons characters}}
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[[Category:Pets]]
 
[[Category:Pets]]
 
[[Category:Simpsons pets]]
 
[[Category:Simpsons pets]]
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[[Category:Married]]
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[[Category:Mascots]]
 
[[Category:Fathers]]
 
[[Category:Fathers]]
 
[[Category:Tapped Out Characters]]
 
[[Category:Tapped Out Characters]]
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[[Category:Alive characters]]
 
[[Category:Alive characters]]
 
[[Category:Bart Simpson]]
 
[[Category:Bart Simpson]]
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[[Category:Death fakers]]
 
 
[[Category:Season 1 first appearances]]
 
[[Category:Season 1 first appearances]]

Revision as of 18:04, 24 August 2014


Santa's Little Helper (born March 12) also known as No. 8 or Suds McDuff of America, is the Simpson family's dog. Santa's Little Helper has been with the Simpson Family family the whole series instead of dying like other animals have.

Oddly for a domestic dog, he has been shown to still be alive thirty years in the future, as a highly evolved canine with a large cerebellum ("Holidays of Future Passed") and a creature stitched together out of pieces of both he and Snowball II, in which form he is known as "Santa's Little Hybrid" ("Days of Future Future").

Racing Life

SLH racing

Santa's Little Helper races at the Springfield Downs.

Santa's Little Helper raced frequently at the Springfield Downs. On Christmas Eve, fed up with his losing streak, Santa's Little Helper's owner disowned him outside of the stadium. Running to the first person he saw, the greyhound leaped into an angry Homer's arms and kissed him, calming him immediately. Homer and Bart brought the dog home, where he was accepted as the family pet alongside Snowball II.

History

Homer was relying on a Christmas bonus to buy presents, but didn't get it. He was relying on this bonus because the jar of Christmas money that Marge accumulates for the family's Christmas treats was disposed of to pay for the removal of a tattoo that Bart got on his arm. Homer took the small amount of Christmas money he made working as a Santa at the Springfield Mall and bet it at the dog track. He had inside information on what dog was going to win, but instead bet on the "long shot," Santa's Little Helper, believing his name to be a sign. Santa's Little Helper finished last (apparently, it was the latest in a long string of last-place finishes), and his frustrated owner abandoned him. Homer and Bart brought him home, and everyone was so happy with him that it was a merry Christmas after all.[1]

Snowball II

Snowball II, Maggie and Santa's Little Helper Together for a picture

Sometimes, Santa's Little Helper can be seen chewing on the newspaper and other objects in the Simpson's household (sometimes ignored or tolerated by the family), tearing up the furniture, digging holes in the backyard and eating food from the living room table. It is stated that Homer and Santa's Little Helper's birthdays are on the same day.[2]

With a few exceptions, Santa's Little Helper doesn't make any sound that resembles a bark. However, he does have an ability to think just like a person. Once, he made a sound similar to "chewy", and Homer writes it down in his review, unamazed that the dog spoke English.[3] He is also shown to have ridden a circus ball on his hind legs and utter the phrase 'We love... you!' in an attempt to be given some attention from the Simpson family.[4] In addition, he was mascot of Duff Beer, and was known as Suds McDuff (a reference to a similar, real life mascot Spuds MacKenzie).[5]

Bart and Santa's Little Helper

Santa's Little Helper licking Bart

Santa's Little Helper's life with the Simpsons is not always easy. Due to his disobedience and destructive behavior nearly caused the Simpson family to give him away, but he passed an obedience class, thus he could stay.[6] Santa's Little Helper nearly died of gastric torsion (referred to in the show as a "twisting of the stomach") because Homer initially couldn't afford $750 for the required operation.[7] He also broke two legs when Bart's treehouse was demolished by Mr. Burns' slanted oil well drill (The latter of which caused Bart Simpson to hate Mr. Burns immensely).[8] Santa's little helper is sometimes a bad dog.

At one time, Santa's Little Helper was shortly abandoned by Bart for Laddie, a purebred and very well-trained dog he bought from a mail-order catalog together with various other expensive gifts and gadgets. To do that, Bart used a credit card he applied for under the name of his dog, yet the credit card company misread the form and issued a card to Mr. "Santos L. Halper". Laddie learned many tricks that Santa's Little Helper was completely unable to perform (most notably a back flip, CPR and using a toilet). The Simpson family nearly forgot about their old pet, and Bart eventually gave him away instead of Laddie when repo men take back everything he fraudulently purchased. Feeling guilty about this disloyalty and bored with his too perfect new dog, Bart tried to get Santa's Little Helper back. When he finally found him, Santa's Little Helper was serving as a seeing-eye dog for a blind man named Mr. Mitchell, but eventually decided to return to his former owner, Bart.[9]

Angry Santa's Little Helper

Santa's Little Helper growling at family

Santa's Little Helper has also shown aptitude in other areas. When neglected by the Simpson family, he ran away, and was adopted by Mr. Burns, and made into a very fearsome guard dog. When Bart was searching for Santa's Little Helper, Bart managed to reawaken Santa's Little Helper's good memories of him. It shown that while the Simpson family sleeps in the night, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II both watch old episodes of "Lassie" on TV.[10] When Homer and Marge are investigated by Child Protective Services, one of the things noted in the report is "dogs mating on dining room table." At which Santa's Little Helper shamefully turns away.[11]

One time, Bart brings Santa's Little Helper to school for show and tell, and Mrs. Krabappel and the entire class, except for Martin Prince are fascinated by him. Mrs. Krabappel feeds him cookies, and the class dotes on him, but they later put him away, and Santa's Little Helper gets into the heating ducts. This later indirectly causes Skinner to be fired.[12]

Homer and Santa's Little Helper sleep

Homer and Santa's Little Helper sleep

He also becomes a great hero after he saves Homer in a cornfield maze, and then becomes enrolled as a police dog, teamed up with Officer Lou. Both Lou and Santa's Little Helper make a good team, foiling crimes together. After biting Bart's left leg (due to the fact he got angry when the court stated that he violated one of the police codes while catching Snake Jailbird), Santa's Little Helper is sent off by the Simpson family to live with Lou. Later on, once Springfield Elementary is in danger and Bart isn't able to escape, Santa's Little Helper comes in to save him, and goes back to living with the Simpsons.[13] Unlike when he was the Duff mascot (which depicts the dog as a coward), Santa's Little Helper is depicted as a very brave and smart dog.

Meh cat

Santa's Little Helper sleeping in his dog-kennel

Santa's Little Helper has been implied to be bisexual. At the time, the Simpson family is watching a gay pride parade marching down Evergreen Terrace, and one of the groups marching is the Gay Dog Alliance. The marching dogs are clothed in a series of typically camp gay costumes, and Santa's Little Helper, showing excitement by panting, shows an interest in several of the dogs, one of whom winks at him. Santa's Little Helper's attempt to join the dogs is thwarted by the fact that he is currently on a leash, noticing his interest, Homer decides to take the family away from the pride parade.[14]

Physical Appearance

He is a Greyhound with light brown fur.

Offspring

Main article: Greyhound Puppies

He sired twenty-five puppies with "She's the Fastest" in Two Dozen and One Greyhounds, as well as another litter with Dr. Hibbert's poodle, Rosa Barks in Today, I Am a Clown.

  • 25 offspring with She's the Fastest: Rover, Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover II, Fido II, Rex II, Cleo, Dave, Jay, Paul, Branford, Dave II, Jay II, Paul II, Branford II, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Donner, Blitzen, Grumpy II, King, Queenie, Prince and The Puppy Formerly Known As Prince.[15]
  • litter of puppies with Dr. Hibbert's dog Rosa Barks, these puppies were given away to townspeople, these include Willie, Krusty and Snake.


Trivia

  • Bart seems to love him so much, as fans often say Bart is his owner. Besides Marge Simpson, Bart and Santa's Little Helper have the best relationship out of the series.
  • Santa's Little Helper is the only pet that has not died or been given away the whole entire series; he only ran away once.
  • Throughout the entirety of the series, Santa's Little Helper has constantly looked severely malnourished, despite never having a major canon health problem. This may be a parody of the Simpson family's dysfunction and neglect, or due to his being a greyhound. Greyhounds are very slender dogs.

Appearances

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Joystick Video game ā€“ Bartman: Avenger of Evil

Joystick Video game ā€“ Virtual Springfield

Joystick Video game ā€“ The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror

Joystick Video game ā€“ The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Citations