History Main / LickedByTheDog

* In ''Film/TheCrow'', during the transformation of the recently-resurrected Eric Draven into an unstoppable killing machine vigilante who makes Batman look like an ''actual'' pacifist, he pauses to scratch the cat that was left to fend for itself after he and his fiancee were murdered. The cat, in turn, licks his hand, apparently recognizing him even after he's been dead and buried for a year. (Cats have eyes, and cats have long-term memory, but Draven likely doesn't smell like he used to, besides having put on Harlequin-mask face paint.)

* InvokedTrope with [[PhotoOpWithTheDog photo-ops]] of celebrities and politicians of all stripes taking pictures with adorable animals or [[PoliticiansKissBabies children]]. Hitler (as seen above) and Stalin were particularly fond of doing this.

* ''Series/CowboyBebop2021''. When Faye Valentine first lays eyes on Welsh corgi Ein, her response is shock (dogs are so rare she's only seen them in a zoo), greed (they're worth between 20-30 million woolongs), and hunger (they're reputed to be [[EatTheDog good eating]]). Her trying to dog-nap Ein shortly afterwards doesn't help matters. After she nearly gets killed saving millions of lives from a terrorist missile, she's [[WaterWakeup woken up]] after being recovered from her crashed spacecraft by Ein licking her face (to her disgust). It's at this point that Spike is willing to accept her on the ''[=BeBop=]'' (having expressed an urge to shoot Faye several times during the episode).

* InvokedTrope with [[PhotoOpWithTheDog photo-ops]] of celebrities and politicians of all stripes taking pictures with adorable animals or children. Hitler (as seen above) and Stalin were particularly fond of doing this.

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[-[[caption-width-right:270: Remember... babies are [[EvilDetectingBaby usually]] not good [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter judges of character.]]]]-]

* Daryl Dixon of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' is probably the biggest badass in the whole crew. Largely remorseless, crossbow wielding, [[NotUsingTheZWord Walker]] killing machine. And he's the first person who can calm [[spoiler:Lori's]] baby, who he affectionately dubs "Little Asskicker".

** Resident [[TheEmpath Empath]] and Spirit of Compassion [[TheHeart Cole]] in ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Dragon Age Inquisition's]]'' ''Trespasser'' DLC is the only companion who approves of [[spoiler:wishing to rush in and save your former ally [[AmbiguouslyEvil Solas]] from the Qunari, even after it's revealed that he's JumpedOffTheSlipperySlope]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} 11: Subterranean Animism'', the heroine is warned to fear the master of the Palace of Earth Spirits, a youkai who can read minds and use your very thoughts against you. The youkai in question, Satori Komeiji, has NoSocialSkills because of this (and her tendency to [[MindOverManners read thoughts out loud]])... but animals (and formerly-animal youkai) ''adore'' her because she understands them better than anyone else.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', a [[spoiler: sapient talking]] dog-like alien really ''really'' likes [[TheStoic Raven]]. The fact that [[spoiler: he's sapient]] makes this example somewhat creepier than usual.

* Cruelly subverted in ''Series/ChojinSentaiJetman''. After being cast out by [[GreaterScopeVillain Empress Juza]], [[BigBad Radiguet]] gets found and cared for by a girl, only to [[TheFarmerAndTheViper kill her once he regains his position]].

* "Tiger" from ''Film/MajorPayne'', despite being thoroughly intimidated ([[HeroicComedicSociopath and rightfully so]]) by the titular Major, still warms up to him nonetheless, clearly likes and trusts him, and even runs to him for comfort or protection. [[spoiler:Not only does this serve as your first ''[[JustForPun major]]'' clue that Payne is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, but the man ultimately ends up [[EarnYourHappyEnding adopting the kid]].]]

* Subverted in ''Franchise/{{Lobo}}'s Paramilitary Christmas Special''. While discussing [[spoiler:the details of the Easter Bunny's contract hit on Santa Claus, a fluffy little bunny hops up to Lobo and sniffs at his fingers. [[GoryDiscretionShot A camera cut and a horrible squelching noise later]], the camera cuts back to Lobo flicking bloody chunks off his hand with a large red stain where the bunny used to be]]. Ouch.

* In ''{{ComicBook/Monstress}}'', Kippa voluntarily followed Maika when she broke out of the Cumaea slave prison, because she's "good at killing people" and would therefore make a good protector. Even after Maika[[spoiler:, in a fit of Horror Hunger, eats a child right in front of her,]] Kippa seems to instinctively know that Maika cares for her, and sticks by her even in dangerous situations. (Although it doesn't stop her from temporarily running away when she knows her life is in danger from the Monstra.) Maika is surprised by this, but it ultimately wins her over.

* Seen with Franchise/{{Batman}}. Children are less afraid of him than the adults and he doesn't mind too much.
** Both Dick Grayson and Alfred believe that Damian Wayne can outgrow his violent tendencies and live up to his father's legacy. And so far, they seem to be right, as Damian likes being Robin and finds that doing good is the best thing he has ever done with his life, even breaking away from his mother completely.
** Jason Todd to some extent, some kids like him, most are scared of him, but mostly because he hates when children are hurt.
** One of the few times this was subverted was in ''The New Frontier'' when a little boy who had been kidnapped by cultists was utterly terrified and driven to tears by Batman's original Golden Age costume with the demonic horn-like ears, which leads to him switching to the more streamlined and colorful Silver Age costume.
** In at least one story, he muses that the {{children are innocent}} and the innocent have nothing to fear from him.
* It has been established in Creator/DCComics that ''ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}'' is liked by ComicBook/{{Superman}}'s dog [[ComicBook/KryptoTheSuperdog Krypto]]. It's probably a side effect from Catwoman's having a knack for animals of all sorts, but still...
** And yes, the dog does literally lick her face. It should be pointed out that even though he seems to love her, she isn't that fond of him--she really isn't a dog person!

* Subverted in ''ComicBook/{{Lobo}}'s Paramilitary Christmas Special''. While discussing [[spoiler:the details of the Easter Bunny's contract hit on Santa Claus, a fluffy little bunny hops up to Lobo and sniffs at his fingers. [[GoryDiscretionShot A camera cut and a horrible squelching noise later]], the camera cuts back to Lobo flicking bloody chunks off his hand with a large red stain where the bunny used to be.]] Ouch.

* In ''Comicbook/RobocopVersusTheTerminator'', [=RoboCop=] pets a dog at one point and the dog responds in a friendly fashion. Since dogs [[EvilDetectingDog instinctively hate Terminators]], [=RoboCop=]'s companion takes this as proof that, whatever [=RoboCop=] is, he's no Terminator.
* For some reason, kids like ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}. He doesn't get it, though he doesn't mind it either. He even has a sort of BigBrotherMentor role for both Jubilee and Shadowcat, young women who joined the X-Men before they even turned eighteen. In most cases this would be okay. But for this particular person, it's not only highly unusual; it's often either the result of or leads directly to some sort of screwed-up situation or another.
** It does get stretched a bit when he has an entire mini-series of him co-starring with the ComicBook/PowerPack.
** Also, Rogue in Ultimateverse.
** That role is currently filled by Armor from Astonishing X-Men.
** X-23 also fills this role, Wolverine even adopted her.

** A literal example with Sameen Shaw who is a self-admitted SociopathicHero, and is still liked by Team Machine's [[TeamPet dog]] Bear. She also really likes him. Its even become a RunningGag where she will either state she is only on the team for the dog, or other characters commenting that "only the dog likes you".

* In ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'', [[CloudCuckooLander Agnes]] shows an instant affinity for Gru right after he adopts her sisters and her by attaching herself to his leg.

* ''Film/TheThirdMan: Anna says her cat only liked Harry, and it's the cat jumping out the window and running out on the street that alerts us to Harry's return.

* Phobia in a recent ''Webcomic/GastroPhobia'' storyline gets a literal LickedByTheDog moment- the dog in question is Gastro's birthday present and Phobia's surly attitude is because instead of the big hunting breed she'd intended to get, the only puppy left was a tiny Pomeranian-looking thing.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}} 11: Subterranean Animism'', the heroine is warned to fear the master of the Palace of Earth Spirits, a youkai who can read minds and use your very thoughts against you. The youkai in question, Satori Komeiji, is NotGoodWithPeople because of this (and her tendency to [[MindOverManners read thoughts out loud]])... but animals (and formerly-animal youkai) ''adore'' her because she understands them better than anyone else.