It's a Dog's Life, Charlie Brown

Lore & Background

In the Peanuts universe, Snoopy's mischief has finally pushed the other kids too far. They all demand that Charlie Brown do something about it, as Snoopy is his dog. Reluctantly, Charlie Brown decides to send Snoopy back to his birthplace, the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, for obedience training. The journey is a two-day trip, so Charlie Brown calls Peppermint Patty and asks to let Snoopy stay there for one night en route.

Peppermint Patty agrees, but a scheming Snoopy decides to stay on and has her waiting on him, hand and foot, which confuses her. A week later, the Puppy Farm calls Charlie Brown to inform him that Snoopy never arrived. Realizing Snoopy is still at Peppermint Patty's house, Charlie Brown goes over with a leash to take Snoopy home, but the dog escapes and runs back. Peppermint Patty lets Snoopy stay, but instead of returning to the easy life he enjoyed, she puts him to work doing menial chores, much to his dismay.

Reader's Guide

The special features the voice cast including Peter Robbins as Charlie Brown, Bill Melendez as Snoopy, Sally Dryer as Lucy van Pelt, Chris Shea as Linus van Pelt, Gai DeFaria as Peppermint Patty, Glenn Mendelson as Schroeder, Ann Altieri as Violet, Lisa DeFaria as Patty, and Matthew Liftin as 5. He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown was the last Peanuts special featuring the majority of the original voice cast from the first Peanuts special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

It was also the first special to credit Bill Melendez as the voice of Snoopy. Both He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown and You're in Love, Charlie Brown were nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming in 1968. Stock footage from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) is used when Snoopy flies on his doghouse. The ending segment where Snoopy and Lucy quarrel was inspired by a comic strip storyline that originally ran May 24–29, 1965.

It was later adapted for The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show (1983) episode "Snoopy: Man's Best Friend" and the French television series Peanuts (2014) episode "L'amour du risque".