What Was the Dog’s Name in Vacation?

If you’re a fan of the classic comedy movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” you might have wondered what the name of the Griswold family’s dog was. In this article, we’ll explore the identity of this iconic pooch and delve into some interesting trivia surrounding his role in the film.

The Dog’s Role in the Film

The dog in “Vacation” plays a fairly minor role in the overall plot, but he does make several memorable appearances throughout the movie. He first appears when Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) is attempting to pack up his car for a cross-country road trip with his family. The dog is seen wandering around the yard and causing chaos as Clark tries to load up the car.

Later on in the film, during a stop at a campground, the dog is shown barking incessantly at nearby campers and generally being a nuisance. And towards the end of the movie, when the Griswolds finally reach their destination (the fictional Walley World amusement park), they are seen leaving their dog tied up outside while they go inside to enjoy themselves.

The Dog’s Name

So what is the name of this mischievous mutt? The answer is: he doesn’t have one!

That’s right – throughout “Vacation,” nobody ever refers to the dog by name. He is simply known as “the Griswold family dog.”

This lack of a name might seem odd to some viewers, but it actually makes sense when you consider that the dog isn’t really a major character in the story. Naming him would have been unnecessary and possibly even distracting from the main plot.

Trivia About The Dog

Despite his relatively minor role in “Vacation,” there are still some interesting facts and tidbits surrounding this four-legged actor:

• The dog was actually played by two different animals during filming. A yellow Labrador Retriever named “Barley” was used for most of the scenes, but a second dog (a Border Collie mix named “Penny”) was used for a few shots where Barley wasn’t available.
• Barley’s owner was on set during filming to ensure that he was well taken care of and not put in any dangerous situations.
• During the scene where the Griswolds leave the dog tied up outside Walley World, Barley was actually tied to a stake that had been driven into the ground. The stake was attached to a cable that ran under the pavement and up through Chevy Chase’s pants, allowing him to discreetly control the dog’s movements with his foot.

In Conclusion..

So there you have it – everything you ever wanted to know (and maybe some things you didn’t) about the Griswold family dog from “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” While he may not have had a name, this furry little troublemaker certainly left an impression on audiences and helped make “Vacation” the classic comedy that it is today.