Bad Dog (TV series) facts for kids

Bad Dog is a fun Canadian-American cartoon show. It was made by CinéGroupe and Saban Entertainment. The show first aired on Teletoon in Canada on March 1, 1999. It also showed on Fox Family Channel in the United States.

The cartoon is all about the Potanski family and their dog, Berkeley. Berkeley is a very special dog. Whenever someone calls him a "bad dog," he freezes and pretends to be dead. He only wakes up when someone says "good dog." This funny trick is a big part of the show!

The idea for the show came from a screensaver called "Bad Dog." This screensaver was part of the After Dark software. The dog in the show, Berkeley, looks a lot like the dog from the screensaver. His name, Berkeley, might even be a nod to Berkeley Systems, the company that made After Dark.

Meet the Characters

Get to know the funny characters in Bad Dog!

The Potanski Family

• Berkeley (also known as "Barky"): He's the main character, a dog who loves adventures. Berkeley often gets everyone into funny trouble. He tries to obey every command he hears. But if he hears "Bad Dog," he faints! He only wakes up when he hears "Good Dog."
• "Little Vic" Potanski: Vic is the younger son in the family. He loves Berkeley very, very much.
• Penelope Potanski: She is the only daughter. Penelope cares a lot about her looks. She also enjoys acting and theatre.
• Trevor Potanski: Trevor is the older son and a genius. He wears glasses and loves playing chess. He can get easily worried. Trevor also has many allergies and fears.
• Mr. Potanski: He is the father and an inventor. Mr. Potanski owns a business called "Potanski's Top Of The Line." But his inventions often cause big problems!
• Mrs. Potanski: She is the mother and a psychiatrist. Her office is right in their house.
• Grandfather Potanski: He is the oldest Potanski family member. He used to be an astronaut. Grandfather Potanski loves watching space shows. He sometimes mixes up people's names.

Neighbors and Friends

• Lester Johnson: He is the Potanskis' neighbor. Lester loves his cat, Special, very much. But he really dislikes Berkeley, calling him "The Beast Dog."
• Special: This is Lester Johnson's cat. Special usually stays still. Berkeley often tries to play with or find Special.
• Mrs. Simpkins: She is a frequent patient of Mrs. Potanski. Mrs. Simpkins is afraid of many things. Her biggest fear seems to be dogs.

Voice Actors

Many talented people gave voices to the characters in Bad Dog. Here are some of them:

• Harvey Atkin
• Sheila McCarthy
• John Stocker
• Emilie Barlow
• Tracey Moore
• Robert Smith
• James Rankin
• Ron Rubin
• Richard Binsley
• Don Francks
• Michael Daingerfield (as Professor Peerless)

Episode Guide

Bad Dog had two seasons with a total of 40 episodes. Each episode usually had two short stories.

Season 1 Episodes

• 1. Disobedience School Part 1 / Disobedience School Part 2

Berkeley acts strangely. Mrs. Eva tries to hypnotize Berkeley to be a normal dog.

• 2. Beast Of Show / Trouble With Toto

Berkeley joins Lester and Special at a cat show. Penelope tries to keep Berkeley out of a school play.

• 3. Take Me Out Of The Ballgame / Potanskis Go Hollywood

Mr. Potanski puts Berkeley and the kids on a baseball team. The family tries to star in a commercial.

• 4. Space Dog / Robo-Dog

Berkeley and Grandfather Potanski accidentally fly into space. The family orders a robot dog named Happyway 3000.

• 5. Berkeley Takes The Cake / Neighborhood Botch

Penelope tries to hide her birthday cake from Berkeley. Berkeley stops criminals from robbing houses.

• 6. The Mild Bunch / Berkeley Smells A Rat

Mr. Potanski takes the kids on a scout trip to the forest. Berkeley thinks there's a rat in the house.

• 7. Buckaroo Berkeley / Real Incredible Genius Dog

Mr. Potanski wants to ride a bull. The family enters Berkeley in a smart animal competition.

• 8. Big Inflatable Dog / Berkeley Speaks Out

Three mayors win a platform contest. Trevor creates a machine for a science fair.

• 9. Bad Dad / They Came, They Saw, They Meowed

Mr. Potanski gets angry at Berkeley for causing trouble. Berkeley brings home a space cat.

• 10. Sick Puppy / Bad Dog To The Bone

Mrs. Potanski hypnotizes Berkeley to not fear the vet. The Potanskis' house is above an old temple.

• 11. The Flying Potanskis / Burden Of Woof

Penelope wants to be a circus star. Mr. Johnson tries to get Berkeley arrested.

• 12. A Dog For All Sneezens / If Bad Dog Had A Hammer

Berkeley and Trevor get allergies from dog shampoo. Berkeley and the boys try to fix Mrs. Potanski's room.

• 13. Love Dog / Bad Dog Ate My Homework

Grandfather Potanski misses his girlfriend. Berkeley tries to eat Penelope's science project.

• 14. Dogs Are People Too / Fire Dog

Berkeley is hypnotized to act like a normal dog again. Berkeley and the boys become fire guards.

• 15. It's A Zoo In Here / A Cat Of A Different Color

Berkeley meets a sad monkey. Berkeley and Vic play with Special and another cat.

• 16. Til Dog Do Us Part / Psycho Dog

Mrs. Simpkins gets married. Mr. Johnson loses his voice.

• 17. Celebrity Spokesdog / Jurassic Bark

Berkeley becomes famous for a dog cookie commercial. Berkeley and Vic want to see dinosaurs.

• 18. Bad Dog Overboard / Dr. Bad Dog's 2½ Day Diet

Berkeley and the boys go on a fishing trip. Berkeley tries to put Mr. Potanski on a diet.

• 19. Super Bad Dog / A Man's Best Fred

Berkeley becomes a superhero. Trevor becomes obsessed with a robot.

• 20. If I Were A Bad Dog / Bad Night At The Opera

Sally decides to switch the family's roles. Berkeley joins his owners at the opera.

• 21. Bad Dog Imitates Art / No Bad Dogs Allowed

Berkeley and Vic help Penelope with an art project. Berkeley gets a bath at a dog salon.

• 22. Bad Therapy / Police Dog

Berkeley and the family help older people be happy. Berkeley becomes a policeman.

• 23. Bad Connection / Prison Dog

Berkeley digs a tunnel from his house to Mr. Johnson's. Berkeley helps two criminals escape.

• 24. Barky's Arky / Nightmare on Berkeley's Street

Berkeley gathers animals for an ark. Grandfather Potanski has nightmares.

• 25. 101 Berkeleys / The Isle Of Bad Dog

Trevor accidentally makes many Berkeleys, but it's a dream. Berkeley is mistaken for a different creature.

• 26. Smiley Says ... Bad Dog / No Cure For A Bad Dog

Berkeley and Vic want to be on a TV show. Mr. Potanski gets hiccups.

Season 2 Episodes (2000)

• 27. Badseat Driver / International Genius Dog (Aired June 6, 2000)

The Potanski family buys a new car. Berkeley enters another smart animal competition.

• 28. Bad Dog's Incredible Journey / Nurse Barky (Aired February 2, 2000)

Berkeley gets left behind on a trip. Penelope pretends to be sick to skip school.

• 29. One Bad Apple / Beauty and the Beast Dog (Aired February 9, 2000)

Berkeley goes to kindergarten. Trevor asks Berkeley for help with a girl.

• 30. Booty for Bad Dog / Dog Breath (Aired February 9, 2000)

Berkeley searches for treasure underwater. Berkeley's breath becomes very smelly.

• 31. Safari Dog / Magic Dog (Aired February 16, 2000)

The Potanski family visits a safari park. Berkeley reveals a magician's tricks.

• 32. Ye Olde Bad Dog / Bad Dogs and Englishmen (Aired February 16, 2000)

The family goes to a knight fair. An English family takes Berkeley away.

• 33. Dog-Napped / Bad Dog-Eared (Aired February 23, 2000)

Two criminals kidnap Berkeley. Berkeley starts to lose his hearing.

• 34. Counting Sheep Dogs / Beauty Dog (Aired February 23, 2000)

Mr. Potanski can't sleep. Berkeley enters a dog beauty pageant.

• 35. Wag the Bad Dog / Dog House Arrest (Aired March 1, 2000)

Berkeley joins his owners on a trip to Washington. Berkeley is not allowed to go outside.

• 36. Ding, Dong, Bad Dog Calling / Guard Dog (Aired March 1, 2000)

Berkeley and Vic try to give Mr. Johnson chocolate. Berkeley learns to be a guard dog from TV.

• 37. A Super Bad Hair Day / Animal Magnetism (Aired March 8, 2000)

Berkeley causes problems for a model. Berkeley eats a magnet.

• 38. Earth Dog / Good Lovin' Gone Bad Dog (Aired March 8, 2000)

The boys try to avoid Earth Day activities. Berkeley and Mrs. Simpkins are hypnotized to fall in love.

• 39. A Very Berkeley Christmas / Doggy Detective (Aired December 14, 2000)

Vic wants Santa Claus as a Christmas gift. Berkeley investigates some thieves.

• 40. Bad Blood is Thicker Than Water / They Came, They Saw, They Purred (Aired May 3, 2000)

Berkeley meets his own family again. The space cat's assistants try to get their leader back.