Brian Griffin

Brian is a talking dog, who has lived with the Griffin family since Peter picked him up as a stray. While he exhibits some typical dog behaviors like eating garbage, licking himself, intensely fearing the vacuum cleaner and the dog whistle, sleeping at the foot of Peter Griffin's bed, and trouble standing up in the car, he also possesses various anthropomorphic qualities, such as the ability to speak intelligently, drive a car, and walk bipedally. He also has a particularly sharp wit. Peter is his best friend, despite Brian's vastly superior intelligence.

Brian has a cultured background; he loves opera and jazz (he is a fan of John Coltrane) and speaks fluent French, Tagalog, and decent Spanish. He is also a member of Mensa. He loves to sing, and can imitate a barbershop quartet without accompaniment. He is an avid writer, having once been invited to write for The New Yorker; although he was fired from the magazine when it was learned he did not graduate from college. He has also attempted to write a novel, although has made little progress (for which Stewie mocks him). He is a smoker (although in the commentary for the episode Road to Rhode Island on The Freakin' Sweet Collection, Brian stated that he has quit smoking and has gained weight as a result and he also did not smoke during the 2006-2007 season), an alcoholic and recovered cocaine addict. Brian discovered that his alcoholism has stemmed from his mother abandoning him and for which he saw a therapist. He has also referred to buying, being in possession of, or smoking marijuana in five episodes.