Maybe Snoopy isn’t the best dog inPeanutsafter all, if all of these crimes are anything to go by. Linus and his security blanket are as synonymous with each other as peanut butter and jelly. As close as Linus is with his blanket, there is one special beagle who always tries to take the blanket from Linus so he can keep it all to himself: the one and only Snoopy, of course.
Unfortunately for Linus, Snoopy is one determined dog, using all sorts of tactics to try to get the blanket from him. While Snoopy has had some success in taking Linus' blanket and is even given the blanket from Linus for a storyline, he is typically pretty unsuccessful. It seems like Snoopy partly tries to steal Linus' blanket just to mess with him, like any friend trying to ruffle the feathers of a buddy. Linus does not usually see it that way though, frequently showing an angry side of himself that is not constantly seen in the comic strips.
10"Dr. Spock? In Person?"
November 1st, 1959
When Sally and Snoopy are enjoying relaxing on Linus' security blanket, he is unsurprisingly very upset and decides to concoct an ingenious plan to get his blanket back. He uses some famous names for a baby and a dog to lure them off the blanket and to the front door, all so Linus can strike and get his blanket back.
This comic strip is not the first time thatPeanutsmentioned Dr. Spock, with this 1959 comic being the third time that the doctor was mentioned. It was also the last time Dr. Spock was mentioned inPeanuts.
Dr. Spock was a very famous pediatrician who wrote several influential baby and child care books, making him gain the name of the “baby whisperer.” Consequently, Sally is willing to crawl as fast as she can to meet the illustrious Dr. Spock, who is, unfortunately for her, only a distraction. The theft of his blanket comes at a bad time, with Linus already going through the harsh disappointment of the Great Pumpkin not showing up on Halloween night, making his desperation for his blanket even more prominent than usual.
9"Travel!"
February 20th, 1959
Linus contemplates how much strength his blanket gives him, as well as some unexpected benefits of the blanket, like apparently traveling, as seen when Snoopy drags Linus around at lightning speed. It is perfectly in line with Linus' optimistic nature to think of all the good things the blanket does for him, even when it involves being dragged around by a thieving beagle.
While Linus may know that his severe attachment to his blanket is not ideal, and it is a bit of a problem, especially for those around him, he refuses to kid himself and notes how much he thinks he needs his blanket. But Snoopy does not care all too much aboutLinus’s codependent naturewith his blanket and still tries to attempt to steal it, even if it means that Linus comes along with it as a sort of package deal.
8"Dogs Don’t Understand ‘Or’"
October 17th, 1999
Snoopy is determined to get Linus' blanket all to himself. When Linus catches Snoopy eyeing his blanket, he warns the beagle, letting him know not to lay a finger on the blanket or else. Snoopy does not take too kindly to the “or” of it all and decides to go full throttle in getting the blanket from Linus, swinging Linus around like a rag doll in determination before letting Linus as well as the blanket go after he thinks he has shown dogs do not understand “or.”
While it may look like Snoopy is being a little rough with Linus, the pair’s roughhousing is all in good fun. Snoopy and Linus have actually been shown to be quite caring towards one another, being acriminally underratedPeanutsduo. However, that does not mean that Linus will just let Snoopy steal his blanket without any sort of defense.
7"I Love a Good Warning"
September 14th, 1991
Linus is not an aggressive childwhatsoever. In fact, he usually tries to play peacemaker. However, if there is one thing that will set him off, it is someone trying to separate him from his security blanket. Just the mere longing look from Snoopy at his blanket is enough for Linus to threaten the poor dog: if he even moves towards his blanket, Linus will destroy all his hopes and dreams.
Snoopy decides to take the threat seriously and deems it a fair warning. Snoopy has a lot of life experience - in his own mind and fantasies, at least - so he knows a good warning when he hears it. Given how much happiness Linus gets from his blanket, one really can’t blame Snoopy for wanting the blanket for himself, too. Too bad for Snoopy that he can never seem to have the blanket for long.
6"Rats!"
June 15th, 1958
Snoopy likes to pretenda lot; it is one of his most well-known personality quirks. Consequently, it is not all that surprising that he pretends to be a tiger in order to sneak through the grass and pounce on Linus to steal his blanket. He tries - key word being “tries” - to scare Linus away from the blanket, but it is to no avail. Linus is either not falling for Snoopy’s trick, or Linus is just so attached to his blanket that it overrides any potential fear he could be experiencing.
If it were any other kid, Snoopy’s plan would have had a much higher chance of working, but this is Linus, after all; little to nothing can separate Linus from his blanket. His beloved Miss Othmar being against blankets is not enough to separate Linus from his blanket, and apparently, Snoopy’s schemes are not enough either.
5"There’s a Thief Around Here!"
September 17th, 1961
When Linus’s blanket goes missing, he is absolutely livid, ready to let whoever stole his precious possession get a big-time beat down from him. Snoopy overhears Linus’s proclamation of all-out war for whoever has his blanket, so he jumps up in terror, evading Linus. Luckily for Snoopy, he gets to parachute down thanks to the blanket. Linus' blanket has been shown to have multiple uses, with a parachute being just one of them.
Linus usually tries to stay pretty level-headed, but when it comes to Snoopy stealing his blanket, his calm nature flies out the window in favor of a fiery disposition that makes him prepared to fight. Likewise, Snoopy is not himself either, scared witless by Linus' threatsdespite Snoopy typically beinga pretty brave and fearless dog… except when icicles are in the mix.
4"Dogs Never Rue the Day!"
February 25th, 1996
Snoopy can be very sneaky when he wants to be, with no bigger example being than when he tries to steal Linus' blanket. As Snoopy inches closer and closer to his blanket, Linus decides to deliver some harsh threats to Snoopy about how he will regret and rue trying to take his blanket.However, Linus did not factor one thing into his warnings: “dogs never rue the day,” so Snoopy is willing to take the risk and runs off with Linus' blanket… and Linus.
While Snoopy ultimately decides to go for it and steal Linus' blanket, he at least thinks it all over when Linus first gives him the notice that he will regret, have remorse, and even repent if he touches the blanket.Snoopy is frequentlyan act-now-and-think-later kind of pup, with this comic strip being a surprising departure from that character trait.
3"I Never Dreamed He’d Fight So Dirty"
August 8th, 1971
After Snoopy has sneakily lurked to be as stealthy as possible to steal Linus' blanket from him, he is successful, and the blanket is in his possession. Unfortunately for Snoopy, Linus will not stand for the blanket theft this time, playing hard ball and threatening to forever take Snoopy’s beloved supper dish if he does not give back the security blanket.
This specific comic strip was adapted into a segment of an episode ofThe Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
The thought of losing his supper dish is too much for Snoopy to bear, so he reluctantly gives up the blanket to save his supper dish, surprised that Linus would stoop to such dirty tactics. Much like how Snoopy is surprised at Linus' cutthroat nature in this comic strip, so are the readers, being shocked in the most humorous way possible that Linus has been pushed to the brink over his blanket that he is willing to hold Snoopy’s supper dish hostage.
2"Very Safe Keeping…"
November 6th, 1971
In a side-splitting storyline,Linus tries to kickhis blanket habit once and for all, so he enlists Snoopy’s help by asking him to keep his blanket for him and to not give it back to him under any circumstances. Snoopy relishes his new job, perhaps a little too much, making full use of Linus' blanket. For instance, this strip shows Snoopy definitely keeping an eye on Linus’s blanket: using it as his own personal quilt, which is not exactly what Linus had in mind.
At least Snoopy is enjoying his time with the blanket. Using the blanket as a quilt is the least damage Snoopy does, with the beagle turning the blanket into a sports coat for himself and a tiny one for Woodstock in the storyline. Later, Linus does end up kicking his blanket habit… for a split second before Charlie Brown surprises him with a new one, and Linus gets drawn back in again.
1"Everyone Brings Something to the Party"
October 8th, 1996
While Snoopy is trying to steal Linus' blanket as much as possible, he decides to enact a more peaceful strategy: he joins Linus, who is snuggling with his blanket, and provides his warm and fuzzy self as a payment for letting him stay on the blanket even though he was not invited.
Usually, when Snoopy triesto take Linus' blanket, the pair inevitably end up in a fight, chasing each other around, or even blackmail. In contrast, this strip gives both parties the best of both worlds. Snoopy gets to sleep with the blanket without getting threatened and Linus gets to relax with his blanket without having to worry about Snoopy stealing it from under his nose. The duo finally have a moment of peace where they both can enjoy the coveted blanket, creating a funny yet heartwarmingPeanutsstrip.
Peanuts
Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts is a multimedia franchise that began as a comic strip in the 1950s and eventually expanded to include films and a television series. Peanuts follows the daily adventures of the Peanuts gang, with Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy at the center of them. Aside from the film released in 2015, the franchise also has several Holiday specials that air regularly on U.S. Television during their appropriate seasons.
