11 Intriguing Details About Clifford the Big Red Dog

From his appearances in books, TV shows, films, and video games, Clifford has cemented his place as the most famous Big Red Dog globally. (It’s hard to believe that Norman Bridwell, the man behind Clifford, was once told he’d never achieve success.) Here are 10 lesser-known facts about one of the most beloved children’s book characters ever created.

1. Norman Bridwell, the creator of Clifford, was initially told he would never succeed.

Norman Bridwell repeatedly received criticism that his illustrations weren’t up to par and that he’d never succeed as an artist. Eventually, an editor advised him to craft a story around his sketches of a young girl and a pony-sized dog (inspired by Bridwell’s childhood dream of owning a rideable dog).

In 1962, Bridwell completed the story in just three days, also enlarging the dog’s size. “I never imagined the book would be published,” he shared with Boston magazine in 2012. Despite having no prior writing experience, Scholastic contacted him within three weeks of submitting the manuscript, leading to the publication of Clifford the Big Red Dog in February 1963.

2. Clifford’s name comes from an imaginary childhood friend.

Originally, Bridwell named the enormous dog Tiny, but his wife, Norma, disagreed. “Norma said, ‘That’s a ridiculous name for such a dog,’” Bridwell explained to NPR in 2012. “She recalled an imaginary friend from her childhood named Clifford and suggested it for the dog.”

3. Clifford’s red color was chosen for a very practical reason.

When questioned about Clifford’s iconic red hue, Bridwell revealed that “it was simply because I had red paint on my drawing table that evening.” This vibrant color might explain why children are so drawn to Clifford: “His bright shade and dynamic presence are crucial for stimulating brain development in young children,” Myra Mendez, Ph.D., LMFT, told Scholastic Parents in 2019. “Movement and vivid colors are essential for creating neural connections and fostering learning in early childhood.”

4. Bridwell’s daughter was the inspiration for a key character.

Emily Elizabeth, the young girl who adopts the smallest puppy in the first book, is named after Bridwell’s own daughter, Emily Elizabeth Bridwell. She was just a baby when he wrote the story. “I don’t recall the exact moment I realized the girl in the book was me,” she shared with the Globe in 2004. “It was always just understood that the character was based on me. It’s a special thing to experience.”

5. Clifford is a mixed breed.

Have you ever wondered what breed Clifford is? While he’s now described as resembling a giant Vizsla, his original design—when he was only pony-sized instead of house-sized—was based on a very large bloodhound. Bridwell drew inspiration from observing the behaviors of various dog breeds.

6. Bridwell insisted that Clifford act like an ordinary dog.

Bridwell admitted in 2012 that generating ideas for the Clifford books had become increasingly challenging. “Every time I come up with an idea, I realize it’s similar to something I’ve done before,” he said. “I’m running out of unique scenarios.” However, he refused to create stories like Clifford Goes to Outer Space or Clifford and the Dinosaurs. Bridwell, who passed away in 2014, was committed to keeping Clifford’s actions grounded in the behaviors of a typical dog, despite his enormous size.

7. Each Clifford story took approximately three months to complete.

As reported by Reading Rockets, Bridwell found inspiration for Clifford by observing dogs, whether his own or those in films and television. Once he had a clear idea for the story, he would sketch it out, then write and revise—a process spanning about three months. Regardless of the plot, the underlying message remained consistent: “If there’s one theme that appears in most of the books, it’s to keep trying, and if things don’t work out, don’t give up—try again,” Bridwell explained to PBS. “Clifford embodies this. He often makes mistakes or causes chaos, but he never stops trying.”

8. Clifford has been translated into 13 languages.

Since the debut of the first book in 1963, over 90 Clifford titles have been published, with more than 126 million copies printed in 13 different languages.

9. The Clifford cartoon featured voices from well-known actors.

If you’ve tuned into the Clifford cartoon on PBS, you’ve probably recognized some familiar voices. John Ritter voiced Clifford; Kel Mitchell from Kenan and Kel brought T-Bone to life; Cree Summers provided the voice for Cleo (also known as Penny in Inspector Gadget and Elmyra in Tiny Toon Adventures); and Grey DeLisle, who also voiced the McNulty Brothers in Rugrats and Queen Amidala in the Star Wars interactive series, played Emily Elizabeth.

10. Bridwell never understood why Clifford became so successful ...

Bridwell was the most surprised by Clifford’s success, initially thinking his first book would be a one-time hit. Though he couldn’t pinpoint the reason for the character’s popularity, he credited luck as a significant factor. “I’m fortunate that Clifford resonated with people,” he remarked. “I’ve been incredibly lucky. Sometimes it feels like a dream. How did this happen to me?”

11. ... But others believe it’s because children could relate to Clifford.

After Bridwell’s passing in 2014, Dick Robinson, Scholastic’s chairman, CEO, and president, released a statement explaining why he thought Bridwell and his iconic dog resonated so deeply with audiences:

“Norman Bridwell’s tales of Clifford, the most endearing dog of childhood, could only have come from a kind-hearted man with a wonderful sense of humor. Norman embodied the values we strive to teach our children—kindness, empathy, generosity, and gratitude—through the Clifford stories that have been cherished for over five decades. The charm of Clifford lies in how children see themselves in this oversized dog who tries his best but often stumbles, makes mistakes, and bumps into things. What reassures readers is that Emily Elizabeth always forgives him, loving him no matter what.”