I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

2003 television special

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie BrownGenreAnimated TV specialCreated byCharles M. SchulzDirected byBill MelendezLarry LeichliterVoices ofJimmy BennettAdam Taylor GordonAshley Rose OrrCorey Padnos Hannah Leigh DworkinNick PriceJake MinerKailtyn MaggioBill MelendezTheme music composerVince GuaraldiOpening theme"Linus and Lucy"Ending theme"Re-Run's Theme"ComposerDavid BenoitCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producerLee MendelsonProducerBill MelendezRunning time45 minutesProduction companiesUnited MediaMendelson-MelendezOriginal releaseNetworkABCReleaseDecember 9, 2003 (2003-12-09)Related Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (2003) He's a Bully, Charlie Brown (2006)

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is the 43rd prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. The special first aired on ABC on December 9, 2003 (A Veteran’s Day Salute). The special is about Linus and Lucy's younger brother, Rerun, wanting a pet dog for Christmas. It was released to DVD and VHS by Paramount on October 26, 2004, and Warner Home Video released it as a remastered deluxe edition on DVD on October 6, 2009, which also included Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! as a bonus feature. This special was re-released as part of the box set Snoopy's Holiday Collection on October 1, 2013. The special continued to air on ABC until 2019. As of 2020, the special will be among the collection of Peanuts productions available only to Apple TV+ subscribers; it was released on that platform on December 2, 2022.

[edit] After unfair treatment by his older siblings Linus and Lucy and getting in trouble at school, Rerun thinks that having a pet dog will cheer him up. He writes a letter to Santa Claus asking for a dog, but is later discouraged by the expensive costs of owning a pet and his mother's objections. Watching Snoopy dance to Schroeder's music, Rerun asks Charlie Brown if Snoopy has any siblings, and Charlie Brown shows him pictures of Snoopy's brothers and sisters. Rerun asks Charlie Brown if he can play with Snoopy sometime. Rerun has fun playing with Snoopy, but in the following days, Snoopy is busy and refuses to play. Rerun again searches for a dog, and Lucy argues that Rerun would not know how to take care of a dog if he got one. Rerun learns by watching Snoopy, who gets a letter from his brother Spike, who lives in the desert. Rerun wants Spike as a pet and has Snoopy write him a letter. After Spike visits, Rerun has fun with him, but his mother, though she comments Rerun has done a good job caring for him, does not allow Spike to stay only because he looked so bad upon his arrival that she feels bad for him. Charlie Brown tries to get Spike re-adopted, but fails and has to send him back to the desert. Noticing that Rerun is upset over Spike leaving, Lucy signs him up for a Christmas play, in which he forgets his line. Rerun then asks to play with Snoopy, who wants to be pulled on a sled; Rerun comments, "Maybe a dog is too much trouble."

[edit] Jimmy Bennett as Rerun van Pelt Ashley Rose Orr as Lucy van Pelt Corey Padnos as Linus van Pelt Adam Taylor Gordon as Charlie Brown Hannah Leigh Dworkin as Sally Brown Nick Price as Schroeder Jake Miner as Franklin, Pig-Pen Kaitlyn Maggio as Little Pigtailed Girl, Violet Bill Melendez as Snoopy, Spike, Woodstock Shermy, Patty and Eudora also appear, but they are silent.

[edit] This special is the second time Snoopy's brothers Marbles, Olaf, and Andy appear in a Peanuts special, the first being 1991's Snoopy's Reunion. His sister Belle is also mentioned, but not seen. The scene in which Lucy fattens Spike up was previously used in the "Snoopy's Brother Spike" episode of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, with several lines being near-identical to the original episode.

[edit] I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown drew 10.2 million viewers on the night it premiered in 2003, losing the evening's ratings battle to a reairing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which topped that night with 13.7 million viewers on CBS. Anita Gates of The New York Times gave mixed opinions, who wrote that the special "feels like a hodgepodge of four-frame strips strung together in an unsuccessful attempt to create a unified story," understanding that Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson had made a commitment to create new specials working from material only from the strip. She wrote that the "one-two-three-punch-line" structure of the strips poorly translated into animation, but otherwise felt the special kept "the bittersweet charm" of Charles Schulz's work.

[edit] The music score for I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is a mix of classic Peanuts melodies composed by Vince Guaraldi and new themes composed by David Benoit. All songs composed by Guaraldi (except where noted) and performed and arranged by Benoit.

"Re-Run's Theme / Linus and Lucy" (David Benoit / Vince Guaraldi) "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Linus and Lucy" (opening) "Oh, Good Grief" (Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson) "Pebble Beach" "Spike's Theme" (slow) (David Benoit) "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Christmas Time Is Here" "Skating" "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Piano Sonata No. 8" "Christmas Is Coming" "Red Baron" (alternate) "Re-Run's Theme" (slow) (David Benoit) "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Charlie Brown Theme" "Re-Run's Theme" (slow) (David Benoit) "Piano Sonata No. 23" Ludwig van Beethoven "Christmas Time Is Here" "Re-Run's Theme" (with "Jingle Bells") (David Benoit, James Lord Pierpont) "Oh, Good Grief" (Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson) "Red Baron" (alternate) "Spike's Theme" (David Benoit) "Piano Sonata No. 18" "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Spike's Theme" (David Benoit) "Linus and Lucy" "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Blue Charlie Brown" "Spike's Theme" (David Benoit) "Christmas Time Is Here" "Re-Run's Theme" (David Benoit) "Re-Run's Theme" (closing) (David Benoit)

No official soundtrack for I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown was released. However, a version of "Re-Run's Theme" was commercially released by Benoit on Jazz For Peanuts: A Retrospective Of The Charlie Brown Television Themes (2008).

Even though the story is simple—a kid wants a dog for Christmas—it hits a chord because it mirrors a timeless Christmas wish: the yearning for companionship. Rerun’s earnest plea echoes the festive mood when families gather, and pets often become the unofficial members of the clan. The special taps into the nostalgic charm of Peanuts, using familiar characters to remind us that the best gifts aren’t always pricey gadgets but the joy of caring for another being. It also subtly nods to the era’s growing awareness of responsible pet ownership, making the tale feel both cozy and surprisingly contemporary.

Make the 45‑minute viewing a pre‑Christmas ritual. Pop a mug of hot chocolate, tuck a soft blanket over the couch, and let the kids choose a small stocking‑style treat for Rerun’s imagined pup. After the episode, discuss what it means to care for a pet—food, vet visits, walks—and let the conversation guide a real‑life decision about adding a dog to the family. If a pet isn’t feasible, consider a day‑out at a local animal shelter or a volunteer stint. This turns a simple TV slot into an educational moment that extends the Christmas spirit beyond the screen.

The score, stitched together by Vince Guaraldi’s classic ‘Linus and Lucy’ and fresh touches from David Benoit, does more than set a festive backdrop; it underscores Rerun’s emotional journey. The melodic shifts from playful piano to softer, introspective tones mirror his hope turning into disappointment and finally acceptance. Paying attention to the music can heighten the viewing experience, especially for kids who respond instinctively to rhythm and mood. Next time you watch, try turning the volume up just enough to hear the subtle cues—your family might pick up on the story’s emotional layers without even realising it.