If you’ve spent any time staring at a grid of white and black squares on a Monday or Tuesday morning, you know the frustration. You’ve got the across clues mostly handled, but then you hit a snag in the downs. You see it: drooling pooch of the comics NYT. It’s four letters. Your brain immediately goes to Snoopy. Too long. Maybe Marmaduke? Way too long.
The answer is Odie.
Honestly, it’s always Odie. Jim Davis created a masterpiece of slobber when he introduced Garfield’s yellow-furred roommate back in 1978. While Garfield is the cynical, lasagna-loving face of the franchise, Odie is the engine of pure, unadulterated joy (and saliva). If you’re a crossword enthusiast, you’ve probably noticed that the New York Times crossword loves certain words. They love "Oreo," they love "Eerie," and they absolutely adore "Odie."
The Anatomy of the Drooling Pooch of the Comics NYT Clue
Why does this specific clue keep popping up? It’s basically because of the vowels. Crossword constructors are constantly looking for ways to link difficult sections of a puzzle, and a word starting with O and ending in IE is a literal godsend for them.
Odie first appeared in the Garfield strip on August 8, 1978. Originally, he wasn't even Jon Arbuckle’s dog. He belonged to a character named Lyman, Jon’s friend who eventually vanished from the strip in one of the great "whatever happened to that guy?" mysteries of the comic world. When Lyman left, Odie stayed. And he brought the drool with him.
The New York Times uses this clue because it’s a "gimme" for seasoned solvers but can still trip up a casual fan who might be thinking of more modern dogs or maybe Brian from Family Guy. But let’s be real, Brian is too sophisticated to be defined primarily by his drool. Odie, on the other hand, has a tongue that defies the laws of physics. It’s huge. It’s wet. It’s usually hanging out of his mouth at a forty-five-degree angle.
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Why Odie Sticks in Our Brains
There is something strangely comforting about a character that never changes. For decades, Odie has been the victim of Garfield's "Sparta kick" off the kitchen table. He never gets mad. He just bounces back up, tongue wagging, ready to lick Garfield’s face.
In the world of the NYT crossword, "Odie" is what we call "crosswordese." It’s a word that appears more often in puzzles than it does in actual daily conversation. When was the last time you actually talked about Odie in your real life? Probably 1994. But in the world of Will Shortz and the puzzle-making elite, Odie is a king.
Beyond the Grid: The History of Comics’ Most Famous Slobberer
If you want to get technical, Odie is a beagle/dachshund mix, though Jim Davis has joked that he’s just a "purebred clown." The drool isn't just a gag; it’s a character trait. It represents his lack of guile. Unlike Garfield, who is layered with irony and sarcasm, Odie is transparent. He is what he is: a dog that loves everyone and leaks a bit.
There was actually a brief period where Odie talked—or rather, thought—in the comics, but Davis quickly realized that Odie is much more effective as a silent foil. His silence makes him the perfect victim and the perfect friend.
Other Common "Comics" Clues to Watch For
When you see drooling pooch of the comics NYT, your fingers should instinctively start typing O-D-I-E. But the Times is sneaky. They might switch it up on you. Here are a few other comic-related clues that frequently dance around the same territory:
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- Snoopy's bird pal: Woodstock (nine letters, usually a mid-week clue).
- Dagwood's dog: Daisy (five letters, a classic).
- Dog in "The Thin Man": Asta (four letters, this one is an absolute crossword staple).
- Sandy's owner: Annie (five letters).
Notice a pattern? These are all short, vowel-heavy names. If you’re serious about getting your streak up on the NYT app, you need to memorize these names like they're your own children’s birthdays.
How to Solve the NYT Crossword Faster
If you struggled with the drooling pooch of the comics NYT today, don't feel bad. Every expert started somewhere. The trick to getting faster isn't just knowing more trivia; it's recognizing the patterns of the constructors.
Most people try to solve 1-Across and then 2-Across and so on. That’s a mistake. You want to jump around. Find the "gimmes." If you see a clue about a comic strip dog, and it's four letters, you put in "Odie" in pencil (or the digital equivalent). Then, look at the letters that cross it. If the 'D' in Odie helps you solve "A drink with a kick," and you realize the answer is "Soda," you know you're on the right track.
The New York Times crossword gets harder as the week goes on. Monday is the easiest, and Saturday is the hardest (Sunday is just big, not necessarily the most difficult). Odie is a Monday/Tuesday staple. If he shows up on a Thursday, the clue will be much more cryptic, like "Lyman's legacy" or "One who takes many kicks."
The Evolution of the Clue
Over the years, the way the Times clues Odie has shifted slightly to keep people on their toes.
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- The Direct Approach: "Garfield's pal."
- The Physical Description: "Long-tongued comic dog."
- The Alliteration: "Drooling dog of the dailies."
- The Relationship: "Jon Arbuckle’s pet."
Regardless of how they dress it up, the core of the answer remains that lovable, brainless pup.
Next Steps for Your Crossword Journey
To master the NYT Crossword, stop viewing clues as literal questions and start viewing them as wordplay puzzles. When you see "drooling pooch," don't think about every dog you've ever met; think about the constraints of the grid.
Keep a "cheat sheet" of common crosswordese. Words like ALOE, AREA, ERIE, and ODIE should be second nature. The more you play, the more you'll realize that the constructors aren't trying to trick you with obscure knowledge as much as they are trying to fit words together like a giant, linguistic jigsaw puzzle.
Go back to your grid. Type in O-D-I-E. Watch those crossing words start to make sense. And maybe give your own dog a pat on the head—hopefully with a bit less drool than our friend from the comics.