Duke from The Secret Life of Pets is described by the studio as a large, shaggy mutt (mixed-breed dog), but most sources and fans consider him a Newfoundland mix, possibly with some Briard-type traits.

What Duke Is In The Movie

  • In official descriptions, Duke is called a “massive standoffish mutt,” meaning he’s intentionally not a purebred dog with a defined pedigree.
  • A plot summary for the film specifically refers to him as a “large and shaggy Newfoundland mix dog” adopted from the pound.

Why People Say Newfoundland Mix

  • Duke is extremely large, heavily built, very shaggy, drools a lot, and is sweet-natured and loyal, which closely matches common traits of Newfoundland dogs.
  • Many pet and movie guides explicitly label him as a “Newfoundland mix,” treating that as the most likely real-world inspiration for his design.

Other Possible Breed Influences

  • Some writers and fans point out that he also resembles a Briard (a large French sheepdog) because of his long, brown, shaggy coat and herding-dog look.
  • The general consensus is that Duke is best thought of as a mixed-breed inspired mainly by Newfoundland, with possible visual nods to shaggy sheepdogs like the Briard.

TL;DR: Duke is officially a mixed-breed mutt in the movie, but he’s almost always identified as a Newfoundland mix, with a big, shaggy, gentle-giant vibe that matches that breed very closely.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.