Blue Bloods Inspired Dog Names

In the world of police work, loyalty is key. Just ask the numerous partners of the Reagan family in Blue Bloods. While characters like Jamie have a fair amount of fluidity in terms of the partners assigned to them, loyalty to the work itself and others is one of the themes the show often plays on. 

Strangely enough, despite the dynamic that is normally portrayed by police officers and their dogs in most cop dramas, Blue Bloods actually reverses the roles in one of its more memorable episodes (Season 4, Episode 9, “Bad Blood”). 

Throughout the show, Frank Reagan’s history in the police force is defined in great detail. Part of his past experience in the 1980s came from working with K-9 unit, which happens to be an important point in the context of Bad Blood’s storyline. During the course of the episode, it is revealed that one of the force’s most friendly and reliable K-9 dogs is accused of attacking a young boy and is to go on trial for police brutality because of it. Frank, who is accustomed to doing much of the legwork himself thanks to years of experience and a constant drive to uncover the truth, takes on the issue first hand, vowing to get to the root of the issue. 

Frank first dives into Ray’s background but finds nothing troubling. In fact, he finds out that the dog is not only well-behaved but is routinely good with children, even playing with the officer’s nieces frequently without issue. He is then driven to test the theory further by taking the dog out of his kennel and giving him orders, which he reacts to immediately. Further research on Frank’s part takes him to meet the father of the boy who was attacked, who then admits that the boy’s grandmother is the owner of an out-of-control dog herself, indicating that Ray might be innocent after all — he is later exonerated because of it. 

Raymond’s part in the episode proves to reveal part of Frank’s past that is rarely otherwise touched on in the entirety of the series: as a former K-9 handler, he worked closely with a dog himself but lost him in the line of duty and was never granted another. The details of their relationship prove to frame Frank’s character and in turn, show that many of those that exist in real life, on the police force or otherwise, are special enough to be venerated.