Snatch Inspired Dog Names

When it comes to animal influence on a storyline, few films of such acclaim rival that of Snatch, in which three key dog-related events not only impact the plot, but also help to add comic relief to a film that bounces back and forth between comedy, drama, and a significant amount of action. 

One of the first introductions to dogs in the film comes through Mickey O’Neil, the not-Irish, not-English, just-Piker whose fast-talking, word-slurring delivery makes for a comedic reception when he exchanges conversation with Tommy, who is confused by the question, “Do you like dags?” — a heavily-accented inquiry about Tommy’s interest in dogs. 

The scene that ensues also plays an important role in terms of metaphoric and cinematic value. In a bet that helps determine the outcome of whether or not Mickey will fight and the prize of the resulting fight (the new caravan for Mickey’s mother), two brindle Greyhound mixes are used for a coursing event. While the slowed down scenes depict the pair of dogs coursing the hare (a common practice in England to help control the overflowing population of wild hares), it is contrasted with a scene of Tyrone being chased and kidnapped for his part in helping to rob Brick Top’s bookies, clearly showing the metaphoric value of the hierarchy and dynamic of criminals in the underworld. 

Dogs are also used to develop the character of Brick Top himself. Guy Ritchie’s influence on the matter is actually discussed in the DVD commentary, in which he details meeting a Brazilian man who told him that the most hated people in his country were those who were animal abusers, particularly those who purposely brought harm to dogs. As a means of making Brick Top the least sympathetic character in the film (and the most evil), Ritchie used that comment to produce a scene in which Brick Top is involved in both prodding a dog and commencing dogfights — it should be mentioned that no dogs were harmed in the course of making the film and that Alan Ford, who plays Brick Top, is actually a vegetarian and an animal rights activist. 

Maybe more important than all other dog-related events early in the movie is that of the dog that eats the stolen diamond. In one of the film’s most iconic scenes, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Bow (in real life), is given a squeaky dog toy to help settle him down, but instead, as shown capable of doing in previous scenes, the dog only chews momentarily before swallowing the squeaky toy whole (in the film), thus permanently squeaking every time he attempts to bark. The dog’s role continues to be pivotal, as it also ends up swallowing the diamond that most of the film centers around and escapes out the window, sending the film in another characteristic spiral of craziness.