The BEST episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog
Every episode of Clifford the Big Red Dog ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog!
Clifford the Big Red Dog is a fun show aimed towards younger audiences. Clifford, a 20 foot tall red dog, plays with his dog friends, Cleo and T-Bone, and has great adventures with them. Clifford's best friend, however, is Emily Elizabeth Howard, his owner. Emily has friends of her own and all the characters live peacefully on Birdwell Island. Each Clifford the Big Red Dog episode consists of two stories, linked by a "Speckle Story," a story read to Clifford by Emily Elizabeth about the adventures of a dog named Speckle. At the end of each episode is a "big idea" presented by Clifford, followed by a short promotional spot for one of the characters on Clifford. Please note that some online guides list two big ideas for each episode. The "big idea" listed in this guide will always be only the one that actually airs at the end of the episode itself. Also included is a short segment featuring a real kid with his/her dog. However, most, if not all, PBS stations no longer show this s
#1 - Screaming for Ice Cream
Season 1 - Episode 52 - Aired 7/12/2001
Charley and Emily Elizabeth find themselves up to their elbows in ice cream when Charley takes it upon himself to serve ice cream while his father is at a Doctor's appointment. Charley learns that there are some responsibilities kids should not attempt to shoulder without the help of an adult.
#2 - Food for Thought
Season 2 - Episode 43 - Aired 2/20/2003
Clifford and his friends are influenced by advertisements for a new dog food.
#3 - Tie-Dyed Clifford
Season 2 - Episode 45 - Aired 2/21/2003
When Clifford accidentally gives himself a bath with tie-dye dyes, he ends up looking like a T-shirt from the 60's! Not wanting to upset Emily, he tries to hide the fact. But soon learns that he can tell the truth to Emily because Emily understands that everyone makes mistakes.
#4 - Stinky Friends
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/24/2002
Clifford can't resist going into a field to play – even after Emily Elizabeth tells him he's not allowed. He and his friends soon learn that rules are there for a reason and it's a good idea to follow them!
#5 - Clifford's Cookie Craving
Season 2 - Episode 33 - Aired 11/13/2002
Mr. Bleakman bakes a giant cookie for the Birdwell Fair, then leaves it unattended. Clifford gets one whiff of it and, try as he might, simply can't resist the temptation to taste it. Mr. Bleakman forgives the big dog when he realizes that everyone makes mistakes – including the mistake of leaving too big of a temptation in front of a child.
#6 - Teacher's Pet
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 9/22/2000
The dogs go to school for the first time and T-Bone worries that he won't be able to keep up with the rest of the class. He works hard and pays close attention to the teacher's directions, and in the end his efforts are rewarded – as are the efforts of every member of the class as each is praised for his/her unique qualities.
#7 - Good-Bye, T-Bone
Season 1 - Episode 41 - Aired 7/5/2001
Clifford and Cleo misunderstand a conversation they overhear, and think T-bone is moving away. They vow to make T-bone's last day on Birdwell Island extra special. They eventually learn to listen to a whole story before jumping to conclusions – but the good friends enjoy a truly special day nonetheless!
#8 - Friends, Morning, Noon, and Night
Season 1 - Episode 59 - Aired 7/18/2001
Cleo and Clifford are excited to learn that Cleo will be Clifford's houseguest for a weekend while her house is being painted! But soon Cleo is filling Clifford's doghouse with her stuff, taking over his bed, and butting in on his time alone with Emily Elizabeth. It takes time, but Cleo eventually learns that being a good houseguest means respecting the needs of your host.
#9 - Mr. Bleakman's Special Day
Season 1 - Episode 60 - Aired 7/18/2001
Mr. Bleakman appears to the dogs to be particularly grumpy one day. At first they are upset with him, but then they overhear Mrs. Howard say that sometimes a grumpy attitude can be changed through acts of kindness. This inspires the dogs to perform a series of "secret good deeds" to see if they can turn Mr. Bleakman's frown into a smile. They are surprised to learn that performing kind acts makes them feel much better too!
#10 - Magic in the Air
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/27/2002
When the Peter Poundstone, Magician craze sweeps the island, Charely gets carried away with the magic and neglects an important assignment. Charley learns that you can have fun but you have to be responsible to.
#11 - Led Astray
Season 2 - Episode 41 - Aired 2/19/2003
A visiting dog influences Clifford to do things that he knows aren't right. But Clifford soon learns that he can has the strength of character to stand up for himself and what he believes.
#12 - Follow the Leader
Season 1 - Episode 40 - Aired 7/4/2001
Cleo has a hard time giving up her role as "leader" in a game of Follow The Leader, but soon learns that playing with friends is more fun when everyone cooperates and takes turns with one another.
#13 - The Big Fetch
Season 1 - Episode 70 - Aired 10/31/2001
Vaz is new at being a paperboy and is struggling with getting the papers onto people's doorsteps. Cleo steps in and discovers that she can earn treats by helping out! She recruits Clifford and T-bone and together they enjoy helping Vaz out – and getting treats. But before long Cleo has forgotten about the "helping out" part and is only concerned with getting treats. Clifford and T-bone help her rediscover that helping for its own sake is its own reward.
#14 - The Truth About Dogs and Cats
Season 1 - Episode 42 - Aired 7/5/2001
When two cats "move in" to the tree next door to T-bone, the dogs try to everything to get rid of them, but they soon discover that they have no real reason not to like the cats. The dogs learn that, just because individuals are different, it doesn't mean they can't be friends.
#15 - Dog for a Day
Season 1 - Episode 44 - Aired 7/6/2001
Fed up with his "responsibilities," Charley decides he would like to lead a dog's life--no chores, no school, no problems. But courtesy of a hilarious dream he learns that while being a dog is just fine, he likes being just who he is.
#18 - Short-Changed
Season 1 - Episode 50 - Aired 7/11/2001
When family friend Skyscraper Jackson comes to visit, Emily worries that Clifford prefers the attentions of a super-tall basketball player to the attentions of a short little girl. But Emily soon learns that love comes in all sizes.
#19 - Get Well
Season 1 - Episode 54 - Aired 7/13/2001
Emily Elizabeth comes down with a bad cold and Clifford and friends want to help her feel better. Using their imaginations, creativity, and the resources around them, they create a card, collect flowers and fashion a small gift. When they present their offerings to Emily Elizabeth, it is obvious they have succeeded in making her feel cared for and loved. The dogs learn that it's the thought behind a gift that matters most.
#20 - Saturday Morning
Season 1 - Episode 56 - Aired 7/16/2001
When T-bone's "special Saturday time" with Sheriff Lewis doesn't turn out the way he expected one week, he goes on a quest to see how others spend their Saturdays. He learns that there are many different ways to spend time with the people you love.
#21 - Then Came Bob
Season 1 - Episode 58 - Aired 7/17/2001
Vaz babysits for Bob - a cute, but not very well-behaved little dog that Dr. Dihn recently acquired from the dog pound. This little mischief-maker is very good at getting into trouble – and causing Clifford to get the blame! Several people think Clifford has suddenly developed some very bad habits – but Emily Elizabeth never doubts her big dog for a minute. The truth about Bob finally comes out and Clifford receives apologies from all his doubters.
#22 - Captain Birdwell's Treasure
Season 1 - Episode 62 - Aired 10/3/2001
Clifford and his dog friends find the long-lost trunk of Captain Birdwell, filled with wonderful items brought to the Island by the explorer long ago. But through a misunderstanding, Jetta is given credit for the discovery. She knows that telling the truth is the right thing to do, but she can't resist the promise of a gold medal award. It doesn't take long for her to realize, however, that awards don't give much pleasure when they're not deserved.
#23 - Promises, Promises
Season 1 - Episode 64 - Aired 10/10/2001
Jetta and Emily Elizabeth make plans to spend Saturday at the beach together, but Jetta breaks the play date when a "better offer" from an older girl comes along. However, when the older girl calls and cancels on Jetta, Jetta finally understands how Emily Elizabeth must have felt. She now realizes that being a good friend means keeping a promise.
#24 - It's My Party
Season 1 - Episode 66 - Aired 10/17/2001
When Jetta throws a "movie-watching" party, she expects everyone to do things her way – which in this case means watching home-movies of herself. The other kids try their best, but are soon bored and take a vote to go outside and make their own movie with Vaz's movie camera. Jetta is encouraged to join them, but stubbornly refuses. But she soon learns that it's more fun to play when everyone has a voice in deciding what to do together.
#25 - Baby Makes Four
Season 1 - Episode 68 - Aired 10/24/2001
Jetta gets a new baby brother and at first is extremely proud to be a big sister. But when she realizes this means she will now have to share the spotlight with the baby, she goes all out to get back her position as the "center of attention." She eventually learns, however, that being a good "big sister" is far more rewarding than being the "star of the show."