While he may be a cartoon, there’s no denying the delightful doggy dagginess of Bandit Heeler, voiced by Custard rocker Dave McCormack. Always up for a game (of Boomerang or Tickle Crabs, for example), a staunch defender of his family and the best archaeologist (read: digger of bones) you’ll ever meet, Bandit is also a teacher of life lessons – whether it be as Daddy Robot, teaching Bluey and Bingo to clean, or inadvertent education through his own mishaps (forgetting sunscreen in the episode The Pool, for example).

Indeed, this comedic canine has some great lessons for us all: ‘There are quite a few dads who say the show reminds them to be more playful with their kids,’ Bluey creator Joe Brumm told Kidspotin 2019.

This clip from the episode Perfect celebrates many moments of Bandit’s daggy dad-dom, as Bluey tries to draw her favourite times with him for a Father’s Day card. The show never steers away from illustrating complex emotions, and Bluey doesn’t feel her drawing is good enough – but with encouragement from mum Chilli and sister Bingo, she continues to draw. As she does, we get a wonderful flashback gallery of Bandit’s best (ie worst) dad jokes and games, including It’s Dad! and No Ticket as the clip reveals some gorgeously relatable family moments – and decor – in the Heeler household.

Explore more Top dogs of the Australian screen

Explore more Daggy dads of the Australian screen