The Simpsons' household pet is a cute but untrained greyhound. Bart rescued him from a dog racing track. Homer was relying on a Christmas bonus to buy presents, but didn't get it. He took the small amount of Christmas money Marge was saving, with the intention of betting it at the dog track. He had inside information on what dog was going to win, but instead bet on the "long-shot", Santa's Little Helper, believing it to be a sign. Santa's Little Helper lost, and his owner abandoned him. Homer and Bart brought him home, and everyone was so happy with him that it was a merry Christmas after all.

He nearly died of a twisting of the intestines early in the series.

The hound sired twenty-five puppies with another greyhound and fathered puppies from Dr. Hibbert's poodle. Bart once traded him away for Laddie, but eventually retrieved him from the house of a blind marijuana smoker.

In addition he was mascot of Duff Beer and was known as Suds McDuff.

Santa's Little Helper is occasionally mistakenly referred to as 'Satan's Little Helper', and once held a creditcard under the name Santos L. Halper.

See: Characters from The Simpsons