Watchdog or watch dog may refer to:

Animals

Guard dog A guard dog or watchdog is a dog used to watch for and guard people or property against unwanted human or animal intruders. A dog trained to attack intruders is known as an attack dog. History Dogs have been used as guardians since ancient ...

, a dog that barks to alert its owners of an intruder's presence * Portuguese Watchdog, Cão de Castro Laboreiro, a dog breed * Moscow Watchdog, a breed of dog that was bred in the Soviet Union

Computing

Watchdog timer A watchdog timer (WDT, or simply a ''watchdog''), sometimes called a ''computer operating properly timer'' (''COP timer''), is an electronic or software timer that is used to detect and recover from computer malfunctions. Watchdog timers are wide ...

, a device that detects faults and initiates corrective actions

Public oversight

An individual or group that monitors the activities of another entity (such as an individual, corporation, non-profit group, or governmental organization) on behalf of the public to ensure that entity does not behave illegally or unethically: *

Consumer watchdog Consumer Watchdog (formerly the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights) is a non-profit, Contemporary progressivism, progressive organization which advocates for taxpayer and consumer interests, with a focus on insurance, health care, politi ...

, consumer protection organizations or campaigners * Charity watchdog, an organization that monitors and rates charities *Government watchdog, organizations and platforms focused on government; see :Government oversight and watchdog organizations for examples *

Watchdog journalism Watchdog journalism is a form of investigative journalism where journalists, authors or publishers of a News, news publication fact-checking, fact-check and Interviewing, interview political figure, political and Public figure, public figures t ...

, a form of investigative journalism * Transit watchdog, an individual or group that provides public comment regarding public transit operations

Books

* ''Watchdog'', a novel by Laurien Berenson from her ''Melanie Travis Mysteries'' series * ''Watch Dogs: Dark Clouds'', a novel by

John Shirley John Shirley (born February 10, 1953) is an American writer, primarily of horror, fantasy, science fiction, noir fiction, westerns, and songwriting. He has also written one historical novel, a western about Wyatt Earp, ''Wyatt in Wichita'', and ...

, based on the video game * ''The Watchdogs'', a book by

Laird Wilcox Laird Maurice Wilcox III (November 28, 1942 – November 4, 2023) was an American researcher of political fringe movements. He was the founder of the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements, housed in the Kenneth Spencer Research ...

about watchdog organization that monitor extremism in the US.

Comics

Watchdogs (Marvel Comics) The Watchdogs are a fictional Right-wing terrorism, right-wing terrorist group appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as enemies of Captain America. The Watchdogs have also been adapted into other media, having appe ...

, a right-wing terrorist group in Marvel Comics

Music

* ''Watch Dog'' (album), an album by Jules Shear * "Watch Dog", a song by Etta James from the album ''

Tell Mama Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) is a national project which records and measures anti-Muslim incidents in the United Kingdom. It is modelled on the Jewish Community Security Trust (CST) and like the CST it also provides support for ...

'' * "Watchdogs", a song by UB40 from the album ''

Rat in the Kitchen ''Rat in the Kitchen'' is the seventh album by UB40, released in July 1986. This album contained two UK hits, " Sing Our Own Song" (UK No. 5 in 1986) and "Rat in Mi Kitchen" (UK No. 12 in 1987). The album itself reached 8 in the UK album charts ...

Film and television

* ''Family First'' (film), or Watch Dog, 2018 Canadian film * ''Watchdog'' (TV programme), a British television programme promoting consumer rights ** ''

Watchdog Test House ''Watchdog Test House'' is a BBC television series that was first broadcast on BBC One from 10 March 2014 until 20 March 2015. The series shows Sophie Raworth explaining how household goods are tested and how to get the best value for money. In ...

'', related television show * "Watchdogs" (''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.''), an episode of Marvel Comics' ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' * Watchdogs (''Wander Over Yonder''), a type of space alien in ''Wander Over Yonder'' * Watch Dog, a character in ''

Dog City ''Dog City'' is an animated television series that was produced by Nelvana Limited and Jim Henson Productions in association with Channel 4 and Global Television Network. The series ran for three seasons, airing on Fox Kids from September 26, 1 ...

'' * Watchdog Man, a character in ''One-Punch Man'' * ''Watch Dogs'' (film), an upcoming film based on the video game series with the same name

Video games

*''

Watch Dogs ''Watch Dogs'' (stylized as ''WATCH_DOGS'') is an action-adventure video game franchise published by Ubisoft, and developed primarily by its Montreal and Toronto studios using the Disrupt game engine. The series' eponymous first title was rele ...

'', a video games series developed by Ubisoft ** ''Watch Dogs'' (video game), the first game in the series

Other uses

* Watchdog.org, American news website *

Watchdog (research collective) Watchdog is a Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan research collective founded in April 2019. It maintains a fact-checking website and makes use of open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods. History Watchdog was founded on 23 April 2019, two days after the 2 ...

, Sri Lankan research collective