Snoopy's Bartending Debut Ends in Doggy Drama

In October 2025, Judy Sladky, a 74-year-old retired champion ice dancer, reminisced about her decades-long experience of portraying the iconic Snoopy character. Sladky was hand-picked by Peanuts comics creator Charles Schulz over 40 years ago to bring the beloved black-and-white dog to life in parades and other real-life events.

During a recent episode of the You Don't Know Peanuts podcast, Sladky recounted some of her most memorable celebrity encounters while in the Snoopy costume, including meeting Mariah Carey and Andy Cohen. Sladky's appearance on Cohen's show, Watch What Happens Live, in 2015 proved to be particularly eventful. Snoopy was invited to be the bartender, much to the surprise of the Bravo host. However, the segment took an unexpected turn when Cohen's dog, Wacha, a beagle mix like Snoopy, mistook the costumed character for a chew toy, leading to some cuts on Sladky.

Despite the canine mishap, Sladky has found great joy in her role as Snoopy, stating that the experience has taught her the importance of connection and trust, as people often confide in the silent, listening dog. Sladky's dedication to the character has left a lasting impact, with Snoopy even making an appearance at the memorial service for Charles Schulz, where the dog's "little shoulder was just soaked with the tears of people."