Doctor Who: 10 Wise Things We Learnt From Tom Baker's Doctor

7. Own A Dog

Never trust someone who doesn't like animals and that includes Time Lords. It was the Fourth Doctor who taught many that a dog is not just for Christmas, looking after robot pooch K9 for several years. Yes, this dog differed significantly from most other dogs in that it didn't need to be walked, fed and could talk, but a dog's a dog. Like many other dog owners, the Fourth Doctor soon found that when your dog has to pass on, the temptation to get another one is very strong. It was a matter of hours before K9 Mark II replaced the departed original. Like all dogs, K9 proved a loyal and devoted pet, with the added bonus of being able to play chess and blast potential threats with his nose laser. K9 was so dear to him that when he finally got around to showing former companion Sarah Jane Smith that their time together had mattered, it was the gift of a dog that he gave her. This act of kindness ended up saving the Doctor's life when K9 Mark III sacrificed himself to stop the Krillitanes. As far as we know, Mark IV is still going strong on Bannerman Road.