Max is the unsung hero in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  He appears at 8:25 minutes in the film, while the Grinch appears at 8:21 minutes in the film. 

After Jones realized that a straight-through reading of the Grinch book only translated to about 12 minutes of screen time, he extended the story largely by giving a larger role to Max, the Grinch’s loyal but put-upon dog.

Chuck Jones' daughter, Linda once commented, "Chuck says a good film must have a point of view for the audience. Everyone watching can identify with Max. Even though the Grinch is mean, Max still loves him unconditionally. Max became the audience's point of view." Chuck Jones also points out that, "Max represents all of us. He is very honest, very decent, and a very put-upon dog. Dr. Seuss described him as 'Every dog--all love and limpness and loyalty'." Max's agape teaches us to be kind to everyone because deep down inside we are basically all the same.