He was originally heir to the Bumstead Locomotive fortune, but was disowned when he married Blondie née Boopadoop, a flapper whom his family saw as below his class.

[2] His favorite things in life include his wife Blondie, his kids, naps on the sofa, long baths, and food.

Dagwood frequently has problems with door-to-door salesmen, rude telemarketers and store salespeople, crashing into the mailman (Mr. Beasley) as he rushes from home, getting ready before the carpool leaves without him, getting to work on time, his boss J.C. Dithers, and Cookie's many dates.

Other characters in his universe include Elmo Tuttle, a pesky little neighborhood kid who wanders in and out of the Bumstead house; next-door neighbors Herb and Tootsie Woodley; Lou, the sarcastic cook in a local diner; and Mr. Dithers' domineering wife, Cora.

Dagwood also made a cameo appearance in the 1946 cartoon Hollywood Canine Canteen, where his wife Blondie and he (named Dogwood in this short) are portrayed as anthropomorphic dogs working in a snack bar.