Bruiser is a member of Bugsy Vile's gang on Dog City. Bruiser is Bugsy's nephew, but nepotism is not the sole reason for keeping him around. The hulking Bruiser is the muscle of the gang, but this is often mitigated by his child-like outlook and kind streak. He invariably addresses his boss as "Uncle Bugsy" and Ace Hart as "Mr. Hart."

Bruiser is loosely based on the Muppet character Mad Dog from the Jim Henson Hour version of Dog City. The Mad Dog puppet was reused as Bowser, Bruiser's Muppet counterpart, in the series proper.