There are a lot of dog films on Netflix but how dogs are portrayed in movies has changed over time. In the early days of cinema, dogs were often used for comic relief or to tug at moviegoers' heartstrings.
These days, dogs are more likely to be used as actors in serious roles. This shift reflects changes in our society's perception of dogs and how much we love our furry babies.
From the days of Lassie through to brand new releases such as Dog with Channing Tatum to Rescued By Ruby (out on Netflix on March 17th, 2022) we love watching dog movies.
So here we have decided to put together a list of our favourites and hopefully yours!
Best Dog Films On Netflix
There are a bunch of movies that portray dogs as the central character, which not only brings laughter and fun but also teaches some great values.
Here is a starter list of dog movies on Netflix that you can dive into.
BENJI
Benji (2018) is a remake of the popular 1974 movie. It's a family-friendly movie about the love between a stray dog and two children who recently lost their father.
This is a solid dog movie about a pup that is left an orphan. Living on the streets, he befriends a young boy called Carter and follows him and his sister Frankie home.
The pup stays with them to help protect the family and rescues the children from harm, which is far beyond what anyone could have expected!
The movie is directed and written by Brandon Camp and the cast includes Gabriel Bateman (Carter), Darby Camp (Frankie), Kiele Sanchez (Whitney) and Gralen Bryant Banks (Sam King).
PUP ACADEMY
Along the lines of Super Buddies, the tv show Pup Academy follows three little puppies that have entered a secret world where pups learn to a best friend.
These unlikely furry pals, and their human friends, work together to discover the power of friendship and create everlasting bonds between dogs and humans.
It's a great show to keep everybody entertained with characters voiced by Christian Convery, Chance Hurstfield and Dylan Schombing.
A DOG'S PURPOSE
Based on the best-selling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, we follow Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) as he is reincarnated as different breeds belonging to various owners.
He explores the meaning of his many lives through his owners and discovers love and loyalty as well as pain and disappointment.
A Dog's Purpose is a deeply heartfelt movie that stars Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton and Josh Gad.
WHITE FANG
Based on a live-action film of the same name from 1991, this White Fang dog movie is animated and available on Netflix.
It follows the story of White Fang, a loyal wolfdog who gets separated from his mother but whose curiosity leads him on the adventure of a lifetime.
Over the course of his journey, he matures into a noble animal getting his name from an Indian tribe that takes him in.
But with his story only beginning, White Fang must continue on until he finally finds the man who becomes his final owner.
A beautiful story that is voiced by Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Paul Giamatti and Eddie Spears.
HACHI: A DOG'S TALE
Who doesn't love an incredible tale about a dog and its owner bonding?? If that's the kind of dog movie you're after then check out Hachi: A Dog's Tale as music professor Parker Wilson finds an Akita puppy, whose cage broke unnoticed during shipping.
Not knowing where the dog was supposed to go, he decides to bring it home. Despite trying to find its owner, it's clear nobody will claim him and the family decide to keep the dog who they name Hachi.
Forever bonded, you may need to grab the kleenex for this one as the story is very emotional.
Directed by Lasse Hallström, this dog movie stars Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Sarah Roemer, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Jason Alexander.
Why Are Dog Films Great To Watch?
There is something about dogs in movies that captures our hearts. Maybe it is the unbreakable bond between dog and owner or the way dogs seem to bring out the best in us.
Whatever it is, dog movies always leave us with a good feeling.
We took a good look at some of the most popular dog movies of all time and saw how their portrayal of dogs has changed over time. Dogs are silent teachers, both in movies and in real life.
One of the main themes in many dog movies is that dogs teach us much about ourselves. They remind us of our connection to nature and how we can find joy in the simplest things.
Dogs have been featured prominently in movies since the late 1800s. Early dog movies tended to focus on dogs' abilities as working animals. They were used mainly for practical purposes such as herding cattle or catching criminals.
Later, dog movies began to explore dogs' emotional lives and relationships with humans. Modern dog movies often use dogs as symbols of hope and redemption and they continue to be popular with moviemakers because they offer an easy way to connect with the audience.
From early black and white silent films to the latest CGI-laden blockbusters, they've served as loyal sidekicks to human heroes, lovable comic relief characters, and even heart-wrenching protagonists in their own right.
Dogs are cute, cuddly, and fun-loving companions that we can always count on to be there for us when we need them.
If you've ever had a dog of your own, then you know just how much joy they bring into our lives every day with their unconditional love and loyalty.
