Man’s best friend is a frequent companion on the big screen, but more often than not it feels like these Very Good Characters are introduced only to die later in the film, providing emotional fuel for the main human character. Stories new and old capture the unbreakable bonds formed between man and mutt, or in some cases, mutt and mutt. But the emotional turmoil of watching dogs die on (or off) screen is too much more many viewers.
So to that end, we’ve assembled a list of 15 movies where the dog doesn’t actually die. From cartoons to real trained animal actors to CGI canines, this list runs the gamut in terms of types of dog movies.
Fair warning: We did include a couple of films in which the dog does technically die but is reincarnated in another dog’s body.
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
This Disney cartoon classic is death-free and full of romance. Lady (voiced by Barbara Luddy), a sheltered cocker spaniel who knows a very comfortable life, meets Tramp (voiced by Larry Roberts), a street-smart mutt who changes her life and her outlook on the world. Together, the two discover a cute companionship as Lady’s family begins to expand in terms of human to dog ratio. There’s also a live-action remake from 2019 that is also dog-death-free.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
Another Disney classic, though this one’s a bit more sinister. Pongo (voiced by Rod Taylor) and Perdita (voiced by Cate Bauer) have to protect their growing litter of pups from Cruella De Vil (voiced by Betty Lou Gerson), who wants them for their pelts. Cruella’s henchmen do succeed at kidnapping the pups, but rest assured they are rescued in the end. There are also two live-action updates, the 1996 version starring Glenn Close and the 2021 film “Cruella” starring Emma Stone — in both, all the dogs make it out alive.
White Fang (1991)
Adapted from Jack London’s novel, this boy meets wolf dog story stars Ethan Hawke as Jack with Jed the dog portraying White Fang himself. Once Jack meets White Fang, a close bond grows between the two, especially when Jack discovers White Fang’s previous owner mistreated him. This classic story told against the backdrop of the Yukon captures all adventuring hearts.
“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (1993) and “Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)”
Golden retriever Shadow (voiced by Don Ameche in the first film and Ralph Waite in the second), bulldog boxer mix Chance (voiced by Michael J. Fox) and Himalayan feline Sassy (voiced by Sally Field) are a trio of domestic animals who decide to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains in order to go home to their family. The trend continues in the second film when their family tries to put the animals on a plane, and antsy Chance gets out of his carrier, prompting his companions to do the same. But while the journey is treacherous both times, rest assured they all make it out alive.
Shiloh (1996)
Marty Preston (Blake Heron) discovers Shiloh the beagle one day in his small hometown in Virginia, naming the pup after a nearby building. Marty becomes even more attached to Shiloh when he realizes that a reclusive and abusive man named Judd Travers (Scott Wilson) owns Shilo. So Marty embarks on the quest to rescue Shiloh from his terrible owner and give him a new, safer home.
Air Bud (1997)
Josh (Kevin Zegers) is having a hard time adjusting to a new home and school — especially after his dad died — but when Bud, a stray golden retriever, comes into his life, he finds a new friend. Josh takes Bud in, and one day discovers that he can play basketball. Bud escaped from his old circus owner, who mistreated him, and he finds a spot waiting for him on the basketball team. Things get a bit more intense when the circus owner Norm Snively (Michael Jeter) comes out of the woodwork to try and reclaim his dog. But again, Bud survives.
Because of Winn Dixie (2005)
Opal (AnnaSophia Robb) hopes for a new friend since she herself is new in town, and Winn Dixie, the local mischievous mutt she names after a convenience store, grants that wish for her. Winn Dixie causes trouble for Opal’s father (Jeff Daniels), but also introduces her to more friends, including Gloria (Cecily Tyson).
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)
Papi (voiced by George Lopez) is a native Mexican chihuahua who knows his way around the city. Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore) could not be more opposite, but when she gets lost on vacation in Mexico, she needs help getting home, and two very different worlds collide. Piper Perabo plays Chloe’s owner Rachel, and Jaime Lee Curtis plays her Aunt Viv.
Bolt (2008)
This Disney animated dog movie stars Miley Cyrus as Penny, owner of moviestar dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta). Bolt, who Penny picked out when he was a puppy, thinks everything that goes on in his films is real. Thus, when they stop shooting one day shortly after Penny gets kidnapped, he immediately tries to figure out how to save her. On his journey, Bolt discovers who he is outside of his fake powers and film star status.
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin) are two foster kids, and their dog Friday has gone with them everywhere. That changes when the children land with foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon) who prevent dogs in their house. So Bruce, who has a particular soft spot for animals, suggests that they start a care system for all stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Friends Dave (Johnny Simmons), Heather (Kyla Pratt) and Mark (Troy Gentile) help turn a rundown vacant building into a pretty cool haven for stray dogs, down to automated feeding systems, a golden fire hydrant bathroom and spa routines.
Isle of Dogs (2018)
Wes Anderson’s most recent animated feature stars Bryan Cranston as Chief, the leader of the dog pack on the Isle of Dogs. The dogs were exiled to an island made of trash because they came down with a flu, but Atari (Koyu Rankin) ventures out there to rescue his family pooch. Other voices featured in the movie include Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Bob Balahan, as well as Greta Gerwig.
Call of the Wild (2020)
There is a 1935 version of “Call of the Wild,” but Harrison Ford stars in the remake as John Thornton. CGI Buck still finds his story based on the beloved novel by Jack London. Similar to “White Fang,” this tale takes place in the Alaskan wilderness.
Love and Monsters (2020)
Dylan O’Brien stars in this post-apocalyptic adventure story as a young man living underground in the wake of a catastrophic event that caused all cold-blooded animals on earth to turn into monsters. When he connects with his high school girlfriend over the radio, he decides to leave the bunker to find her — meeting a nice dog along the way. Fair warning: while the dog doesn’t die, the dog and O’Brien’s companion ship comes to an emotional end.
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
Similar to the cartoon TV series that ran from 2000-03, Emily Elizabeth finds Clifford when he is a tiny red puppy. The magical animal rescuer tells her that Clifford’s size depends on how much she loves him. As is evidenced later on in the film, Emily Elizabeth loves Clifford quite a lot. But when Clifford gets famous, a genetics company takes interest in him with the hope that he can help them understand how to supersize animals. Emily Elizabeth and her Uncle Casey fight to protect Clifford and learn some valuable lessons about love and acceptance along the way.
Dog (2022)
Channing Tatum’s 2022 film “Dog” is inspired by his own experience with his dog Lulu, but in contrast to his real-life tragic tale, he’s made clear to audiences that the dog in “Dog” does not die.
Honorable Mention: A Dog’s Purpose (2017)
Okay so the dog does die in this one, but he gets reincarnated. Based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron, Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) starts out his life with Ethan (Bryce Gheisar and then KJ Apa) where he brings joy to a lonely eight-year-old boy and keeps him company through his teenage years until he goes to college. After that life, Bailey is reincarnated and lives several more lives as a corgi, a German shepherd and others. Then, in his last life of the film, he reunites Ethan (Dennis Quaid) with his high school girlfriend Hannah (Britt Roberson and then Peggy Lipton) to complete the film. Bailey also discovers his purpose, bringing the story full circle.
Honorable Mention: The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)
Based on the book by Garth Stein, “The Art of Racing in the Rain” follows Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner) who gets picked out of the litter by Denny (Milo Ventimiglia), who becomes an amateur race car driver with the goal to be Formula One someday. Enzo remains his sturdy companion the whole way through, until the end. BUT, before you call this a disappointing film, you have to go into it with the mindset that Enzo gets reincarnated as a human! A random guy at the end of the film says something to Denny that Denny always used to tell Enzo, so abracadabra.
