A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Parents Guide: Does the Dog Die? (No Spoilers)

This is my A Dog’s Perfect Christmas parents guide, written the same night the movie landed on Netflix. I watched it at home with subtitles on, like I always do, and I gave it a 9 out of 10. If you’re here because you typed “does the dog die” into Google, I get it, that’s always my first question too. The short version is good news, and the director has answered it herself. But that’s not the whole story for a dog lover. There are 6 dog scenes and one heavy storyline worth knowing about before you press play with kids, and I walk through every one of them below.

The movie is based on W. Bruce Cameron’s 2020 novel, and yes, he’s the same author behind A Dog’s Purpose. The whole story is told by Winstead, a wise old basset hound voiced by Thomas Haden Church. Our oldest girl at home is a 14-year-old Pomeranian, and our two boys came home as puppies when she was already a senior, so an old dog meeting a brand-new puppy was an easy yes for me. Below you’ll find what it’s about without spoilers, my Dog Scene Guide, how sad it gets, why it’s rated TV-14, the age I’d watch it with, the book and the filming locations, and what to watch next.

Release date	November 4, 2026 on Netflix
Runtime	1 hr 39 min
Rating	TV-14 for language and mature themes
Genre	Family Christmas drama with plenty of comedy
Based on	W. Bruce Cameron’s 2020 novel of the same name
Narrator	Winstead, an old basset hound voiced by Thomas Haden Church
Scare level	0 / 5 (nothing scary, a few tissue moments)
Does the dog die?	No dog dies, and neither dog is hurt on screen (details in my Dog Scene Guide below)
Post-credits scene	No story scene, but stay for the credits: dog photos and a cute clip of author W. Bruce Cameron “interviewing” one of the corgi puppies
Where to watch	Netflix only (it’s a Netflix original)
My verdict	9 / 10, a cozy, heartfelt holiday movie I’d happily watch again
Best for / Good to know	Best for dog lovers, fans of A Dog’s Purpose and families with teens. Good to know: it’s TV-14 for language, and the mom’s hospital storyline can feel heavy for little kids.

What A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Is About (No Spoilers)

The Goss family lives in Traverse City, Michigan, and this holiday season is a tough one for them. Grandpa Sander lost his wife, Barbara, two years ago and still hasn’t found his footing. He’s moved in with his son Hunter’s family, and he and his teenage granddaughter Ello butt heads pretty much every day.

Then, right around Thanksgiving, Ello’s mom, Juliana, gets sick and ends up in the hospital in a medically induced coma. Suddenly Sander and Ello are the ones holding the house together, twins and all. Right in the middle of all that comes Ruby, a tiny corgi puppy with no collar and no microchip, and an old basset hound named Winstead who is watching his family and trying to figure out how to put it back together.

It’s a Christmas movie, a family drama and a comedy all at once. There are school storylines for Ello, a work storyline for her dad, a surprise romance subplot for Grandpa, and the dogs weave through all of it.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Cast: Who Plays Who

If you’re sitting there thinking “where do I know that voice from,” here’s the cast. I’m sticking to character names and the setup only, so nothing here gives away the story.

• Dennis Quaid as Sander Goss, the grieving, grumpy grandpa. You might know him from The Parent Trap, and he was also in A Dog’s Purpose.
• Thomas Haden Church as the voice of Winstead, the basset hound who tells the whole story. He’s known for Sideways.
• Brooke Lena Johnson as Ello, Sander’s teenage granddaughter and a talented skater.
• Milo Ventimiglia as Hunter, Ello’s dad. Fun fact for dog movie fans: he also starred in The Art of Racing in the Rain, another movie told by a dog.
• Mary Steenburgen as Claire, a local widow who loves poetry. Elf fans will recognize her right away.
• Jennifer Tilly as Lucille and Karen LeBlanc as Allison, Claire’s friends, also widows, who take a big interest in Sander.
• Ethan Loomis as Sean, the new kid at Ello’s school.
• Cathryn Michon as Mrs. O’Brien, Hunter’s new boss. Michon also directed the movie, so that’s the director making a cameo.
• Kathleen Rose Perkins also stars.

Why I Gave A Dog’s Perfect Christmas a 9/10

I gave it a 9 out of 10, which on my scale means it’s a movie I’d happily watch again. Here’s what earned it.

Winstead’s narration. Hearing a family story through an old dog’s eyes is what makes this movie. Thomas Haden Church gives Winstead a calm, dry, slightly tired voice that fits a senior basset hound perfectly. He notices the little things his humans miss, which is exactly how I imagine our own oldest girl sees our house.

Dennis Quaid as the grumpy grandpa. Sander is grieving and cranky, and Quaid still makes him funny. His running storyline with three widows who basically turn him into their own Golden Bachelor is the lightest, silliest part of the movie, and it balances the heavier family scenes.

The grandpa and granddaughter team. Sander and Ello start out arguing about everything, including the fact that he moved into what was supposed to be her room. Watching the two of them slowly turn into a team is the real heart of the movie.

Ruby. Ruby is played by three different corgi puppies, and she even has a little heart-shaped marking on her backside. It’s the kind of detail every dog person will notice.

The A Dog’s Purpose family. Cameron wrote the book and co-wrote the script, director Cathryn Michon co-wrote A Dog’s Purpose, Rachel Portman scored both movies, and Dennis Quaid was in A Dog’s Purpose too. If you loved that one, this one will feel familiar in the best way.

Dog Scene Guide: Does the Dog Die in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas?

Here’s the full answer, still without spoilers. No dog dies in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. Director Cathryn Michon confirmed it herself in a public Facebook post, and neither Winstead nor Ruby gets hurt on screen.

That said, dog lovers will still feel a few things. Here are the 6 dog scenes in the order they come up. I’m giving you the rough place in the story rather than exact minutes.

• The opening: Winstead sees a puppy left on the side of the road. It’s quick and not graphic, but if you’ve ever rescued a dog, it hits home.
• Early on, at Thanksgiving: Winstead gets hungry, grabs the tablecloth and pulls most of the dinner onto the floor. It’s pure comedy, and it’s my favorite dog scene in the movie.
• First half: Ello finds a corgi puppy with no collar and no microchip and names her Ruby. Her dad wants to take Ruby to a shelter, and there are a couple of tense family conversations about whether she gets to stay.
• Middle: Winstead misses Barbara, his late owner. There’s a sweet thread about a red cardinal he connects with her, and an old convertible that still smells like her to him. This is the stretch where I’d keep tissues nearby.
• Later: a really funny bit where the dogs end up somewhere dogs usually aren’t allowed. I’ll leave it at that.
• During the credits: photos of the dogs and a cute behind-the-scenes clip with one of the corgi puppies. More on that below.

One more thing from my own couch: whenever the dogs on screen barked, all three of mine barked right back, together, like a tiny backup choir. If your dogs are TV barkers too, keep the remote close.

What Breed Are Winstead and Ruby? Meet the Dogs

Winstead is a basset hound, the long, low dog with the big ears and the sad eyes, and in the story he’s an old boy who has been with the Goss family for years. Ruby is a corgi puppy, tiny and full of energy, with that heart-shaped patch on her backside.

Behind the scenes, more dogs were working than you’d guess. Two basset hounds shared the role of Winstead, and three corgi puppies shared Ruby. In an interview with Netflix Life, Brooke Lena Johnson said each Ruby puppy had its own strength: one was the cuddler, one was great at hitting its mark, and one knew the tricks. She also called the bassets stubborn but full of personality, said there were often five to seven dogs on set at once, and mentioned that Dennis Quaid brought his own dog, Peaches, to set too.

So yes, these are real, trained dogs. In an interview with What’s on Netflix, director Cathryn Michon said she directed a lot of the movie with a corgi puppy in her arms, so the puppies would get used to the set and to her. She also kept a real moment where one of the bassets reacted to a train whistle in the distance during a parking lot scene, and it ended up in the movie. And the film is dedicated to her late dog, Tucker, who helped shape Winstead’s personality.

With three small dogs at home, I can only imagine keeping seven of them on their marks for a film crew.

An Old Dog and a New Puppy: Why This Story Hit Close to Home

The part of this movie I’d point other multi-dog families to is Winstead and Ruby together. It’s the old dog who has seen it all, and the puppy who shows up and changes the whole house.

We have a version of that at home. Our oldest girl, a black Pomeranian, is 14 now. When we went to pick up a mini goldendoodle puppy three years ago, the plan was to bring home just one, because we already had her. Then my husband met a maltipoo puppy at the same place and fell for him on the spot, and we came home with two boys instead of one.

Three years later, the boys pile up together at bedtime, and our oldest likes her own space and sleeps by herself on a thick towel next to the bed. On walks, though, she still competes with our goldendoodle for the front of the line. She gets tired faster than the boys now and her eyes aren’t as sharp as they used to be, but she wakes up from a nap ready to go. That’s why the way the movie shows Winstead, slower and wiser but still very much in charge, rang so true for me.

If you have a senior dog too, here’s what I’ve learned about how long Pomeranians live, and the signs that told me our oldest needed a stroller for longer outings.

Winstead’s Thanksgiving Moment and Real Holiday Tables

The tablecloth scene is funny on screen, but it’s also every dog owner’s holiday nightmare. A full Thanksgiving table at nose height is a lot of temptation for a dog.

Here’s what we actually do. I don’t want my three getting bites of buttery turkey skin and gravy, so they get their own bowl: plain boiled chicken, steamed Korean sweet potato, soft cabbage and a little scrambled egg on top of the kibble they already eat. No turkey at all, and cooked bones and rich sides stay well out of reach. I wrote the whole thing up here: what I actually put in my dogs’ Thanksgiving bowl.

Is A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Sad?

Yes, in parts, and it’s mostly because of the people, not the dogs. The family is still grieving Grandma Barbara, who died of cancer two years before the story starts, and you feel her absence all through the movie.

The bigger one is Juliana, Ello’s mom. She gets very sick around Thanksgiving and spends a big chunk of the movie in the hospital in a medically induced coma. There’s a bedside scene where Ello talks to her mom that’s hard to watch dry-eyed. I won’t tell you how that storyline ends.

The movie balances all of that with a lot of comedy. Between the grandpa getting set up on dates, the twins, and a basset hound with opinions, it never stays heavy for long. I’d put the scare level at 0 out of 5. There’s nothing scary and no jump scares, just a few tissue moments.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Parents Guide: Why It’s TV-14

Netflix rates A Dog’s Perfect Christmas TV-14 for language and mature themes. That rating catches a lot of parents off guard for a dog Christmas movie, so here’s exactly what’s in it. The counts come from Movieguide’s content review.

• Language: six swear words (two “b” words, one “s” word, one “a” word and two “h” words) plus about 12 uses of “Oh my God.” No f-words.
• Violence: none.
• Romance: a few kisses, including a sweet teen romance and a grandpa romance. One man is shown shirtless in a hot tub, from the shoulders up.
• Drinking: adults drink in three scenes, never to excess.
• Mature themes: grief, a parent in a coma, a marriage going through a rough patch, a teen being picked on by a former friend at school, and a character who tells a lot of fibs for laughs.

Is A Dog’s Perfect Christmas OK for Kids?

Here’s my take. I think 10 and up is fine watching with a parent, and it’s an easy pick for teens 13 and up. The language is mild compared to a lot of PG-13 movies, and there’s no violence at all.

The thing I’d think about for younger kids is the mom’s hospital storyline. If your little one has a parent or grandparent who’s been sick, or your family has recently lost someone, the coma scenes and the grief over Grandma could bring up big feelings. For kids under 10, I’d wait, or watch it first yourself so you know when the heavy parts are coming.

If you have little ones who want in on the dog fun, there’s a gentler option: a picture book version of the story made for ages 4 to 8 (more on that below).

For context, Movieguide calls it a better fit for teens and adults, and Singapore rated it NC16.

Is There a Post-Credits Scene in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas?

There’s no post-credits story scene, so you won’t miss any plot if you stop once the credits roll. But I’d keep it playing for a minute. As the credits roll, photos of the dogs show up on the side of the screen, along with a little clip called “Author W. Bruce Cameron interviews William!” William is one of the three corgi puppies who played Ruby, and Cameron holds him while jokingly bragging about everything this puppy can do, from dog tricks all the way to hang gliding. For a dog lover, it’s the sweetest bonus in the whole movie. The movie runs 1 hour 39 minutes in total.

Is A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Related to A Dog’s Purpose?

Not as a sequel. It’s a standalone story with new characters, but it comes from the same author. W. Bruce Cameron wrote the novel in 2020 and co-wrote the screenplay with director Cathryn Michon. Michon also co-wrote A Dog’s Purpose, Rachel Portman scored both movies, and Dennis Quaid was in A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey, playing a different character.

So you don’t need to have seen any of the A Dog’s Purpose movies first. You’ll just notice the same warm, dog’s-eye storytelling.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Book: The Novel, Picture Book and Audiobook

The movie is based on W. Bruce Cameron’s novel A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, published in October 2020. The basic setup is the same: the Goss family in Traverse City, a family emergency right before the holidays, an old dog named Winstead, and a lost puppy named Ruby. The dogs themselves changed a bit on the way to the screen, and I break that down in the next section.

There’s also a picture book version for kids ages 4 to 8 that follows Ruby as she learns about her new family and Christmas. The children’s audio edition of that picture book is narrated by Mary Steenburgen, who plays Claire in the movie. If your kids are too young for the TV-14 movie, the picture book is a sweet way to share the story with them.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Book vs Movie: What Changed

If you read the novel first, a few changes might surprise you. None of these give away the ending, I promise.

• Winstead’s breed. In the novel, Winstead is a nine-year-old wolfhound. The movie made him a basset hound. Director Cathryn Michon has said bassets are hard to train and get distracted easily, but she picked them anyway because they’re so loyal and affectionate. And honestly, that face.
• Ruby is a corgi now. There’s a puppy named Ruby in the book, but Michon has said she wasn’t a corgi there. Bruce Cameron, who is also her husband, kept sending her corgi puppy videos until she agreed to add one.
• The red cardinal. The cardinal thread tied to Grandma Barbara is new for the movie. Michon said that part isn’t in the book.
• A busier Winstead. The movie gives Winstead a more active part in Grandpa Sander’s story, so he’s doing things, not just watching from the side.
• Who tells the story. The novel moves between several characters, including Winstead, Sander, Ello and Juliana. The movie keeps it simple and lets Winstead narrate the whole thing.

I watched the movie first, so the basset hound is my Winstead now. If you’re a book person, go in expecting the same warm family story with a few new pieces.

Where Was A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Filmed?

Even though the story is set in Traverse City, Michigan, the movie was filmed in British Columbia, Canada, under the working title Winstead and Ruby. According to The Cinemaholic, filming started in late October 2025 and wrapped in mid-December, mostly in and around Vancouver, which stood in for Traverse City.

Some winter scenes were filmed in Penticton, a lake town a few hours east of Vancouver, including skating and hockey scenes at the outdoor rink in Gyro Park. If you’re watching Ello on the ice and thinking it doesn’t look like a studio set, that’s why.

Where to Watch A Dog’s Perfect Christmas

It’s a Netflix original, so it’s streaming only on Netflix, starting November 4, 2026. That’s where I watched it, and it’s included with every Netflix plan. It came out the same day on Netflix in other countries too, including Canada and the UK, so you won’t find it on Hulu, Prime Video or Disney+.

Who Should Watch A Dog’s Perfect Christmas

• Dog lovers, especially if you’ve got a senior dog snoring on the couch.
• Multi-dog families who know exactly what happens when a new puppy joins an old dog’s house.
• Families with teens who want a cozy Christmas movie night.
• Anyone who loved A Dog’s Purpose or A Dog’s Journey.
• Fans of a grumpy grandpa story with a soft middle.
• People who like a good cry balanced with plenty of laughs.

Saving something heavier for after the kids are in bed? My Under Siege parents guide covers Netflix’s new eight-episode Colombian true story, which I’d save for 16 and up.

Movies Like A Dog’s Perfect Christmas to Watch Next

If this one left you wanting more dog stories, here’s where I’d go next. I added a quick “good to know” for each, because I know the first thing dog people want to know before pressing play.

• A Dog’s Purpose (2017): the movie that started it all, from the same author, with Dennis Quaid. Good to know: it’s about a dog living several lives, so be ready for some goodbyes along the way.
• A Dog’s Journey (2019): the sequel, also with Dennis Quaid, built on the same idea. Same tissue warning.
• A Dog’s Way Home (2019): another W. Bruce Cameron story, co-written by Cameron and Cathryn Michon, about a dog trying to get back to her person. Good to know: there’s a lot of peril along her journey.
• The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019): Milo Ventimiglia again, and another story told by a dog. Good to know: the dog tells the story near the end of his life, so it’s a big tearjerker.
• Heart of the Beast: a newer dog movie I reviewed for dog lovers, with my own Dog Scene Guide. Here’s my Heart of the Beast review.
• Wildwood: a beautiful stop-motion movie full of animals that surprised me. Here’s what animals are in Wildwood.

Watch the A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Trailer

Here’s the official trailer from Netflix if you want a feel for the tone before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: the dogs are fine, and the tears in this movie come from the people. If your kids are young or your family has been through a hospital stay recently, watch it first yourself, and keep tissues on the couch for the middle stretch. And let the credits roll for a minute at the end. Everything else is cozy, funny and very dog-centered.

My next Movie Nights review is up now, and it’s another Christmas movie on Netflix: my Deck the Halls movie review, with an animal scene guide for the sleigh horses and the poodle. Did Winstead make you think of your own senior dog? Tell me about them in the comments. And if you’re in the mood for another movie that might make you cry, here’s my guide to how sad Klara and the Sun is.

About me: I’m Emily. My AMC A-List lets me see up to four movies a week in theaters, and I watch the big new Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ releases at home. Thrillers yes, horror never. I always read up on a movie before I press play, and I share that homework here too. See all my Movie Nights reviews.

Got a dog at home too? Here are the lick mat recipes my three dogs love, and how I deshed my dogs at home with one slicker brush. And every movie I’ve reviewed this year is in My 2026 Movie Log.