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Seriously, is there anything better during the holidays than a cozy evening cuddling with your favorite dog? Heaven = the glowing lights of the tree, the wind blowing briskly outside—and a dog Christmas movie. Ok, and treats for both of you.
We’ve rounded up some fabulous holiday movies you can and should watch with your furry best friend. It’s a fact that dogs love to watch other dogs on screen, which makes these perfect for canine viewing.
1. A Golden Christmas
Looking for a smidge of the “touchy-feely” with your holiday film? A Golden Christmas has it all: childhood romance, buried time capsules, a crazy case of mistaken identity, and matchmaking pups who always manage to save the day.
2.The 12 Dogs of Christmas
Dancing may have been outlawed in Footloose, but in 12 Dogs of Christmas, it’s dogs that are banned from town in this Great Depression-era story.
A young girl goes to great lengths to change people’s hearts and minds and set up an orphanage for dogs. Watching this film, you might just want to foster one yourself.
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Many, many hearts have been warmed by the character of Max, the put-upon, loving, and loyal pup in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Want that heart to get even warmer?
In the 2000 live-action film starring Jim Carrey, Max was actually played by six different mixed-breed shelter rescues!
And after their brief stint with stardom, all of the dogs were adopted into loving forever homes. How’s that for a sweet Christmas story you can enjoy with your pup?
4. Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure
In Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure, the titular charming and beloved St. Bernard must SAVE CHRISTMAS! In a nutshell, he needs to rescue an elf who has made a crash landing in his town, help him recover Santa’s magic toy bag from greedy thieves, and return the sleigh to its rightful owner.
That’s quite a lot of pressure – but perhaps your pup will appreciate their drama-free life after cozying up with you for this action-packed movie.
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas
The collision of two very different holidays is the main focus of The Nightmare Before Christmas, a fantastically twisted animated film by Tim Burton.
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas and tries to get his creepy neighbors to throw their own version of the holiday. Things go awry, however, when Jack decides that they should, in fact, take over Christmas and make it their very own.
Visually stunning, this film is fun for both people and dogs (they’ll adore ghost pup Zero who has his own serious fanbase).
6. An All Dogs Christmas Carol
We know, the “Christmas Carol” thing has been done a thousand times…but have you ever seen it done with dogs? An All Dogs Christmas Carol delivers this classic tale with all the fun twists you’d expect from an adventurous dog Christmas movie.
This adaption is retold by the cast of All Dogs Go to Heaven. You know you have to see it.
7. A Dog Named Christmas
Hallmark has given us a syrupy but adorable entry in the dog Christmas movie genre with A Dog Named Christmas.
It tells the story of the McCray family, who foster a golden lab for the holidays. During the course of the foster, their developmentally challenged son forms a special bond with his pooch pal, whom he names Christmas.
He encourages more dog adoptions in the town, and veteran actor Bruce Greenwood lends acting gravitas as the boy’s skeptical father.
8. A Christmas Story
With timeless scenes and unforgettable characters, it’s no wonder that A Christmas Story remains a family favorite after all of these years.
Just a warning, though—considering the scene with the turkey-stealing hounds from next door, this may not be the best example for your pup of how to behave during the holidays.
9. The Search for Santa Paws
Did someone say magic dogs and elves?! That’s enough to spark the interest of any holiday-loving pup. The Search for Santa Paws follows the adventures of Santa and his canine buddy, Paws, as they take a trip to New York City.
But when disaster strikes and Santa loses his memory, a scrappy group of orphans and pups have to rescue Santa and save Christmas.
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas
Always a classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a TV special based on the Peanuts comic strip that has been warming hearts since 1965. And who can forget the indomitable Snoopy, who makes this a great dog Christmas movie in addition to being a long-standing tradition?
Grab a cup of cocoa and your favorite canine, and watch Charlie Brown, his gang, and the lovable Snoopy discover the true meaning of Christmas.
11. Lady and the Tramp
In addition to being a dog movie classic, this movie begins and ends, on Christmas. It doesn’t get much more romantic than the tale of a rich cocker spaniel who meets a streetwise mutt, caught up in a series of adventures that cause sparks to fly and tails to wag, warming hearts until the dramatic Christmas climax.
Their candlelit dinner kiss has been recreated in endless movies since. (As well as a Rover recreation.)
12. Lady and the Tramp (again)
Disney’s recently released live-action remake of the above-mentioned classic is just as great as the original.
In this case, the precious pups are given voice by high-caliber Hollywood stars including Justin Theroux, Sam Elliot, and Janelle Monae.
Shelter dogs were also used to fill the talented doggie cast, making this even more of a feel-good piece of canine cinema.
13. Project: Puppies for Christmas
Who doesn’t love puppies and feel-good stories for Christmas? Project: Puppies for Christmas is sure to be a pleaser, a sweet story of two sisters who are struggling with the loss of their mother.
In an attempt to get puppies from Santa for Christmas, they decide their good deed is to befriend the local curmudgeon, played by expert curmudgeon, John Ratzenberger.
14. Christmas With Tucker
Christmas with Tucker is a story that will make you want to hug your Christmas dog a little closer.
After losing his father, 13-year-old George must deal with his sadness while helping his grandparents run their struggling farm.
When the neighbor gets a dog, Tucker, he and George form an instant bond. This story blends tragedy and hope in a tearjerker of a story. Perfect for those cold nights when you need a good happy cry while snuggling a warm pup.
15. Gremlins
Why Gremlins isn’t on every holiday movie must-watch list is a true Christmas mystery.
Sure, it’s ultimately a horror film but all of the cuteness that is Gizmo the mogwai pal-ing around with his pooch friend Barney is pretty much irresistible. Your dog will love watching all of the action in this movie as much as you will.
Also, the gremlin caroling scene is as classic as the movie itself.
16. Christmas Tail
After each separately adopting a troublesome pooch for Christmas, two single parents ultimately find a way to share Bear among their families: they fall in love.
If you’re not finding holiday romance at the dog park, Christmas Tail might lend you some inspiration.
17. The Christmas Shepherd
Another holiday romance for those looking to stoke the fires of the heart, The Christmas Shepherd is the story of a widow whose husband’s dog, Buddy, is lost in a storm and finds a new family.
His new adopters are a single dad and daughter finding it hard to make connections after their own losses. Buddy brings them all together in a sweet Christmas tale that may encourage those nursing broken hearts to get out there and make some connections of their own.
We hope one of these films perfectly complements your eggnog!
And remember, if you feel like going to dinner and a movie this holiday season, but feel guilty leaving your dog behind, we have lots of experienced dog sitters and in-home dog boarders who’d be happy to take care of your furry best friend while you frolic around town.
