Pound Puppies

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Heartwarming '80s remake is doggone fun for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this updated version bears little resemblance to the original 1980s cartoon of the same name, but it is filled with heartwarming messages about friendship, compassion, and the ties that bind animals and their human friends. The characters are a motley crew of both breeds and personalities, but they all adhere to one goal, which is to help their fellow dogs find loving homes. Expect a fair amount of good-natured bad behavior (snooping on humans and sabotaging their plans, for instance) and some mild name-calling (“bonehead” and “numbskull,” to name a few), but the rest of the content is doggone great for kids.

  • Nothing brainy, but the show does boast some heartwarming messages about trust, loyalty, and the bonds between pets and their people.
  • Interpersonal themes like loyalty, friendship, and trust are part of each story. The Pound Puppies’ goal is to find loving homes for stray dogs, and all of the stories have a heartwarming conclusion. The show’s focus on the doggie heroes means that the human characters are often seen as ineffective and unintelligent, but the comparison is spun for humor.
  • The dog pack is a well-meaning group whose primary goal is to see homeless dogs find a family. Although their methods might be questionable (intentionally breaking an expensive machine so the repairman and his son will return and adopt a dog, for instance), it’s all in good fun, and the outcome is a happy one.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • Occasional name-calling like “numbskull” and “bonehead.”
  • The show is an updated version of a popular 1980s cartoon, which at the time was part of a merchandise line that included toys, books, and games.

What's the story?

POUND PUPPIES is the story of an underground network of canines whose mission is to match up homeless dogs with dog-less people. Operating from a secret command center beneath Shelter 17, Lucky (voiced by Eric McCormack), Cookie (Yvette Nicole Brown), Strudel (Alanna Ubach), and the other Pound Puppies befriend newcomers to the shelter and set to work identifying their ideal human match. Creativity is key to the process, since all of this must be done under the not-so-watchful eyes of the distracted shelter director Mr. McLeish (Rene Auberjonois) and the dimwitted dog catcher, Olaf (M. Emmet Walsh).


Is it any good?

 

Pound Puppies originally burst onto the scene in the mid-‘80s as sad-eyed plush animals whose instant popularity spawned a TV special, an animated series, and a movie. This 2010 version borrows little more than the name from the original, with all new characters and a new direction for the stories. The good news is that its focus on the do-gooder dog pack has some imbedded messages about empathy and helping others, since the Pound Puppies aren’t out to help themselves -- and some of them even have their own families to go home to.

From tough-talking Cookie to resourceful little Squirt (Michael Rappaport), kids are sure to love the diverse doggie characters in this cute series, and their minor transgressions won’t have any adverse effect on a young audience because it’s clearly done in humor. There is some name-calling among the pups, but the rest of the show is well suited -- and even a bit heartwarming -- for kids.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about helping others. In what ways do the Pound Puppies help their friends? In what ways are their actions difficult for them? What reward do they get from helping others? How do you feel when you help someone?

  • Parents and their kids can talk about pet care. Why is having a pet a big responsibility? What are some of the jobs associated with having a pet? If you could have any animal, what would it be? What special needs would that animal have? Could you fulfill those needs, or would you need help?

  • Kids: In what ways do TV shows or movies influence your likes and dislikes? Does seeing a show or movie with particular characters make you more inclined to want toys or books with those same characters? What are some of your favorite TV shows? What, if any, other products do you have with characters from those same shows?


This review of Pound Puppies was written by
Kid, 8 years old
April 5, 2011
 
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Parent of 2, 4, and 7 year old
May 25, 2012
 
Not To Bad
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Adult
April 26, 2012
 
Another great accomplishment for The Hub!
How can ANYONE not like this show?! It has great animation and pretty good voice acting! The only negative thing about it is that sometimes it rips-off Martha Speaks (which is a GREAT show).Other than that this show is excellent.

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Teen, 17 years old
July 26, 2012
 
Cute Series That's Worth it's Wag
This is one of those shows that even older kids (such as myself) can enjoy. The entertainment can be either surface-level or very deep, in a way that touches your heart (and could sometimes even make you cry, with tears of joy, of course). Nothing too graphic or overly violent here, just some good-quality TV that you won't regret watching!
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Parent
February 3, 2013
 
NEVER WATCH THIS SMUT
THIS SHOW IS NOTHING BUT VULGARITY! THEY CALL EACH OTHER WORDS LIKE "NUMBSKULL" AND "BONEHEAD"! I DO NOT NEED MY KIDS TO LEARN THESE WORDS! I HAD TO SEND MY 13 YEAR OLD INTO THE OTHER ROOM IT WAS SO BAD!
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Teen, 13 years old
December 14, 2012
 
Cute show.
This show is good because since there is no graphic violence, cursing, or anything inappropriate like that. This means that the show is suitable for all ages (even teens like me) and even adults can enjoy it.
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Kid, 10 years old
July 20, 2012
 
Not good
Not that much of a good show, sometimes pretty boring topics.

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Kid, 8 years old
May 5, 2013
 
Nice Show.
I think Pound Puppies is rad, cute dogs, however some teasing and language.
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This review of Pound Puppies was written by
Topics:friendship
TV rating:TV-Y
Network:The Hub
Cast:Eric McCormack, John DiMaggio, Rene Auberjonois
Genre:Kids' Animation

This review of Pound Puppies was written by
 

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