Parents' Guide to Inside the Mind of a Dog

Movie NR 2024 75 minutes
Inside the Mind of a Dog movie poster: Dogs surrounding the edges

Common Sense Media Review

Jennifer Borget By Jennifer Borget , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Kid-friendly documentary is pawsitively warm, insightful.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 4+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 2+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

In this fascinating "dog"umentary, viewers dive INSIDE THE MIND OF A DOG, exploring the strong bond between people and their dogs. The film shares new research and helpful tips for dog owners. Narrated by Rob Lowe, the documentary also shows how service dogs are trained to help people. Experts from around the world explain how dogs think and answer big questions dog lovers might have.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

This is a fascinating and educational documentary that delves deep into the minds of our canine companions. Narrated by Rob Lowe, who also shares moments with his own pets, the film offers interesting insights and practical tips for dog owners. We learn that dogs communicate in complex ways, using their barks, tail wags, and 16 facial expressions to show emotions from anxiety to joy. The film also touches on canine intelligence and behavior, explaining that some dogs, much like humans, can exhibit signs of ADHD. It discusses how puppies that solve problems independently often grow into more effective guide dogs, drawing parallels to human development.

Inside the Mind of a Dog is not just informative—it's also a heartwarming adventure that helps us understand and appreciate our furry friends even more. Whether you're already a devoted dog lover or simply eager to learn more, this documentary is a tail-wagging treat for viewers of all ages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the deep bonds between dogs and humans and how dogs show affection toward humans. Can you share any personal experiences where you felt a deep connection with a pet?

  • How do dogs help people in the movie? Why are service dogs important?

  • How does the documentary explain the ways dogs communicate with humans? Why is it important for dog owners to understand these signals?

  • How did the people in the movie work together with dogs? Why is teamwork such an important character strength?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Inside the Mind of a Dog movie poster: Dogs surrounding the edges

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate