Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family-friendly pet tale with mild language, bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Not My Dog
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In NOT MY DOG, a stubborn, sarcastic 12-year-old girl named Bridget (Rylie Pennington) is forced to go on an errand for her mom that turns into one life-changing adventure when a stray dog starts to follow her. Bridget would rather spend time on her phone, and initially tries to shake off the black German Shepherd, but dog is persistent. Maybe wandering around the neighborhood with her new companion won't be so bad...
Is It Any Good?
This is a feel-good family film that gently nudges kids to look outside of their comfort zones and into the unexpected things beyond their phones. It challenge kids to see the value of pet responsibility and pet rescue without ignoring the hard work and sacrifice that's required. This character-driven film offers a strong tween role model in Bridget, and pet lovers will enjoy lots of dog-centric scenes, along with real-life emotions and relatable experiences. While the rare swear words and scene with someone feeding a dog chocolate don't feel necessary, this overall family-friendly film can spark meaningful conversations about unlikely friendship, responsibility, and love—which sometimes comes in a four-legged package.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the director's intentional decision to include a large black dog as the main character. How does this film use the dog's appearance to influence our feelings about him? Would the story have been different if they cast a small, white, fluffy dog? What does this film suggest about judging a dog or a person before getting to know them?
What do you think the film wants audiences to believe about stray animals, especially dogs? Did the movie change your perception of rescue animals? How does a fictional film about stray dogs differ from a documentary film about stray dogs?
Why do you think the movie is called Not My Dog? What does the movie title suggest about the film before watching it? Does the meaning change by the end of the film? If you were to give this film a different title, what would it be and why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 11, 2026
- Cast : Rylie Pennington , Eric Roberts , Marika Dominczyk , Analise Scarpaci
- Director : Danny Legare
- Studio : Trash Panda Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Dogs ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2026
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