Parents' Guide to

Dog with a Blog

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Goofy sitcom celebrates families, raises discussion points.

TV Disney Channel Comedy 2012
Dog with a Blog Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 26 parent reviews

momagasintinaporratestuff
momagasintinaporratestuff Adult
June 18, 2022
age 2+

not good at all

This show is not suitable for dogs. Showed my dog this show so it would encourage him to talk (which didn't work) but it only encouraged him to roll on the couch and sneak out and drive my car! Sometimes I even catch him on my computer, he tries to gaslight me by sitting normally when I turn around and winking at me but I know the truth! Stan is a bad influence on dogs everywhere! Don't let your dogs watch this show.
4 people found this helpful.
DarcyLucy10
DarcyLucy10 Adult
March 23, 2021
age 12+

No Thank You!

I never write reviews. I signed up for an account just to leave a review of this show which I just finished watching (episode 1) with my young children. I feel it's time for parents and family's to begin to speak up regarding the content that is being created for our children. I understand that I have the right to simply choose not to watch it, and we will not be watching it again, but I strongly believe there is a bigger issue here. It's not about bad acting, casting or weak plots. I just sat with my two children and watched as a Disney channel program showed a dog late at night looking at porn on a computer screen as a "treat". YEP. It wasn't spelled out, but it is exactly what the reference was implying and this mama is fed up. Not just for my children but for our children. Our children deserve better.

This title has:

Too much sex
4 people found this helpful.
See all 26 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Bennett James (Regan Burns) brings home a shelter dog to help step-siblings Tyler (Blake Michael), Avery (G Hannelius), and Chloe (Francesca Capaldi) relate better to each other, it doesn't immediately have the intended effect. But then the kids discover that Stan the dog (voiced by Stephen Full) can talk, and they join forces to protect his secret from everyone, including their parents, Bennett and Ellen (Beth Littleford). Stan's unusual talent creates some off-the-wall predicaments for his new family, but ultimately the adventures bring them closer together, and Stan recounts all the new developments on his daily blog.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (26):
Kids say (95):

DOG WITH A BLOG's family-centered, sappy-sweet plot casts a couple of familiar Disney faces (Michael hails from Lemonade Mouth fame, Hannelius from Den Brother) in the starring roles, which will entice viewers. The show is pretty cheesy, with clichéd humor and over-the-top acting, but it does a good job of providing clean-cut comedy with some heartwarming messages about families. Tyler and Avery's tug-of-war over rules and expectations of each other reflect issues that blended families in particular deal with, and while their resolutions are overly simplified for the 30-minute time frame, their experiences do offer some conversation points.

As for the blogging dog plot line, you'll probably find it a little hokey, but it may play to your kids' sense of imagination and offers a comical commentary on family life from a pet's point of view. That said, it's important to talk to your kids about the possible dangers of sharing too much personal information online. Stan's role as the instigator of hairy situations is slightly more forgivable than it would be if he were a more true-to-life character, but the show still glosses over situations that might be more troublesome in your kids' world, so draw their attention to the differences between how TV characters solve problems and how real people do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about honesty. Is honesty always the best policy? Can you think of a situation in which you would be tempted to tell a lie? How do you feel when you say something untruthful?

  • Kids: What are some of the common disagreements you have with your siblings? How do you typically solve these problems? What do you wish your siblings could better understand about you?

  • What are your family's rules about using the internet? What, if anything, are you allowed to do online? What dangers exist online?

TV 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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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