Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Eager pups' adventures teach friendship, teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Puppy Dog Pals
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 42 parent reviews
Based on 28 kid reviews
Kids say the show has a mix of opinions, with some praising its messages about friendship and teamwork while others criticize its unrealistic plots and annoying characters. While young children seem to enjoy the catchy songs and colorful animation, many adults find it frustrating due to perceived flaws in storytelling and educational content.
- mixed reviews
- educational themes
- annoying characters
- unrealistic plots
- good for kids
- catchy songs
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
PUPPY DOG PALS is the story of two pug brothers, Rolly (voiced by Sam Lavagnino and later Gracen Newton) and Bingo (Isaac Ryan Brown and later Elisha Williams), who get into all kinds of adventures when their human, Bob (Harland Williams), leaves the house. Some days they embark on missions that take them far from their home; other days there's plenty going on inside their house to keep them quite occupied without setting foot outside. Either way, it's always a race to set things right before Bob returns home, unaware that his pups' strong desire to make him happy leads them to all sorts of mischief.
Is It Any Good?
These endearing canine siblings and their boundless enthusiasm for every new experience will appeal to preschoolers, and their adventures have lots of the silly humor that so delights this age group. In the episodes of Puppy Dog Pals where the pups' missions take them far from home, they get to meet new friends, try new things, and scurry to make it back in time to greet Bob upon his return. When it's a stay-at-home day, they're often entertained by one of Bob's latest elaborate inventions.
If you're an animal lover yourself, you're likely to take particular joy in pet personalities that are clearly designed to reflect the behavior of the real-life animals. Pug puppies Rolly and Bingo are impulsive, gregarious, and excitable, which leads them into many unexpected circumstances as they move faster than they think. Their feline roommate, Hissy (Jessica DiCicco), is much the opposite: aloof and self-involved, joining in the fray only when she deems it worth her time and energy. Such knowing touches help make Puppy Dog Pals a cute series for parents as well as young kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Puppy Dog Pals portrays the value of working as a team. How do the puppies work together? How do many hands make light work? Is it always better to have many opinions of how to solve a problem? What other character strengths besides teamwork are important to you?
Friendship is a central theme in the series. Brothers Rolly and Bingo have a really strong bond and always look out for each other, but they're also good friends to other dogs. Why is friendship important? What do you think makes a good friend?
Kids: Do you generally enjoy new experiences? Do you find trying something new exciting, sometimes scary, or a bit of both? How does stepping out of our comfort zone help us grow?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 14, 2017
- Cast : Harland Williams , Isaac Ryan Brown , Sam Lavagnino
- Network : Disney Junior
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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