Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartwarming family adventures in foster dog parenthood.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Puppy Place
What's the Story?
Puppy Place is a TV dramedy based on the book series The Puppy Place by Ellen Miles. Siblings Lizzie (Brooklynn MacKinzie) and Charles (Riley Looc) Peterson are just regular kids when they become accidental dog foster parents. They discover their passion for fostering dogs when their firefighter dad brings home an abandoned puppy he rescued from a fire. At first Lizzie and Charles want to convince their parents to let them keep the puppy as a family pet, but they realize that the dog can actually have a better home elsewhere. After their first ad-hoc foster pup, they decide to keep fostering dogs. Along the way, they meet different breeds who put their puppy training skills to the test, and tug at their heartstrings when they send them to their fur-ever homes.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who love dogs will likely enjoy Puppy Place despite its predictable plots and unrealistic dialogue. Each episode features a foster dog that's a different breed, and the canine stars are super adorable. Kids will like living vicariously through Lizzie and Charles, whose parents give them complete responsibility in taking care of the foster dogs. The show's writing could be better. While the siblings do get in realistic-ish disagreements with each other and their parents, they resolve their problems with trite monologues that fall flat. Kid viewers may not resonate with these siblings who don't quite feel like real, normal kids. Otherwise, the series advocates for treating furry friends with respect, and shows kids that they can help animals in need too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lizzie and Charles's compassion for dogs. What do you think leads them to fostering dogs, even though it means they have to make a lot of personal sacrifices to do it?
It's hard for Charles and Lizzie to get to know the dogs they foster and then give them away to another family. Do you think you'd be able to foster animals?
Charles and Lizzie don't always get along. Does their relationship remind you of one you have with a brother, sister, or friend? How do they resolve their disagreements?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 15, 2021
- Cast : Riley Looc , Brooklynn MacKinzie , Eric Lynch , Dominique Toney
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Activism , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 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