Five of Bohdi's Favorite Dog Movies

 I was very happy when my person asked me to be a guest columnist this week. 

 While most humans are having had a rough time during COVID 19, adoption rates at shelters across the country have sky-rocketed. And what have my fellow "ruffs" and their new person been doing while quarantining at home - watching movies. Yes! Watching lots of movies. 

 I felt you might like to know five of my favorite dog movies that are available on a number of cable and streaming services. I promise you, your dog will love them – as will you!

Lassie Come Home (1943)

As a dog, Lassie has always been a hero to me. In my humble dog opinion, this film started it all for dogs in movies, and is still a classic today. The film is about a destitute family who has to sell their dog, a collie named Lassie, because they can't afford to feed her. When Lassie arrives at her new home she escapes and begins the long trek from Scotland to her former home in Yorkshire. This act of bravery says it all when it comes to family.

Old Yeller (1957)

Have tissues handy for this classic film from Disney. This heartbreaking coming-of-age tale encompasses all parts of dog ownership, and life in general. It is also one of the saddest movies ever. I would challenge anyone to try and hold back the tears at the end of the film.   

White Fang (1991)

Based on Jack London's novel White Fang, it tells the story of the friendship between a Yukon gold hunter (a young Ethan Hawke) and a wolfdog. Once again, friendship and loyalty are central themes of the story. I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure and action films.

My Dog Skip (2000)

My final choice is a film based on the autobiographical book by Willie Morris. This movie tells the story of nine-year-old Willie, who is different from a lot of the boys, and who is the daily victim of three school bullies. But it is also about a father and son relationship that isn't working. Then one day a dog, Willie names Skip, comes into his life, and everything changes. This is another heartwarming movie everyone should see whether you're a dog person or not.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) The film, starring Richard Gere, is an adaptation of the 1987 Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari. The original film told the true story of the Akita dog named Hachiko who lived in Japan in the 1920s. This version, which places it in a modern American context, was directed by Lasse Hallstrom. As I don't want to spoil anything about this heartwarming film, I will not be giving away any of the plot. I promise you will love it!