Dickens & Rumi
Cover of A Dog's Journey

film

A Dog's Journey

2019

A dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character5/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Romance3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Kindness & empathy4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal, standard product placement expected in a modern film setting.

Death of a character5/5
Why this rating?

Death is a central theme. The dog dies and is reincarnated several times; human characters also die from accidents, cancer, and old age.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Brief medical scenes involving dialysis and minor injuries, but no graphic violence.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Likely limited mild language or frustrated outbursts, with no indication of frequent strong profanity or slurs.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

Touches on spiritual concepts like reincarnation and the afterlife, though not explicitly tied to a specific organized religion.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

CJ has relationships and dating complications before eventually marrying Trent; romance becomes important to her later story.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Tension comes from drowning, a horse, animal danger, controlling adults, running away, a crash, suicide risk, and illness.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Very mild; reference to dating and a character involved with a married man.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional background depiction of alcohol consumption in social settings.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Animals and a child face dangerous situations; a car accident and attempts to harm a dog occur, though violence is not graphically presented.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

CJ confronts neglect and controlling behavior, seeks recovery after a suicide attempt, and the dogs repeatedly risk themselves to protect her.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Reincarnation, the dog's perspective, animal communication, and repeated lives encourage imaginative thinking about identity and purpose.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse cast, though specific background cultural representation is not a central plot point.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Psychology, cancer, dialysis, Alzheimer's, hospice, and animal care appear incidentally rather than as the film's teaching purpose.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Dogs repeatedly protect and comfort people, and CJ, Trent, Hannah, and hospice workers show care despite significant family conflict.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes loyalty, caregiving, resilience, seeking help, protecting vulnerable people and animals, and finding purpose through connection.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

CJ shows persistence and love for her dog, while Trent helps her recover; some adults model neglect, manipulation, or poor judgment.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in A Dog's Journey would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in A Dog's Journey, and what caused that change?
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