Directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin, ‘Dog’ is a buddy comedy with a touching message. It follows former U.S. Army Ranger Briggs, who is tasked with escorting a Belgian Malinois military working dog named Lulu from Washington to Arizona for his former master’s funeral. Initially, the two of them do not get along well and Lulu is rather aggressive towards him. But slowly it warms up and they teach each other a thing or two about life and love on their journey together.
‘Dog’ beautifully explores the attachment between animals and humans, as well as the fact that a four-legged creature is capable of feeling all emotions like us. Briggs’ realistic bonding experiences and the bond he forges with Lulu makes everyone relate and wonder if the movie is based on real events and people. In case you are curious to know that too, we are here for you. Let’s dive!
Is the dog a true story?
‘Dog’ is partly based on a true story. It’s partly inspired by the real-life experiences of director and actor Channing Tatum, who plays Briggs. He shared a romantic relationship with his late dog Lulu, after whom the furry protagonist is named. He was a Pitbull Catahoula mixed breed dog that Tatum rescued from a pound in 2008. After living with him for ten years, Lulu died of cancer in December 2018.
Tatum’s love for his dog is what inspired him to take on the project with longtime collaborator and co-director Reid Carolin, who wrote the screenplay with Brett Rodriguez. Briggs and Lulu’s road trip is loosely based on one of the last road trips the actor took with his late dog. Sharing his fond memories of her in an interview, he said, “Lulu was my little shadow. She was everything. She was my best friend… She had cancer and she gave up a good fight. I kept her in the fight too long. I regret.
Tatum added: “Towards the end I took her on a little road trip to Big Sur and we camped and watched the sun come up. It was everything you probably imagined. She almost died the next day. You never want to lose them. I was losing my best friend at a time when I really didn’t want to lose anything. Additionally, he described ‘Dog’ as a tribute to Lulu on his social media.
So, it’s only natural that Tatum’s real-life interactions and sightings with the dogs helped him while filming the movie. Other than that, “Dog” is most likely inspired by several other amazing true stories of military dogs as well as the love between pets and their owners. Additionally, there are several other movies with similar themes and adorable animals as central characters. Some of them include “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”, which depicts the heartbreaking true love story between a teacher and his loyal dog Hachiko.
Recommended peripheral merchandise related to “Dog”:
This wonderful buddy comedy movie has received support and recognition from the audience. Many supporters even customized their movie peripheral merchandise after the movie to express their love for this movie. Customized dog commemorative coins, dog stickers, dog badges, and other products are all common movie peripheral products.
Many fan users choose to customize personalized merchandise at GS-JJ.com. Custom challenge coins are a hot item in the store, and many people who love dogs and pets come here for customization!
A little over a year ago, I came back from a road trip where I said goodbye to my best friend. Now I’m making a film inspired by her. So proud to announce that DOG will be released by @MGM_Studios and in theaters next Valentine’s Day weekend. pic.twitter.com/JXDqEy85JZ
—Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) March 2, 2020
Narrated by an adorable golden retriever named Enzo, “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is another moving film that depicts the deep understanding between the dog and his master Denny, a Formula 1 driver. include “A Dog’s Purpose”, “Marley and Me”, “Eight Below”, and “Old Yeller”, to name a few. Even though “Dog” isn’t entirely based on a real-life incident, it’s a realistic story of loyalty and friendship, made more authentic by the stellar performance of Lulu, the wonderful lead actress.
Read more: Where was Dog (2022) filmed?
