Dennis Quaid’s A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Is Netflix’s First Holiday Tearjerker of 2026, and Dog Lovers Can Breathe Easy

Grab the tissues, but maybe not too many. Netflix is kicking off its Christmas season early, and its first holiday movie comes with a corgi puppy, a grumpy grandfather and a promise that will calm every dog lover’s nerves.

Keep an eye on our entertainment and streaming coverage at Technosports for more holiday watchlist updates.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas: Overview

What’s the Story?

Two Christmases after losing his wife, grandfather Sander is grieving and grumpy. He’s also clashing with his teenage granddaughter, Ello. Then the holidays take a hard turn when Ello’s mother, Juliana, falls ill and is placed in an induced coma.

That’s where a lively corgi puppy named Ruby steps in. Narrated by wise old basset hound Winstead, the film follows a family trying to hold itself together, with a few four-legged helpers nudging them back toward each other.

The Big Reassurance: No Dog Dies

Anyone who has sobbed through a dog movie knows the fear. The director has confirmed that no dogs die in this one, so you can watch with the people (and pets) you love without bracing for heartbreak.

The Trailer Gives Us the Good Stuff

The two-minute trailer shows young Winstead popping out of a Christmas present and landing in Sander’s arms, the start of a lifelong bond. Things have changed since Sander’s loss, and Winstead isn’t having it. In one scene he yanks the tablecloth off the dinner table to force the family to connect.

Soon grandfather and granddaughter are bonding over Ruby. Sander also starts spending time with Claire, played by Mary Steenburgen, while Milo Ventimiglia’s Hunter shares the hard news about Ello’s mom. The trailer ends on a line that sums up the whole film: the dog’s purpose is to make people happy.

Who’s in the Cast?

• Dennis Quaid as Sander Goss
• Thomas Haden Church voicing Winstead
• Brooke Lena Johnson as Ello
• Mary Steenburgen as Claire
• Milo Ventimiglia as Hunter
• Jennifer Tilly, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Ethan Loomis in supporting roles

Quaid is no stranger to this world. He starred in the A Dog’s Purpose films, though he plays a different character here. If you want background on that franchise, see A Dog’s Purpose on Wikipedia. Both earlier films have left Netflix in the US, so you’ll need to look elsewhere to rewatch them.

Behind the Scenes: Three Corgis Named After Royals

Three corgi puppies shared the role of Ruby. Director Cathryn Michon revealed they were named Harry, William and Charles, and she says she directed much of the film while holding one of them. Steenburgen has also narrated an audiobook version of the novel ahead of the release.

What Else Is on Netflix’s Holiday Slate?

This is just the first of four festive films. Guarding Stars, In a Holidaze and Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas follow it. For more ideas on what to stream next, browse our latest OTT and movie picks and trending entertainment news.

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