If you’re ever in need of a good cry—you know what I’m talking about—and are looking to watch something that pairs superbly with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a box of Kleenex, I have some sound advice: Aim for a dog-centric movie. The smart movie producer will follow this basic formula: Dog is introduced and found to be uncommonly lovable; dog is somehow put in peril; dog manages to come out unscathed and reunited with its family. Tear-streaked faces everywhere. That’s the type of movie you should aim for if you are in need of a good cry.
When I was a kid, the best dog movies were Lassie movies. “Lassie Come Home” is the one that jumps to mind. It was made in 1943, before my time and in black and white, originally, but it remains timeless to this day. Haven’t seen it? Look it up and watch, especially if it’s tears you’re after.
The basic plot is that Lassie is a beloved family pet, but especially bonded with one little boy. Every day at a certain hour, Lassie scratches at the kitchen door to be let out. She trots down the lane happily and waits outside the school for her boy. He comes out, greets her enthusiastically and they walk home together tossing sticks and skipping stones. It’s adorable. When you, the watcher, are fully invested in their special relationship, you find that they get separated somehow, and Lassie finds herself far, far away from home. A kindly family takes her in and cares for her but can’t help but notice that every day at a certain hour, she scratches at the door and whines to be let out. You know why. She wants to fetch her boy at school. The crumpled Kleenex is piling up about now. Eventually, they take pity and let her out and she embarks on an arduous journey home. Of course, there is danger around every corner. Lassie suffers injuries and navigates several narrow escapes that would have stopped her in her pursuit of home. The threat is real and keeps you on edge. The journey takes days—weeks even. By the time she sees her homestead up ahead, she’s leaving bloody paw prints on the ground; she’s limping and filthy, hardly recognizable—except to her boy. If you weren’t crying yet, the hug-filled, tail-wagging reunion between the pining boy and his long-lost dog will turn you into a blubbering mess.
Then there’s “Where the Red Fern Grows.” A classic! A poor adolescent boy in The Ozarks saves and saves for a couple hunting dogs. He finally amasses enough to buy two Red Coonhounds and names them Little Ann and Little Dan. He teaches them to hunt, which takes time and patience. Hunting puts food on the table and is important to the survival of his family. The boy and his dogs become constant companions. The boy learns valuable lessons in loyalty and family while caring for and teaching his hounds. One day, Little Dan gets hurt trying to protect the boy from a mountain lion and dies. Soon after, Little Ann loses her will to live and dies too. Predictably, the boy is heartbroken and so are you. As the credits roll, you vow never to watch another movie where the dog dies. It’s the worst! I’m all for the bad guys taking a fall but leave the dogs out of it.
Need more recommendations to keep those tears flowing? Try “Old Yeller,” “Marley and Me,” “My Dog Skip,” “Hachi,” or “Racing in the Rain,” to name a few.
It’s a testament to their nature that dogs are often the heroes in movies. Sometimes you come across a story about such a dog in real life. Take a scroll on Facebook and you’ll find stories of dogs that saved a child from being bitten by a poisonous snake only to perish for its selfless act of bravery. Or a dog that protected a child by fending off a vicious dog attack only to suffer life-threatening injuries. Knowing their capacity for protectiveness and their loyalty, we used to have a rule with our kids about hiking in the feral land around our house: Take the dogs with you. We figured if the kids were out of sight, the dogs would stay close and, if necessary, put themselves between their wards and danger. Plus, they make a lot of noise when they see big wildlife, especially bears.
Seriously, though, have you ever been around a dog when they encounter a bear? It’s like they’re sworn enemies. The dog loses it completely, barking and carrying on beyond reason. It’s effective though. I have yet to encounter a bear that enjoys being harassed by a dog. They usually make themselves scarce at the mere sound of a dog barking nearby. Dogs react similarly to moose, going bananas even long after they’ve left the area. It’s like their mere temporary presence is an unforgivable trespass. At least that’s been my experience. The point is, if the family dog and potentially dangerous wildlife are in close proximity, the dog will not keep it a secret.
Throughout history, stories of dogs doing right by their humans have become legendary. Just one of the many reasons we love them. Even a pocket-sized dog will do its best to protect its human. And if the human dies, the story doesn’t necessarily end. I’ve seen some heart-wrenching stories about dogs laying on or scratching at their human’s grave. Sometimes at the funeral itself and sometimes long after the grass has grown over the site. Gets my waterworks started every time.
Again, if you need a good cry, there’s lots of dog material out there to choose from. Hero dog stories, selfless sacrifice stories, long lost dogs making it home stories, and ones that die at the end of the story (not my favorite). Your pick. Any and all will have the desired effect. If you need a good cry, go for the dog-centric tear-jerkers. Works every time.
“Throughout history, stories of dogs doing right by their humans have become legendary.”
