Take Your Dog to the Movies? Why Not?

People seem to be taking their four-legged friends everywhere with them, these days. And why not? As long as your buddy is well behaved, where’s the harm?

But the movies? Yes! Dog-friendly movie houses and screenings are popping up all over the world. And even if your favorite theatre hasn’t fully jumped on the trend, many theatres are offering special dog-friendly film screenings of movies they think would be of interest to both dogs and their families.

Dog-Friendly Movies and Screenings

Movie theaters are always finding new ways to welcome different kinds of customers, especially those who normally would shy away from a theatre. From special screenings for parents with babies to sensory-friendly showings that dial down the volume and turn up the lights, today’s theatres strive to be welcoming and inclusive.

But what about dog owners? Yes, there are movie houses that welcome us as well.

England

Picture House in London, England recently hosted their first dog-friendly movie screening. The film was Pick of the Litter, a documentary that followed the training of a guide dog for the blind. The theatre provided blankets to cover the seats, for dogs who wanted to sit on the seats. The dogs could also lie on the blanket on the floor. Picture House also provided water bowls and doggy treats. The showing was such a success, Picture House repeated it in other British cities as well.

Scotland

The Cameo Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland also held a screening for dogs and their families — this time the film was Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, an animated film about dogs.

The Grosvenor Theatre in Glasgow got into the act with a showing of Rock Dog. Rock Dog is an animated film about a Tibetan Mastiff who discovers a love of rock music. This showing was part of the Glasgow Film Festival.

Ireland

Isle of Dogs seems a popular choice for dog-friendly screenings. And it was a highly successful one for the Light House Cinema in Dublin. The event hosted forty dogs and their owners, and, according to theatre personnel, was a rousing success. The Independent reported that the dogs were very well behaved, and everyone had a lot of fun. This was Dublin’s first dog-friendly screening, but we’re sure it won’t be their last.

The United States

K9 Cinemas in Plano, Texas has gone Picture House one better. Not only are all of their showings open to dogs, but adult human customers get complimentary unlimited wine included in their ticket price. Don’t like wine? How about whisky? Yes, seriously! (Unfortunately the whisky was limited to four “wee drams.”)

K9 Cinemas also hosts theme nights, like “Margarita Night” and “Take Your Dog to Church Night.” Tickets are very reasonable, and there’s even a place for your dogs to run around if they get restless.

The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, Washington has also hosted dog-friendly screenings to great effect. Their showing included treats and an exercise area for restless dogs, though dogs were not permitted on theatre seats.

The cities of San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver have also held recent dog-friendly screenings (Isle of Dogs, natch). The Denver event was hosted by the Sie Film Center, and benefited the MaxFund, a Denver-area no-kill shelter.

Festivals and Outdoor Venues

Around the world, outdoor screenings and film festivals are increasingly opening their “doors” to dogs and their families. So if watching an outdoor film with your buddy sounds like your kind of thing, check out your local film festivals to see if they’re “on trend” with the dog-friendliness.

So, You Want to Bring Your Dog to the Movies

Fantastic! But you knew there was a catch.

Part of bringing dogs to public spaces is responsibility. Acting responsibly will ensure that everyone has a good time, and that there will be more dog-friendly events in the future. So:

• Make sure your dog is up to date on his or her vaccinations and is in good health (some venues will require proof of vaccination anyway)
• Only bring your dog if you think they will enjoy the event. Some dogs don’t like the noise and chaos.
• If your dog is getting restless during the film, take them out for some exercise (some venues offer a special area for this)
• Think twice about bringing a reactive or aggressive dog to a public event

It’s an exciting world out there, and more and more parts of it are opening their arms to dogs and their families.

What are your favorite dog-friendly venues?

Featured Image: CC0 by 42 North, via Pexels