Depictions of Dogs in American Films

Thesis

Amanda Hašlová

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Arts

Communication and Media

State University of New York

Empire State College

2021

Reader: Todd Nesbitt

Table of Contents

Abstract

This paper examines how dogs are depicted in American films to gain a better understanding of the relationship between humans and dogs. The first part includes research in four areas connected to the relationship between humans and dogs, while the second part covers an analysis of eight culturally significant films.

Two areas that are focused on in the analysis are the portrayals of loyalty and the depictions of violence. Dogs play a significant role in the lives of humans, which is noticeable in both historical and cultural aspects. Although dogs have also proven to play a vital role in the world of entertainment, their depictions are based on authentic reactions that stem from deeper meanings. The paper concludes that dogs are more important to humans than previously known. Together with dogs, humans have been able to evolve in unimaginable ways, leading us to where we are today.

Only time will tell us how the relationship between humans and dogs will evolve further.

1. Introduction

Dogs have been a significant part of the human evolution since times of hunting and gathering. Their purpose has varied over the years, but most recently, they are mainly kept as companions. Because dogs have proven to be such vital actors in the lives of humans, they are also used for the purpose of entertaining.

Specifically, the popularity of films in which the main character is a dog has increased significantly over the past few decades.

Currently, dogs can be used in many different areas and in many different ways. Because dogs were bred by humans to fulfill specific tasks depending on the breed, they possess extraordinary talents formed by their heritage. The nature of the dog enables it to cooperate with humans in ways that can produce stunning performances in films. Dogs’ motivation to please their handlers is what allows them to overcome boundaries.

The advantage of using dogs in the production of films is their intelligence, which can be used to portray various specific emotions on-screen. The emotions that are captured are what convinces viewers of the story that is being told. The disadvantage of using dogs in the production of films may concern several ethical issues, such as whether the dog is being trained humanely or whether the dog may feel forced to perform certain scenes.

By getting an in-depth understanding of what the dog’s existence means to the lives of humans, several questions regarding its importance can be answered.

Furthermore, by thoroughly dissecting the depiction of dogs in films, knowledge about the preferences of humans can be attained. Through a comprehension of the messages portrayed in the films, a significance can be found regarding the relationship between humans and dogs.

Although the main approach is of qualitative nature, which aims at the discoveries of meanings, some hypotheses can be specified prior to the analysis.

Firstly, because dogs have stood beside humans for several millennia, assumptions can be made that dogs will be depicted as very loyal to humans. Secondly, because cruelty against dogs is heavily frowned upon, assumptions can be made that there will be minimal depictions of violence toward dogs.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how dogs have been portrayed in popular American films in order to identify the nature of the relationship between dogs and humans emerging from them. To do this, the paper will be divided into two parts, where the first part will cover the research and the second part will cover the analysis that will include eight films in which the main character is a dog, beginning with the 1940s and ending with the 2010s.

2. Dogs and Society

This is the part of the paper that covers the research that will investigate four crucial areas of dogs and their relationship with humans. To be able to fulfill the purpose of this paper, the research will build the theoretical foundation, which will allow a deeper understanding of dogs prior to the conduction of the analysis.

2.1 The History of Dogs

Although we cannot be certain of every aspect of our evolution, the historical evidence that has been gathered so far about the development of the relationship between humans and dogs suggests that the bond between the two species is much stronger than previously thought. By examining data of the evolution of both species, we may be able to unravel why dogs have proven to be so effective when cooperating with humans.

In 1868, Charles Darwin published a book in which he summarized his thoughts on how artificial selection can affect the process of evolution. He studied various domesticated animals, but most importantly, he studied dogs. Although

Darwin’s studies are over 150 years old, they already included theories that were yet to be confirmed. He argued that the dog may have originated from one or more wild species of animals, such as the wolf or the jackal. At that time, Darwin stated that the probability of certainly determining the origin of dogs would be almost non-existent. However, over 120 years after his publication, molecular genetics began to develop the possibility of providing answers to who the original ancestor of the dog is (Sykes, 2018).

The first genetic analysis that aimed to determine the dog’s origin was published in 1997 by Carles Vilà and his team. The biologists were able to gather samples of 162 wolves from 27 different locations in the world, 140 dogs from 67

different breeds, 12 jackals and 5 coyotes. By analyzing the DNA sequences of these animals, Vilà and his team were able to immediately determine that the jackals and the coyotes were unrelated to the dog, leaving the wolf and the dog to be studied further. Eventually, it was found that the DNA sequences of the wolves and the dogs matched almost completely, which confirmed that the dog is in fact descended from the wolf (Vilà et al., 1997).

Currently, there are several theories as to when the domestication of the wolf occurred and where in the world it happened. Although fossils of wolf-like dogs from various periods and locations have been found and studied, the history that can be extracted from the bones is usually very limited. With these bones however, some estimations have been able to provide answers as to when and where the transition from wolf to dog happened. After years of many different theories being proposed, a major study based on complete mitochondrial genomes published in

2013 was able to determine that the transition most likely occurred in Europe between 19,000 and 32,000 years ago (Thalmann et al., 2013).

The question of how the first contact between humans and wolves happened is another one to be theorized. What is known is that while the human species

Homo neanderthalensis remained cautious of wolves, individuals of Homo sapiens were rather fascinated by the four-legged hunters. Wolves shared a similar interest in the innovative humans, who were much more efficient in hunting than their

predecessors. The curiosity that the humans and the wolves shared for one another is what laid the foundation of a relationship that would guide the evolution of both species. Although the humans did not know it at that time, they were the founders of an unbreakable bond between human and animal (Sykes, 2018).

Because the domestication of the wolf is unlike any other, we may assume that the process did not begin with force. Thus, the theory that wolf pups may have been forcefully taken from their dens and then raised by humans from a very young age can be eliminated. This leaves us with two alternatives for how the first meeting between human and wolf took place. Either the humans were the first to approach the wolves, or the wolves were the first to approach the humans. In the first scenario, we may assume that wolves that were hunting were in some way joined by humans. Hunting was then more effective when it was teamed up by two predator species – the human and the wolf (Miklósi, 2018).

The second scenario, where wolves may have been the first to approach humans, involves the emerging tendency of early humans to build more permanent residences. The areas where the humans would choose to live would be subject to an accumulation of garbage, mostly in the form of leftovers. Since wolves have an incredible sense of smell, the ones that were in the areas nearby would become attracted to the scents of the leftovers. The wolves that were brave enough would attempt to get as close to the leftovers as possible without being noticed by the

humans. Sooner or later, the humans began to appreciate the presence of the wolves, who were keeping their residences safer from other predators (Ha and

Campion, 2018).

Although we may not know certainly of how the first encounter between human and wolf happened, we do know that however it happened, it sparked a relationship between two species that together would become unstoppable. In a time when surviving was difficult, humans and wolves would prove to be an extremely effective collaboration of strength and speed. During hunting, the wolves would identify a weaker individual of a herd and then separate it from the group, while the humans would follow them. Once the wolves had exhausted the prey by running after it, the humans were able to shoot spears from a distance.

Finally, the humans would butcher the wounded animal and share the remains with the wolves (Sykes, 2018).

As humans and wolves grew closer to each other, humans began to manage the breeding process of wolves. The wolves that expressed the least amount of aggression toward the humans were used for reproduction, while those that showed signs of aggression were terminated. Although this method of breeding may seem cruel, it was necessary to produce wolves with stable temperaments at that time. As aggression decreased with every litter, the ability to hunt effectively was preserved to ensure desirable results during hunting. Eventually, humans were keeping

animals that may have looked like wolves, but that were gradually behaving more like dogs (Sykes, 2018).

As the agricultural revolution began to ignite approximately 12,000 years ago, humans were starting to settle down permanently in favorable areas. They would build stable huts of stone and wood as well as confine domesticated animals for the purpose of meat consumption. In this period, humans were no longer accompanied by what could be considered a wolf. Instead, evidence suggests that various types of dogs were used for the purpose of guarding or hunting, which makes sense since humans would have had an impact on breeding for several millennia at this point. Although these dogs were not specific breeds, they were most likely the founders of many breeds that we have today (Miklósi, 2018).

Because dogs were bred for a specific purpose that depended on what was needed by humans, they not only had to behave in certain ways, they also had to have a specific appearance that would match their purpose. The dogs that were used to guard both property and livestock needed to be robustly built to look intimidating enough to be able to frighten trespassers. On the other hand, the dogs that were used for hunting needed to have a slimmer body, while being fit enough to be able to hunt down wild animals without becoming quickly exhausted.

Compared to wolves who were bred purely for function, visual aspects were considered when breeding dogs (Sykes, 2018).

As several millennia went by, the presence of dogs became more and more common, while their exceptional abilities became more and more useful. People realized that through selective breeding, they could create many different breeds to serve many different purposes. In the beginning of the 1870s, the Kennel Club was founded, followed by the American Kennel Club a decade later. For the first time, standards of breeds were created to establish a sort of structure that could be used by breeders, who could officially register their dogs to confirm their purity.

Because the popularity of dogs was rising significantly at this time, the creation of most of the breeds that we have today was enabled (Sykes, 2018).

With the standardization of breeds, many modern activities that people could do with their dogs were becoming widely exercised. Although most dogs were still used for many physically demanding tasks, less strenuous activities such as competitions and shows began to emerge, which allowed people to see dogs less as useful partners and more as devoted companions. Instead of owning dogs primarily for the purpose of labor, people were beginning to welcome dogs into their homes purely for the purpose of companionship. However, the presence of the dogs still brought many other benefits to their owners as well, such as spotting intruders and guarding houses (Rivers and Makala, 2019).

As the industrialized world grew rapidly, standards were raised to a point where most people no longer needed to fight for survival. Instead, a prosperous

economy allowed people to enjoy life to the fullest. Wealth enabled the purchase of luxuries, which included certain small breeds of dogs that were used as a form of status symbol. Entertainment was another area that grew in popularity thanks to the leisure that people were able to enjoy more of. Because of the joy that came from both dogs and entertainment at this time, the combination of the two created a world that would soon change the way that people saw dogs for many decades to come (Rivers and Makala, 2019).

To summarize this chapter, data has confirmed that dogs are descended from wolves through a process of domestication that began in Europe between 19,000 and 32,000 years ago. Furthermore, wolves were most likely the first to approach humans, which led to a realization that both species could cooperate for the purpose of survival. For several millennia, selective breeding would prioritize an ability to work with humans, enabling the creation of animals that would prove to be vital companions in the lives of humans. Finally, the founding of organizations that aimed to control the purity of dogs and their respective breeds allowed the creation of standards that would lead to many of the breeds that we have today.

2.2 The Intelligence and Trainability of Dogs

People who work with dogs would most likely be able to confirm that their intelligence allows them to go beyond their own limitations and reach further to please their handlers. Although these extraordinary capabilities are known, they may not be understood, which is why this chapter will aim to explain in what ways dogs are proving to be so successful in cooperating with humans.

In 1928, researchers reported on a dog that, according to its owner, was able to understand almost 400 words. When the researchers tested the dog’s abilities, they confirmed the fulfillment of at least 68 commands. The study concluded a need for more research to understand the intelligence of dogs. For more than 75 years, studies of dogs were almost non-existent, with only two projects aimed to evaluate the intelligence of dogs published between 1950 and 1995, both of which

deemed dogs as insignificant. In 2004, researcher Julian Kaminski began to study a

Border Collie that was able to understand at least 200 words, which ignited a world of research that would soon reveal the truth behind the intelligence of dogs

(Kaminski et al., 2004).

As researchers began to explore the abilities of dogs in the late 1990s, they found that not only were dogs able to perform certain activities based on commands expressed vocally by humans, they were also able to react to gestures that implied certain instructions. Findings were discovered through experiments involving humans that were instructed to silently point at objects that were hiding food. The majority of the dogs in the experiments reacted immediately to the gestures, despite the fact that none of the dogs had been taught to do so prior to the experiments. The results were considered revolutionary, because dogs were able to do something that not even chimpanzees, our closest relatives, were able to do

(Miklósi et al., 1998).

To get an understanding of why dogs were able to perform successfully when given instructions through gestures, the circumstances of the experiments were changed in a myriad of different ways. To test whether the ability of the dogs had something do to with being raised by humans for an extended period of time, puppies as young as six weeks were used in the experiments. Surprisingly, the puppies reacted almost as effectively as the adult dogs when exposed to the

gestures, which sparked a theory among researchers that dogs are born with an uncanny ability to communicate effectively with humans. However, the origin of this ability was yet to be determined (Riedel et al., 2008).

To further increase the reliability of the experiments, a new animal was selected for observation – the silver fox. Two groups of foxes were used for testing, one that was bred randomly including mostly aggressive individuals, and one that was bred selectively including only friendly individuals. Neither of the groups were socialized, meaning that humans did not interact with the foxes in any way except for when feeding them. Thus, neither of the groups had the advantage of being raised closely by humans. The results of the initial experiments revealed that the aggressive foxes showed no interest in cooperating with the humans, while the friendly foxes were very reactive to gestures that eventually led to food (Hare et al., 2005).

A common misconception regarding domestication is that animals who are bred by humans eventually become less efficient than their original ancestors. For instance, since dogs are fed by humans, they no longer need to preserve the ability to hunt to sustain themselves as wolves do. Through a plain perspective, one could consider it a deterioration when an animal progressively loses enhancements gained from a natural environment. On the other hand, when considering studies in which dogs have proven to be extremely effective in reading signals by humans,

major improvements can be interpreted, because dogs have learned that survival means cooperating with humans (McKinley and Sambrook, 2000).

The most significant conclusion of the experiments was that dogs, no matter how socialized they were, seemed to successfully respond to gestures during most of the observations. Similarly, silver foxes that had been bred selectively for decades purely based on friendliness toward humans were almost equally as successful as dogs, despite never interacting closely with humans. On the other hand, when wolves were tested for the same ability as the dogs and the foxes, they were mostly unsuccessful. Only a few individuals who had been raised since birth by humans reacted somewhat effectively to gestures, while those who grew up with other wolves were non-responsive to interactions with humans (Gácsi et al.,

2005).

Based on the experiments that were conducted in many different ways with many different animals to ensure its reliability, researchers were able to prove that domestication does not necessarily make an animal less efficient than its original ancestor. Instead, domestication seems to involve a process in which an animal’s fear decreases, while curiosity slowly takes its place. An animal that is less cautious is hence more willing to conquer obstacles, meaning that it would be more open to cooperation when faced with a human. Thus, domestication involving the

selective breeding of friendly individuals creates offspring that no longer reacts as primitively as its original ancestor (Hare and Woods, 2013).

The information that studies on animals have revealed may be considered exceptionally valuable, because not only are we beginning to understand animals in a more nuanced way, we are also discovering hidden truths about ourselves. By getting a grasp on what domestication has meant not only to our four-legged companions, but to ourselves as well, we are getting closer to unlocking the potential in cooperating with dogs. Our ancestors have gifted us with an animal that is capable of numerous abilities, but only when we learn how to use them are we able to achieve remarkable results. At the same time, we should not take for granted what these animals are capable of (Helton, 2009).

To summarize this chapter, numerous studies have shown that dogs, regardless of their various backgrounds, are extremely effective in understanding humans. Specifically, not only are signals performed vocally reacted to, signals performed through gestures are reacted to as well, which implies the insignificance of trainability, while proving the presence of instincts that are programmed to trust humans. As the previous chapter explained that the reasons why dogs cooperate with humans are based on their mutual history, this chapter proves that the past of both species involved the creation of an animal that is more valuable to humans than its original ancestor.

2.3 The Usage of Dogs in Cinema

Dogs used in the production of films have without a doubt been able to prove their astonishing capabilities in creating authentic performances and affecting their viewers in many different ways, which is why this chapter will aim to explain how dogs are able to do so. Although the will to please enables dogs to perform beyond expectations, various methods may be used to evoke certain reactions to create specific depictions.

The involvement of dogs in the lives of humans has proven to be significant, considering the rich history that both species have gone through collectively. Thus,

the usage of dogs in films is bound to be another culturally meaningful part of our common past. When taking into account the amount of films that have been produced with dogs as the main character, their performance can be analyzed based on their abilities to emotionally affect viewers. However, critics have noted that although the performance of dogs in films is convincing, their talents stem from the abilities of their handlers followed by various forms of manipulation to achieve certain emotional expressions (McLean, 2014).

An issue with the production of films including dogs is whether their performance can be compared to humans. While actors can receive numerous types of awards based on their abilities to act, the same is not applied to canine actors, despite the fact that both humans and dogs are directed in each scene throughout the making of a film. Although some well-known dogs have been noted in the past for their exceptional performance in popular films, the attention is not equal to humans. In most cases, the reason behind minimizing the value in the performance of dogs is to maintain a sense of seriousness, since giving an award to a dog could be considered comical (McLean, 2014).

In the past, dogs were considered mindless animals that were incapable of feeling anything. Recently however, researchers have confirmed that dogs are in fact very emotional creatures that experience many of the same emotions that humans do, such as fear and joy. This is an important consideration when using

dogs in films, because in the past, most dogs were trained to react to commands through fear, such as punishment when reacting incorrectly. Recently though, canine actors are trained with modern methods including rewards to reinforce good behavior, since lessons that are enjoyable are much more effective in ensuring long-lasting results (Harari, 2017).

An interesting aspect of using dogs in the production of films is how they may perceive being in a situation where they have to portray a certain character, because while an actor is aware that he or she is playing a role, a canine actor is not. Parallel to very young children that are used in films, dogs are incapable of understanding the meaning behind their performance. In fact, what is considered the performance of a dog in a film is actually a recorded behavior that has been modified through various techniques that are commonly used in the production of films, such as editing and narrating. Thus, dogs do not necessarily act in films, they behave based on commands provided by their handlers (McLean, 2014).

With the release of Lassie Come Home in 1943, an ideal was created that would affect how humans behave regarding dogs. Viewers, especially children, would yearn for their own companions that would show equal loyalty as the main character of the film. When animated Lady and the Tramp was released in 1955, an increase of popularity was noticeable in the Cocker Spaniel. Finally, with the release of animated One Hundred and One Dalmatians in 1961, a surge of interest

was recorded in the Dalmatian. The effects that the films caused among humans may be considered significant due to the impact that they had on ideals as well as behaviors (Franklin, 1999).

Just as humans do, dogs have to go through a process in which many factors, such as versatility, are considered prior to being chosen for a role. Similarly, the visual representation of canine actors is also carefully contemplated before the shooting of scenes. The environment in which scenes are shot has to be adjusted as well to ensure that dogs are represented perfectly when it comes to specific techniques that are used in the production of films. Furthermore, most canine actors have several stunt doubles that are used in more physically demanding scenes. In some cases, stuffed animals are used when depictions of violence are necessary to convey certain messages (McLean, 2014).

To summarize this chapter, what is considered the performance of a dog in a film is actually the creation of various techniques that are used in the production of films. Although it may seem that an animal is acting, it is in fact simply reacting to various signals provided by its handler, which is why it is not aware that it is playing a role in a film. Furthermore, when discussing human actors versus canine actors, dogs are thought of as less significant, despite the fact that both are guided throughout the making of a film in similar ways. Even though both human actors

and canine actors can perform exceptionally in films, only humans are able to receive awards for their talents, while dogs are not taken as seriously.

2.4 Ethical Concerns Regarding the Usage of Dogs in Cinema

In an ideal world, animals used in the making of films would be treated fairly without any occurrences of cruelty or exploitation. Sadly, not all creators consider the well-being of animals when wanting to achieve certain depictions, which is why this chapter will examine what ethical concerns may relate to how dogs are used in the production of films, while also identifying how their portrayals influence ideals and behaviors of humans.

Today, we are used to seeing in the credits of every film that includes animals that none of them were harmed throughout the making of it. However, considering cruelty to achieve a certain performance from an animal was not always a priority in the production of films. Before the 1930s, harmful methods such as spiking and doping were used when making films with animals in them.

Similarly, drugs and liquid smoke were not unknown to elicit specific reactions

from animals. Another major issue was that most of the time, animals were not allowed access to food or water, working to the point of complete exhaustion throughout the shooting of scenes (McLean, 2014).

Ethical issues with using dogs in films are that they lack several rights compared to humans, which means that in many cases, they are not protected by laws or regulations, since they are legally considered to be property. Like children who are used in films, dogs do not have much power to control how they are used throughout the shooting of scenes, especially if the owner of the dog is not present throughout the making of the film. Also, dogs are more susceptible to being exploited in ways that may not be considered humane. Although certain organizations that are founded for the purpose of protecting animals that are used in films try to monitor how animals are treated, they are not able to be present at all times (Beers, 2006).

Another problem with dogs being represented in films is that they can be misrepresented in the sense that only positive aspects of owning a dog are highlighted. As viewers are presented with a dog that seems perfect in every way, illusions that all dogs are equally perfect as what can be seen in films are created.

Dogs can then be at risk of being mistreated or abandoned, because humans with a misunderstanding of what owning a dog actually entails choose to give up on their four-legged companions. Similarly, a major issue is that viewers of films with

specific breeds in them can be convinced that the dogs who represent them are doing so properly when most of their characteristics are actually contradistinctive

(DeMello, 2012).

Difficulties may occur during the production of a film that requires depictions of violence with dogs included, because creators want scenes to convince viewers of their reality, but not to a point where viewers may be disturbed by content that is too intense. For instance, when depictions of dogs fighting are necessary, creators use various techniques to make them seem real, despite the fact that they are entirely fictious. However, the actions that are then regarded by viewers may be questioned, since such content is very difficult to fabricate. On the other hand, with depictions of humans harming animals or vice versa, editing can very easily make the actions seem realistic without any real cruelty taking place. (Almiron et al., 2015).

An area of discussion regarding the usage of dogs in films that may concern some principles of ethics is whether the canine actor that represents the main character is considered a purebred dog or not. Recently, debates have increased in popularity regarding the issue of pure breeding due to the health of some highly popular breeds that has been deteriorating. Arguments that pure breeding should be banned, while so-called mutts should be the only possible four-legged companions to be adopted, have occurred among discussions regarding the overall well-being

of dogs. With the release of popular films with dogs, increased demands of the same dogs can take a toll on the health of some breeds (Rooney, 2009).

In some films where deeper messages are prioritized, dogs are used as a form of metaphor to convince viewers. For instance, dogs are known to represent certain minorities, which means that depictions of dogs may relate to how some groups of humans live. Creators may choose to use dogs in the entirety of a film to persuade viewers into realizing that some dogs are treated as poorly as some humans and vice versa. On the other hand, messages may also convey realizations that some dogs may be treated better than some humans, which relate to films where racism is discussed through the use of dogs whose fur is of light colors versus dark colors (Dayan, 2015).

To summarize this chapter, findings have shown that dogs are subjected to cases of exploitation when used in the production of films, which is due to a lack of rights caused by their legal definition as property. Although there are organizations that control how canine actors are treated, their presence is limited.

Furthermore, a major issue with how dogs are represented in films relates to how they are synchronously being misrepresented. Most of the time, only ideal aspects of owning a dog are displayed in cinema, which can cause formations of illusions that all dogs are perfect. Finally, issues regarding pure breeding may occur depending on what canine actor is chosen for a role in a film.

3. Case Studies

This is the part of the paper that covers the analysis that will be conducted on eight films in which the main character is a dog. Because of the research that was completed to create an understanding of dogs and their relationship with humans, the analysis can be conducted effectively and confirm the significance of the presence of dogs in the lives of humans.

3.1 Criteria for Choosing Films

To maintain a sort of structure, the eight films that were chosen for analysis had to fulfill three common traits. The first trait involved popularity, which meant that each chosen film had to show characteristics of some form of popularity. This could mean its significance in history, its casting of a well-known actor, or its overall financial success and international reputation. The second trait involved the necessity of the films taking place anywhere in the United States to ensure a

correlation between cultures. Also, most well-known films about dogs are produced in the United States anyway.

The final trait involved the necessity of the films having a dog as the main character. To ensure simplicity, only one dog was ideal to portray the main character. However, in The Incredible Journey, two dogs were considered equally important as well as a cat that was a part of the group of pets. Eight Below also represented more than one dog as the main character, as six Siberian Huskies and two Alaskan Malamutes were all considered equally important. Finally, although A

Dog’s Purpose involved the story of one main character, it was represented by five different dogs.

Regarding the originality of the films, four out of eight were based on novels

– Lassie Come Home, Old Yeller, The Incredible Journey, and A Dog’s Purpose – while Eight Below was based on another film that was originally based on a true story. The remaining three films – Benji, Turner and Hooch, and Air Bud – were not noted to have been based on anything prior to their production.

Regarding the success of the films, either remakes or sequels were produced of Lassie Come Home, The Incredible Journey, Benji, Air Bud, and A Dog’s

Purpose. Well-known actors were only found in Turner and Hooch and Eight

Below, with Tom Hanks and Paul Walker, while the only well-known director was found in A Dog’s Purpose, with Lasse Hallström.

Some other information worthy of mentioning includes the fact that A Dog’s

Purpose was the only film that included narration of the main character in which the dog’s perspective of the world was explained throughout the film. Furthermore, only Old Yeller mentioned deadly diseases such as rabies, which is mostly extinct throughout Europe and North America today thanks to obligations regarding vaccination.

Regarding depictions of death, the main characters of Old Yeller and Turner and Hooch died in the end of the films and were replaced by their offspring. In

Eight Below, only two out of eight dogs died due to harsh environmental conditions, while trying to survive without human interference. A Dog’s Purpose included four deaths of the main character before being reincarnated into a different body each time.

Regarding the use of breeds in every film, the main characters that were represented by a purebred canine actor were found in Lassie Come Home (Collie),

The Incredible Journey (Labrador Retriever and Bull Terrier), Turner and Hooch

(French Mastiff), Air Bud (Golden Retriever), and Eight Below (Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute). The main characters of Old Yeller and Benji were

represented by mixed breeds. In A Dog’s Purpose, the main character was represented by three purebred dogs (Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and

Pembroke Welsh Corgi) and two mixed breeds.

3.2 Aims of Analysis

The purpose of the descriptions of the films was to find meaningful depictions of dogs and humans to get an idea of what types of portrayals are preferred to achieve certain emotional experiences. Overall, the aims were to summarize key elements of the films and gather a thorough amount of valuable data of the films to be used for a comprehensive discussion.

The main criteria for the analysis of the films involved an objective perspective of how dogs are represented as well as in what ways they interact with humans. The main areas to be regarded were the depictions of loyalty between dogs and humans, as well as the portrayals of violence and cruelty between dogs and other dogs and animals as well as dogs and humans.

Two important areas that were considered thoroughly throughout the analysis of every film involved the depictions of loyalty as well as the potential portrayals of any physical violence. As expected, depictions of loyalty were a common theme in every film, while violence occurred less often with each successive film that was analyzed, which is reasonable since attention has risen regarding the welfare of animals in recent decades.

Because of the purpose of this paper, the observations of the films and their individual interpretations were able to provide valuable information about what

types of depictions were preferred. As most films involved the story between a human and a dog, along with their unique bond, reliable assumptions could be made that these types of portrayals are what reflect reality, which is that dogs play a meaningful role in the lives of humans.

Furthermore, another aim of the analysis was to ensure a connection between the literature review and the interpretations of the films. To do so, emphasis was put on four crucial elements of the relationship between humans and dogs, which were thoroughly studied in order to provide a reliable background and a stable theoretical foundation of this paper. Then, the data of the research could be used effectively when interpreting the data of the analysis.

Finally, while the main aims of the analysis were focused on the depictions of dogs as well as their relationship with humans, and the varying portrayals of loyalty as well as cruelty, discoveries of trends and other less noticeable yet significant aspects of the films were found by interpreting not just what was planned to be studied, but also by aiming to consider unexpected details as well, which allowed for interesting findings to be included.

3.3 Methodology

To conduct the analysis of the eight films effectively, a certain structure was followed regarding observational approaches. Firstly, the films were studied chronologically, beginning with the oldest and ending with the newest, to be able to determine increases or decreases in certain areas of the relationship between humans and dogs, such as trends in how to care for dogs, which seemed to be improving as time went on. By analyzing the films chronologically, assessments could also be made regarding the evolution of films and their production.

Secondly, all films were observed throughout the span of a month in which each film was intensively viewed once and then written about for a few days

before beginning the next and so on. This approach proved to be very effective, because each film was viewed individually and with a fresh point of view. Since each previously interpreted film had already been analyzed and described in text, the occurrence of overwhelming instances where the observations of more than one film had to be kept simultaneously was completely eliminated.

Thirdly, to ensure minimal distractions from surroundings, the films were viewed in a familiar environment where no other people were present.

Furthermore, to ensure focus and an ability to notice details both visually and auditorily, the films were observed without pausing, while sitting comfortably in a chair in front of a computer and having earphones plugged in. Because the computer was on a desk, notes could be written on paper next to it while studying the content of the films.

Before conducting the analysis, a thorough literature review was composed to ensure that the interpretation of the films could be done effectively. Although some aspects of the four areas of dogs and their relationship with humans were known prior to the formation of this paper, researching those areas accurately was a necessary step toward developing a comprehensive background and then building a rich analysis based on reliable sources of research.

The type of research that was used throughout this paper was mainly of qualitative nature, because the primary focus was put on gathering information about the history and the intelligence of dogs in the form of existing research.

Furthermore, to get an understanding of how dogs are used in the production of films as well as ethical concerns that may relate to it, literature was investigated to gather such information.

While the research part of this paper was mainly explanatory, the analysis part was leaning more toward the exploratory side of researching. Attempts were made to ensure an entirely objective perspective during the research, while the analysis, because of its approach, was somewhat subjective, as there was only one analyst to investigate the depictions in the films. However, no subjective statements were made without reassuring their credibility.

The methods of collecting data included mainly the use of literature provided by digital online library Perlego in the form of books containing significant amounts of research. Several studies were found and incorporated into the research part of this paper to ensure an in-depth understanding of dogs before the analysis part began. Regarding the analysis, data was collected in the form of observations and interpretations of eight culturally meaningful films.

The reason why this methodology was used throughout this paper was because of the importance of using data objectively, while incorporating a sort of exploratory approach to find significances in the overall findings. Despite limitations in this paper and obstacles throughout its formation, using qualitative methods as well as explanatory and exploratory approaches yielded valuable findings and meaningful results.

The following list summarizes all the films that were used for analysis, including title and year of release. Each chosen film represents a decade beginning with the 1940s and ending with the 2010s, while the length of the interval between the release of each film varies between 6 to 15 years.

 Lassie Come Home (1943)

 Old Yeller (1957)

 The Incredible Journey (1963)

 Benji (1974)

 Turner and Hooch (1989)

 Air Bud (1997)

 Eight Below (2006)

 A Dog's Purpose (2017)

3.3.1 Analysis of Lassie Come Home

Lassie Come Home was chosen for analysis because of its popularity in the history of films. Regarding films with dogs as the main character, Lassie Come

Home is considered to be one of the most significant due to its impact on society.

The film was released in 1943 and was directed by Fred Wilcox.

In the beginning of the film, we are introduced with credits that are backed up by music, which is quite common in old films, followed by a dedication to Eric

Knight, who is the author of the novel Lassie Come-Home, which the film is based on.

As the first scene of the film is displayed, there is narration in the background discussing dogs as well as poverty that has become the norm in

Yorkshire, England, where the film is mainly taking place. Then, we are introduced to the main character Lassie, the dog, and her owner Sam Carraclough, the father. In the town, the dog and the father meet with some inhabitants to converse with. At this point, the level of the camera is equal to the height of the eyes of the dog, signifying a sort of equality between humans and dogs.

As time begins to approach 4 o’clock, the dog begins to whine, which may or may not be a pre-recorded sound. Then, there are shots of the dog individually heading toward the school where Joe Carraclough, the son, is about to finish. As the son exits the school, the scene mainly involves the joy between the son and the dog of being united. Based on the reaction of the dog, the bond may be considered mutual, because emotions of happiness in dogs would be difficult to fabricate.

The following scenes involve a lot of movement in the dog, including running and jumping, which may be considered excessive as dogs’ joints get worn down quickly with this type of exercise. Especially in a large breed like the Collie, diseases of the bones are common.

As the son and the dog arrive to their home, they are met by the son’s mother, who offers them bread before they head out again. At this time, especially in poor families, bread would be considered one of the most common foods available. What may be concerning is that the dog is fed bread as well, which could

be a long-term detrimental factor to its health, because dogs, in order to maintain vitality, should be fed mainly meat. However, meat would be considered a luxury that not even humans could enjoy too much of, especially in times of poverty.

In the following scene, the dog is ordered to wake up the sleeping son by opening a door, entering his room, and waking him in his bed by scratching and licking him. At the same time, the dog is whining as it is trying to get the attention of the son. Although there were some expressions that were signifying that the dog was awaiting commands from its handler, the scene involves authentic reactions when the son wakes up and plays with the dog. Finally, the son commands the dog using only gestures into a position of bowing to impress the father.

An interesting aspect of the film is the use of leather collars and leather leashes only, because while today we have a wide range of different materials to choose from when buying collars and leashes as well as harnesses and other forms of controlling dogs, the choice must have been limited at the time when the film was shot, which signifies an evolution in the priorities of caring for dogs. The same principles may be applied to other aspects of owning dogs, such as what to feed them as well as when to visit the veterinarian.

As the film progresses, we are faced with a conflict involving the selling of the dog by the father to a wealthy man, because the family is no longer able to care

for the dog. Because the conflict is taking place while the son is at school, he is faced with a heart-breaking realization when the dog is not outside the school as usual when he finishes. To comfort the son when he gets home, the parents attempt to explain that the dog was too expensive to take care of, which is why they could not keep it.

The following scenes involve the dog in its new environment without its previous owners. The dog is panting rather frequently, which may be due to the warm weather as well as the unfamiliar environment. Although panting to cool down is natural in dogs, the action may also signify discomfort as well as stress. As the dog is depicted in a large fenced cage, emotions of sadness are evident in shots of the dog laying down and resting its head on the ground.

A noticeable difference can be interpreted when comparing the two environments that have been displayed so far, because while the first is clearly located in a poor village, the second is much more luxurious. The same can be seen in the way that the different people are dressed.

As time starts to approach 4 o’clock, shots of the dog being anxious to meet the son are once again displayed. However, since the dog is in a cage, it cannot go to the school, so it starts to dig a hole under the fence. After the hole under the fence is big enough, the dog squeezes through and runs toward the school. The son,

who is not expecting the dog to be waiting for him, is surprised when he sees it.

The son and the dog embrace in a greeting of joy as music is played in the background to strengthen the emotions that are being depicted.

Once the son and the dog return to their home, the parents display emotions of disappointment since the dog has clearly escaped from its new owner. At this point, the dog expresses a sort of shame as if it knew that it had done something wrong. These types of reactions can easily be extracted from dogs when the atmosphere is clearly unpleasant. Actions such as speaking loudly and walking aggressively are usually sensed rather easily by dogs, who in an attempt to alleviate the situation may try to act as submissively as possible.

The wealthy man that bought the dog has a servant that takes care of his dogs, so he sent him to the family’s home expecting to find the escaped dog there.

Different views on caring for the dog are exchanged between the father and the servant before he leaves with the dog.

As the dog is back in its cage that has now been secured with extra wires, it is once again panting rather excessively. Instinctively, the dog wants to return to its previous owners, so it attempts to jump over the fence, which looks quite detrimental to its joints since the fence is very high. Finally, after a few attempts,

the dog is able to escape by getting over the fence. Once the dog has returned to the son, authentic reactions are evident as they greet each other with happiness.

For the second time, the servant comes to pick up the escaped dog. This time however, the father and the son accompany them in hopes of convincing the dog to stay and not return to them, which would not be possible anyway, because the wealthy man is moving to Scotland.

In a scene where the servant is brushing the dog, there is evidence of physical displays of unnecessary aggressive behavior. The servant, in an attempt to keep the dog’s head up while being brushed, smacks the dog under its chin several times. Although the dog is clearly in distress because of the servant’s actions, it complies with how it is being treated. The servant was supposed to be portrayed as frustrated for having to take care of the dog, which the dog most likely sensed and reacted immediately to through submission.

In a scene where the servant goes for a walk with the dog, more aggressive behavior is evident throughout the shots. The servant is pulling on a leash that the dog is tied to, which leads to rapid shots of the dog uncomfortably trying to get free. The dog manages to get out of its collar, so the servant tries to suggestively call it back through gentle movements. The servant is unsuccessful in capturing the

dog, who escapes for the third time. However, because the dog is in Scotland, a long journey awaits it before it can return to its previous owners.

As shots of the determined dog are displayed, it eventually arrives to a hill where sheep are kept. Two men who are watching the dog from a distance release their dog with the command to attack the intruder. In an intense scene of the two dogs fighting, there is a difficulty in perceiving it as fabricated. After several rapid shots of the violent fight, the dog is left weakened by its stronger opponent.

However, the dog does not stop and continues on its journey back to England, despite being hurt.

After encountering an old couple as well as a man on the road accompanied by a small dog, the dog is cared for before finally returning to its previous owners.

Because the dog was chased by two men who wanted to capture it, the dog was limping and generally in poor condition. Not long after the dog manages to get home, the wealthy man arrives in hopes of finding the escaped dog. After finding the dog hidden in a closet and inspecting if it could be his, he says that does not recognize the dog, even though he actually did, so the family keeps it.

Although the dog looks exhausted, it still reacts to its instincts that arrive slightly before 4 o’clock. The dog walks all the way to the school where it takes a

seat under a tree and waits for the son. As dramatic music is played, the son and the dog are reunited in a joyful embrace.

The final scene of the film depicts the son as he is riding a bike together with the wealthy man’s granddaughter. The dog is portrayed as healthy again, while five young puppies are clumsily following it.

To conclude the analysis of Lassie Come Home, the way that dogs were treated in the 1940s significantly varies from the way that they are treated today.

Perceptions on how to exercise dogs as well as what to feed them have evolved drastically. Depictions of violence, whether it concerns humans and dogs, or dogs and other dogs, may be considered rather aggressive. In general, a deeper understanding of dogs seems to be lacking. However, regarding the film as a whole, the performance of the dog would be considered quite impressive.

Overall, when considering the various portrayals of both loyalty and cruelty, loyalty was very noticeable regarding the dog and its relationship with its owner.

Acts of devotion and even heroism in some instances tell us that these are the types of behaviors that most people would prefer in dogs. Regarding cruelty, unfabricated depictions of dogs fighting with other dogs as well as humans manipulating poorly with dogs were included in the film, signifying that at the time of its production, the well-being of canine actors was not widely considered.

3.3.2 Analysis of Old Yeller

Regarding popularity, Lassie Come Home and Old Yeller are not too different from each other, which is why Old Yeller was chosen for analysis. The two films are also similar in the way that both have been selected for preservation at the Library of Congress due to their cultural significance. Old Yeller was released in 1957 and was directed by Robert Stevenson.

As the film begins, we are introduced with credits as music is played in the background, which is a similar type of introduction as in Lassie Come Home. In the credits, we find out that the film is based on a novel with the same title written by Fred Gipson.

In the first scene, Old Yeller, the dog, is running after a rabbit without being able to capture it. When comparing the dog to the main character of Lassie Come

Home, there is an immediately noticeable difference, because while the canine actor of the first film was a purebred dog, the canine actor of the second film is clearly a mixed breed. Not only is the appearance different, the personality varies

as well. While the main character of the first film was portrayed as calm and intelligent, the dog of the second film is much more erratic.

The film is taking place in the state of Texas after the occurrence of the Civil

War, which means that poverty, like in Lassie Come Home, is not uncommon.

Although the environment of both films was supposed to portray the life of a poor family living in a rural area, the home in the first film was noticeably fancier than the home in the second film, which is located on a farm. Interestingly, both films were shot in the United States, despite the fact that Lassie Come Home was depicted as taking place in the United Kingdom.

The majority of the beginning of the film mostly introduces the characters of the family, which includes a father, a mother, an older son, and a younger son. The father leaves in the beginning due to work that will keep him away for a few months, leaving the mother to take care of the sons and their farm. Since resources are scarce, a priority is put on ensuring production through the farm. However, the dog who is considered a stray dog to the family, makes its entrance by destroying crops of corn, leaving the older son frustrated.

Although the older son despises the dog because of how poorly it behaves, the younger son protects it enough to allow it to stay with the family, which is also

why the younger son spends most time with the new member of the family in the beginning.

In a scene where the younger son is attempting to lure a bear cub by feeding it pieces of bread, he is eventually able to capture it quite aggressively. The bear cub, who is in distress, calls for its mother bear. The mother bear then appears in a defensive manner, preparing to attack the younger son to save the bear cub. The dog then presents itself quite fearlessly by attacking the mother bear to protect the younger son. The shots are rather violent while clearly depicting a real fight between a dog and a bear. The dog in these shots may have been a stunt double.

In another scene where the older son is told to capture a calf and its mother cow, the dog accompanies him. The protective mother cow begins to attack the older son to prevent him from taking the calf. The dog immediately comes to the rescue by aggressively charging at the mother cow. Once again, depictions of a real fight taking place is displayed, where the dog in the rapid shots may or may not be a stunt double that is used in case injuries may occur. These shots may raise some questions regarding ethical concerns.

The following scenes involve a man who appears on the farm to pick up the dog, because it turns out that he is its previous owner. The younger son begs the man not to take the dog as the family has grown fond of it. After coming up with a

deal with the younger son, the man allows the family to keep the dog. Before the man leaves, he has an individual conversation with the older son about hydrophobia, also known as rabies, which he describes and warns about, leaving the older son slightly concerned.

In another scene that involves the capturing of a pig in a herd of many pigs, the older son and the dog cooperate to complete the task. However, after the older son falls from a tree where he was kept safe from the pigs, he is surrounded by many aggressive pigs. The dog once again shows traits of heroism when it attacks the pigs to save the older son. Violent shots of the dog fighting the pigs are displayed, raising concerns regarding the treatment of the animals that have been used in the film so far.

Furthermore, as the dog had an encounter with a female dog before it arrived at the farm, the owner of the female dog, a girl interested in the older son, brings the most submissive puppy of the litter to him as a gift. To prove the puppy’s gentle nature, the girl lifts the puppy by its neck only, explaining that because it is calm during such manipulation, it will grow up to be a well-behaved dog. The way that the girl was handling the puppy would most likely be considered unacceptable today.

The father of the girl who accompanied her to the farm ends up having a conversation with the older son. Once again, a discussion about hydrophobia, also known as rabies, is held before the mother asks the father to leave.

In one of the final scenes of the film, the dog is once again protecting its owners by attacking a wolf that had entered the farm. The rapid shots signify that the dog and the wolf are in fact not pretending to be fighting. At the end, the wolf is killed, leaving the dog with a few wounds. The family is immediately worried that the dog may be infected, so they keep it in a cage to be certain of their accusations. After being locked up for a while, the dog turns out to be infected, leaving the older son no other choice than to shoot it.

The father finally returns from his trip after being gone for several months.

Because the older son is sad about losing the dog, the father tries to cheer him up.

As the film approaches its end, a scene of the dog’s puppy is shown doing something similar as its father would, reminding the family that a piece of the dog still lives in the puppy. The film ends with the two sons walking with the puppy as music is played in the background. Although the family may have lost Old Yeller, it still had Young Yeller.

When comparing Lassie Come Home to Old Yeller, the most noticeable difference would be the occurrence of violence throughout the films, as the first

film included significantly less depictions of cruelty than the second film. On the other hand, loyalty toward its owner was a similarity in the personalities of both characters, despite being portrayed through different types of acts of devotion.

Finally, the ending of Lassie Come Home may be considered happier than the ending of Old Yeller.

3.3.3 Analysis of The Incredible Journey

The Incredible Journey was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the fact that the film was remade in 1993 followed by a sequel that was released in 1996, which were both financially successful. The film was released in

1963 and was directed by Fletcher Markle.

As was seen in Lassie Come Home and Old Yeller, the beginning of the film includes credits backed up by music. We are made aware that the film is based on a novel with the same title written by Sheila Burnford.

The first scene includes several shots of nature, while a narrator begins to speak. We are introduced to the main characters of the film, Luath, the Labrador

Retriever, Bodger, the Bull Terrier, and Tao, the cat.

The pets are living with John Longridge, the uncle, because their owners are unable to take care of them. The uncle needs to go away for a few weeks, so he leaves the pets alone before a caretaker arrives later. However, before the caretaker arrives, the pets have already gone, determined to get back to their owners. The caretaker believes that the uncle has taken the pets with him and will not realize the mistake until he returns. Throughout these scenes, narration continues in the background.

As the pets have been traveling for a while, they stop to take a break. In this scene, the Bull Terrier is approached by two bear cubs. Because the Bull Terrier is uninterested, the bear cubs begin to play with themselves quite roughly, attracting the mother bear to come and find them. The mother bear thinks the Bull Terrier had hurt her bear cubs, so she begins to attack it. The Labrador Retriever and the

cat come to the rescue, attempting to scare away the mother bear without using any physical aggression. The mother bear then leaves without anyone getting hurt.

To be able to continue their journey, the pets need to cross an aggressive river. While the dogs are able to do so without any problems, the cat is having issues. After following the river for a while, the cat finds a way to cross the river over some trees. However, when the cat needs to make a small jump, it unsuccessfully falls into the river. The shots in which the cat is trying to swim in the aggressive river look rather worrisome, sparking some concerns regarding the well-being of the feline actor.

After the cat is saved by a family down the river, the pets are reunited.

Together, the pets are determined to continue their journey toward their owners. In this scene, the meeting between the pets is mutual as reactions of joy are noticeable.

After getting help from strangers throughout their journey, the pets finally manage to get to their owners, who have been made aware that their pets have been missing for several weeks at this point. The film ends with a joyful reunion between the pets and the owners.

Compared to Lassie Come Home and Old Yeller, The Incredible Journey was much less eventful, including much less action throughout its scenes. Overall,

the film was rather light-hearted with minimal depictions of violence. The most noticeable difference between the two previously analyzed films and The

Incredible Journey was the narration throughout the film, explaining the story as it went along. Also, instead of there being only one main character, there were three of them.

Regarding depictions of loyalty, the dogs showed a strong determination to get back to their owners no matter what obstacle may cross their path, similarly to

Lassie Come Home. Although dogs in reality have proven many times through many different actions that they are loyally committed to their owners, traveling such long distances during such a long period of time, as depicted in the film, would realistically be considered a rare act of devotion, and in some cases even impossible to survive without the assistance of humans.

3.3.4 Analysis of Benji

Benji was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the fact that the film was remade in 2018 and because it was a financial success during the 1970s when the film was released. The theme song of Benji received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. The film was released in 1974 and was directed by Joe Camp.

As we have seen so far in the beginning of all analyzed films, Benji begins with credits backed up by music while the main character is introduced in shots where it is interacting with its environment.

What is immediately a questionable scene is when the dog walks on roofs while trying to get down to the ground through various parts of some buildings. It

is very likely that if the dog would be unable to maintain its balance, it would fall from very dangerous heights.

As the dog makes its first stop at a fancy house where two children live, it is fed by their maid. Because it has been made clear that the canine actor is very versatile, it does not react aggressively when the children pet it while it is eating, which can be dangerous in other cases where someone who comes too close to an eating dog can be attacked. Behaviors like these are common among dogs that have not been properly socialized and can result in someone getting seriously hurt.

In another scene where the dog greets another friendly member of the town in which the film is taking place, it is fed popcorn. Although popcorn is not dangerous to feed dogs, the food contains no nutritional values that would be considered beneficial for dogs.

Because the dog is a stray dog and no one knows what it is up to before it arrives to everyone in the town, it may be fed several times, despite possibly not being hungry. Overfeeding dogs has been linked to obesity and many other diseases that accompany this condition. As the dog continues on its way, it meets with yet another acquaintance. The acquaintance gives the dog a bone, which is good to give to dogs for chewing, but only if it is raw. The bone that was given to the dog did not look raw, so gastrointestinal issues may occur.

An interesting message conveyed in the film is when the father of the children says that he dislikes dogs, because someone he knows was bitten by a dog. These types of principles may be quite common, because for example children who have been attacked by dogs when they are young may develop a fear of all dogs, despite the fact that not all dogs are necessarily aggressive. This sort of stereotyping can have quite a negative impact on the perceptions of people regarding dogs.

In a scene where the dog meets another dog, it is clear that both are very social as no depictions of aggression between the two are displayed. The following scenes involve the dogs falling in love, which in reality is not something that we can prove is possible. Although dogs can have varying relationships depending on who they are with, just like humans, it does not necessarily indicate that they can be in love with someone, because dogs, unlike most wolves, are considered to be a polygamous species.

After the film being quite slow-paced throughout its story, the final conflict involves the children being kidnapped and kept in a house that the dog knows its location of. To help get the children saved, the dog retrieves everyone that is looking for them. Finally, the children are found while the dog is praised for saving them. As in the previously analyzed films, depictions of loyalty are clear. The film

ends with the father changing his mind regarding dogs, which would be considered a positive message to its audience.

To conclude the analysis of Benji, although the film was similarly uneventful as The Incredible Journey, with almost no depictions of cruelty, it did convey positive messages regarding the loyalty of dogs, no matter where they come from or what background they have. Because the canine actor is clearly a mixed breed, it may have positive effects regarding the adoption of dogs from shelters where most mixed breeds can be found. Someone who sees the film may be inspired to take part of such a good cause, while saving a life in the process.

3.3.5 Analysis of Turner and Hooch

Turner and Hooch was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the film’s financial success as well as its casting of famous actor Tom

Hanks. The script for Turner and Hooch was the most expensive one that the producers of the film had ever paid for at that time. The film was released in 1989 and was directed by Roger Spottiswoode.

Parallel to all of the previously analyzed films, Turner and Hooch begins with credits backed up music as Scott Turner, the investigator, is introduced as someone who likes to keep things neat.

The main character of the film, who is called Hooch, the dog, is introduced as a turbulent dog living with its owner in an industrial area. As the investigator approaches the dog, he is met with an animal that it is the complete opposite of himself.

The dog, who appears to be a purebred French Mastiff, is fed cookies with chocolate as well as given beer to drink. Both of these are considered quite dangerous to dogs, which might mean that the products were most likely substituted with other ingredients.

Because there seems to be issues in the industrial area, a man kills the dog’s owner due to a fear that the owner is suspecting him and his business. The dog is depicted as loyal toward its owner when it tries to protect the owner from being attacked. However, the dog is unsuccessful as the man kills its owner. The investigator then shows up to analyze the scene of the crime and ends up taking the dog with him to be looked at by a veterinarian. There is a clear struggle between the investigator and the dog, because the dog does not trust the investigator.

Eventually, the investigator takes the dog to his home where it portrays very poor behaviors, such as barking and chewing furniture. However, the investigator learns to live with it, despite being furious at the dog.

The dog befriends another dog as no signs of aggression are depicted among the two animals. The owner of the other dog is the veterinarian that took care of the dog when it was taken to her to be looked at by the investigator. Not only do the dogs become close to each other, the investigator and the veterinarian develop a

romantic relationship as well. As the investigator spends time with the veterinarian, he realizes how to solve the crime that had taken place in the industrial area.

When the investigator goes to search the location where he thinks the crime is taking place, he is met by the organizers of the illegalities. The organizers attempt to shoot the investigator, but the dog stops them and is shot instead. After the investigator is able to subdue the organizers, he rushes to the veterinarian to save the dog. However, because the dog had lost too much blood due to its wound, it dies in the investigator’s arms. The scene ends with the investigator breaking down in tears.

Parallel to the ending of Old Yeller, before the dog died, it had made puppies with the other dog. Although most of the puppies look like their mother, a Collie, one puppy looks like and acts like its father, which reminds the investigator of the dog that he had lost.

To conclude the analysis of Turner and Hooch, when comparing the film to

The Incredible Journey and Benji, it was much more packed with action. In general, the story was moderately paced, making the experience of viewing the film much more enjoyable. So far, we have been met with purebred dogs as the main character in Lassie Come Home, The Incredible Journey, and this film, while

Old Yeller and Benji were represented by mixed breeds.

The main message that was taken from Turner and Hooch was connected to the development of a relationship between a man and a dog. While at first there was a clear problem between the two in the beginning of the film, the man and the dog eventually became very close to each other while sharing a deep bond that was gradually achieved. This message was also conveyed in Old Yeller, where the relationship began with hate and ended with love. Benji also included this type of message as the father had changed his mind about dogs in general.

When considering depictions of loyalty and cruelty, extreme acts of devotion were clear as the dog eventually sacrificed its life to save its owner. In reality, there have been many cases where dogs would go through pain and suffering to save their owners, even if it may result in losing their own lives. These types of selfless acts are what draw humans to dogs, while inspiring those who realize these behaviors to mirror them. Although poor manipulation of dogs was occasionally noticed in the film, there were no major depictions of violence beside the ending.

3.3.6 Analysis of Air Bud

Air Bud was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the fact that an entire franchise has been created in the name of this film. The film was also successful financially after its release at the end of the 1990s. The film was released in 1997 and was directed by Charles Smith.

Compared to all of the previously analyzed films, Air Bud has a rather fast introduction with credits being displayed briefly. The first scene begins almost immediately with Buddy, the dog, and his owner, the clown.

The clown and the dog are headed to a children’s party where the dog ends up making a mess. The clown, who is now furious, is determined to abandon the dog at a shelter. Before the clown can make it to the shelter, the cage in which the dog is falls from the back of the clown’s truck, leaving it deserted. A car shows up on the deserted road and crashes into the cage, enabling it to be opened by the dog, who is now free but lost. Eventually, the dog finds its way to a boy who is playing basketball at an abandoned house.

Because the boy is interested in basketball, he ends up training with the dog who seems to be equally enthusiastic about the sport. Eventually, the boy is able to become a member of a basketball team at his school.

In a scene where the boy is bathing the dog in hopes of convincing his mother to allow the dog to stay after it has been cleaned, there are clear signs of poor manipulation of the dog, as the boy seems to be wrestling with the dog instead of bathing it. Although these depictions may have been intended to amuse, they were actually quite unpleasant to watch, as the dog was clearly in distress because of the unnecessary forms of handling. This scene raises some questions of how much the well-being of the dog was prioritized during the shooting.

As the film progresses, the dog’s talents in playing basketball become known to the basketball team, which allows the dog to become a member of it in the form of a mascot. The dog then becomes very likable by everyone who knows it.

The clown eventually finds out about the dog and rushes to where the boy lives to take it back. Although the boy does not want to give the dog back, he gives up after realizing that there is nothing he can do since the clown legally owns the dog.

After finding out where the clown lives, the boy manages to get the dog back. However, the boy knows that the clown will find them eventually, so he frees the dog and forbids it to come with him.

During a basketball game, the boy is shocked to find that the dog has found him in a moment where he needs it the most. As the basketball team wins, the clown is there to attempt to take back the dog once again. However, this time, the boy’s mother forbids the clown to take the dog, so they agree to meet in court where the custody of the dog will be determined. In court, the decision is made that the dog gets to choose who it wants to be with. As both the boy and the clown are calling the dog, it decides to go to the boy.

To conclude the analysis of Air Bud, an interesting realization occurred regarding the ownership of every main character of every previously analyzed film. In Lassie Come Home, the dog was already owned by the son, despite being sold and then returned. In Old Yeller, the dog shows up out of nowhere to the farm where the older son takes care of it, until its previous owner finds it but then allows it to stay with him. In The Incredible Journey, the pets stay with the uncle before making their way back to their owners.

Furthermore, regarding ownership in Benji, the dog is a stray dog known by many in the town before ending up with the children and their father. In Turner and Hooch, the dog’s previous owner is killed, so it ends up with the investigator instead. Finally, in Air Bud, the dog is lost before it finds its way to the boy.

Although the dog’s custody is fought for by the clown, it ends up staying with the

boy. With these facts, we are reminded that although dogs are considered to be property, they are still living creatures with their own feelings and preferences.

Compared to the five previously observed films, the dog in Air Bud did not seem to portray extreme acts of loyalty. However, humans may consider a dog choosing them over others as a faithful action, which reminds us of the fact that dogs are significant in the lives of humans because of their everlasting presence and undying devotion. Even in cases where dogs are not treated well, they remain loyal to their owners. Regarding depictions of cruelty in the film, there were not any noticeable occurrences beside occasional poor manipulation.

3.3.7 Analysis of Eight Below

Eight Below was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the film’s financial success as well as its casting of famous actor Paul Walker.

The film was based on Antarctica, which is a film about dogs surviving on their

own for an extended period of time. Eight Below was released in 2006 and was directed by Frank Marshall.

Compared to all of the previously analyzed films, Eight Below has the fastest beginning with minimal credits. We are made aware that the film is inspired by a true story before Jerry Shephard, the owner, and his dogs are introduced.

The story begins as the owner is instructed to guide a professor through risky terrains with the help of the dogs, which include six Siberian Huskies and two

Alaskan Malamutes. These breeds are bred for the purpose of being capable of sledding intensively as well as surviving in unfavorable conditions at freezing temperatures. It is made clear that the dogs have been trained properly as they react effectively to vocal commands while being able to pull the owner and the professor.

After the professor finds what he is looking for, the owner is instructed to get everyone back safely. However, the professor ends up getting seriously injured, so as soon as everyone are back, they are evacuated to a location where they can get medical care.

The eight dogs are left behind with the promise of the owner that he will come back soon. However, because a storm hits the area, no one is allowed to fly, so the owner is forced to leave the dogs.

After the dogs survive for 175 days on their own, six dogs remain before the owner finds a way to get back to them. The owner joyfully embraces the dogs, who are now finally saved and taken home.

What was interesting about this film was how the dogs stayed together even after getting out of the chains that were keeping them secured, which makes sense, because dogs are very social creatures that more often than not prefer to be in a pack. Another interesting aspect of this film was that out of eight dogs, only two died, which could be realistic because of the breeds. Both Siberian Huskies and

Alaskan Malamutes were bred to be able to survive in harsh conditions. Also, the dogs were very effective in using their instincts to hunt for food.

To conclude the analysis of Eight Below, compared to all of the previously analyzed films, the message of this film was more about the strength of a dog to endure tough situations, rather than to maintain a sense of loyalty toward its owner.

Although the will of the dogs to survive may have stemmed from a desire to be reunited with their owner, the depictions in the film leaned more toward a sense of unity between the dogs, which kept them going even throughout the worst circumstances.

When considering any depictions of violence, there were a few scenes in which some of the dogs had to be portrayed as being hurt by other animals or

environmental factors. However, these depictions were fabricated very well, because although they looked realistic to ensure an exciting story during the film, they were not created in ways that seemed to be harming the dogs. When portraying images of some of the dogs being dead, it was relatively clear that they were represented by stuffed animals.

3.3.8 Analysis of A Dog’s Purpose

A Dog’s Purpose was chosen for analysis because of its popularity that is based on the film’s financial success as well as its sequel, which was released two years later. The film was based on a novel with the same title written by William

Cameron. A Dog’s Purpose was released in 2017 and was directed by Lasse

Hallström.

As the film begins, we are immediately introduced to the main character of the film, a dog named Bailey that throughout several decades takes the form of many different dogs living many different lives by what seems to be a process of reincarnation.

Compared to all of the previously analyzed films, the life of the dog is narrated through a personal dog-like perspective, explaining the thoughts of the dog whenever something is happening.

Throughout the film, there were not many noticeable depictions of violence.

Only when the dog was playing with a child did it seem that the child was unable to control the dog. In general, very active dogs of larger sizes are not recommended for children. Also, in a scene where the dog is shot when trying to save its handler before being reincarnated again, blood is visible as the handler mourns the loss of the dog. As the dog had sacrificed its life for the handler, messages of the loyalty of dogs are conveyed.

In a scene where the house in which the dog lives catches fire, the dog instinctively wakes up its owners to make sure that they get out of the burning house. This is not uncommon in dogs, as there have been many cases where dogs have proven to express heroic behaviors.

Although the film had a rather fast pace due to the fact that there were depictions of many different dogs living many different lives with many different people, the message of the film was rather clear. The message involved the idea that a dog’s purpose is to be here now, which means that it does not matter what happened before or what will happen after. What matters for a dog is to be there for its owner and enjoy the present, which makes sense since dogs are known for not having a sense of time, while reminding people to sometimes share a similar perspective.

To conclude the analysis of A Dog’s Purpose, we are exposed to significant differences when comparing this film to all of the previously analyzed films.

Firstly, the main character of this film is portrayed with a narrator speaking in the background, making it easier to know what the creators want us to think. Secondly, the main character of this film was portrayed through various canine actors, which realistically means that the creators had to make sure that it would seem that no matter which dog was used, the personality remained the same.

Regarding loyalty and cruelty depicted in the film, portrayals of violence were the rarest when comparing it to all of the previously observed films. The message of loyalty may be considered the most heart-warming, because those who see the film and are also owners of dogs may be convinced that a dog’s eternal devotion to its owner continues even after death in the form of being reincarnated into something that finds its way back despite decades passing, while giving hope that our faithful companions return to us in one way or another, sooner or later.

3.4 Discussion

The main finding of the analysis of the films was the confirmation of the significance of dogs in the lives of humans. Historical evidence has proven that dogs have played a valuable role throughout the development of our species. Some aspects of this development may not even have been possible without the help of dogs, as can be noted in the example of dogs helping humans to hunt, which enabled advancements thanks to a surplus in sustenance.

Because of the major involvement of dogs in the lives of humans throughout the span of several millennia, studies have proven that the canine species has developed a revolutionary ability to understand humans. Thanks to these remarkable capabilities, along with specific talents depending on breed, dogs have proven to be exceptionally useful in an infinite amount of areas as well as naturally motivated to cooperate with humans.

Although attempts were made to ensure a thorough research and an in-depth analysis, there are limitations to this paper. Mainly, the history of dogs dating back several millennia cannot be entirely credible, as there is limited evidence to prove specific details of the past. Also, due to limitations in resources, no more than one film per decade was possible to manage. However, by choosing a film from each decade, valuable comparisons were possible to conduct.

Furthermore, what was found in the analysis of the films is the depiction of what humans have amassed together with dogs. No other animal seems to have been used as widely in films as the dog, especially when considering the popularity of different types of films in which dogs have been used. The performances of the canine actors in the films are the results of a rich history and a close bond with humans.

The interpretation of the films also confirmed a cultural significance regarding the portrayal of dogs in films and in media as a whole. By studying the varying depictions depending on decade, differences can be found regarding the treatment of dogs. However, one area that never seems to change is the characteristics of loyalty that most dogs possess toward humans. Although the depictions of loyalty varied throughout the films, its core remained the same.

Regarding depictions of violence and an overall assessment of how dogs are treated, there was a noticeable improvement with each film. Although the first half of the films indicated less attention to the well-being of dogs, the second half of the films showed a steady decrease in cruelty. These findings confirmed that the awareness of animal rights that has been increasing for the past few decades has made a significant impact, not just in the making of films.

Overall, the reason why this paper is valuable and why its findings are meaningful is because when looking at our relationship with the canine species, we are looking at our own creation and how we have managed to form it over a vast amount of time. What this creation has been, what it is now, and what it will be in the future tells us a lot about ourselves and how we have progressed, are progressing, and will progress as an advanced species.

So far, we are only in the beginning of understanding what these magnificent creatures actually are, and how they can help us evolve further. Although research about dogs has proven to be extremely efficient in the past few decades, we are only scratching the surface of finding out what thousands of years of interfering with a species has given us. By realizing the importance of dogs in the lives of humans, we can begin to uncover many more mysteries.

4. Conclusion

Although this paper mainly focuses on an objective interpretation of films based on research to be able to conduct the analysis effectively, it was possible to make a general hypothesis. The main predictions prior to the analysis were that loyalty would be a common theme throughout the films and that violence would be minimal due to its controversy in today’s society.

The main findings of both the research and the analysis were that dogs indeed play a significant role not just in films and in media as a whole, but in the lives of humans as well. Based on the history of the two species, along with vast amounts of data proving dogs’ abilities in communicating with humans, confirmations can be made that the relationship between dogs and humans is much more valuable than previously suggested.

As was mentioned in the discussion of this paper, some limitations were found when conducting the research and the analysis. In the research, the historical aspect of the section cannot be entirely accurate due to the lack of evidence proving specific details, which is why theories were discussed, allowing several possible realities to be reflected on. Furthermore, the analysis may have been limited due to the interpretation of only eight films.

Despite the limitations of this paper, significances were found and confirmed, enabling a potential for studies to be conducted in the future. Because of the importance of the relationship between humans and dogs that was highlighted throughout this paper, suggestions for further research include a more in-depth analysis of what dogs truly mean in the lives of humans, not just regarding their significance in entertainment.

Because depictions of cruelty seemed to be decreasing with every film that was chronologically analyzed, hope is given that in time, cruelty toward animals will eventually become extinct. These remarks may also be confirmed thanks to today’s highly popular movements toward justice for animals along with the increase of awareness regarding their well-being.

Furthermore, portrayals of loyalty in the films were considered significant in various shapes and forms, which enabled a realization that because of the history of humans and dogs, devotion toward humans is a trait in dogs that has been deeply imprinted. In many cases, the films reflected reality of how far dogs are willing to go for the sake of their owners, signifying that in return, we should care equally for our loyal companions.

When considering these two findings in relation to the significance of dogs in the lives of humans, we are exposed to depictions that contain valuable messages, because as loyalty remains throughout every analyzed film, just as in reality, where most dogs maintain characteristics of loyalty constantly, violence toward dogs decreases, just as in reality, where awareness regarding the well-being of animals is increasing.

When referring to the thesis statement and reflecting on its content, the purpose was fulfilled as the nature of the relationship between dogs and humans

was identified through various aspects. Dogs are indeed an extremely big part of the human evolution, which was confirmed not only through the literature review, but through the case studies as well. On a daily basis, dogs are proving through various acts of devotion that they are in fact man’s best friend.

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