A Dog Year (2009) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Jon Katz is close to burnout. He's a writer with writer's block; his wife has left for her sister's because he's emotionally distant; he rarely answers his phone. A kennel sends him a border collie that's undisciplined because of abuse. Despite a series of mishaps, Jon decides to keep trying with the dog, and he rents a dilapidated farm house to give the dog room to run. A local handyman refers Jon to a woman who might be able to help him train the dog. Reluctantly, Jon gives her a try. Is the dog the problem, or the owner?
Rated G • 2009 • 1h 20m
Based on the memoir by Jon Katz, "A Dog Year" is a quiet, character-driven drama about an author experiencing a mid-life crisis who adopts an abused and unruly border collie. The film received a G rating for its overwhelmingly gentle tone, though some home media releases are rated TV-PG, reflecting its mature themes. Parents should be aware of discussions of past animal abuse, themes of marital separation, and a few tense scenes… Sign up for the full guide
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Is A Dog Year appropriate for kids?
Based on the memoir by Jon Katz, "A Dog Year" is a quiet, character-driven drama about an author experiencing a mid-life crisis who adopts an abused and unruly border collie. The film received a G rating for its overwhelmingly gentle tone, though some home media releases are… Read more — free account
Content severity in A Dog Year
What happens in A Dog Year, moment by moment
- 0:05 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:11 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:19 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
Sex and nudity in A Dog Year
None. The plot involves a marital separation, but there is no sexual content, innuendo, or nudity.
Violence and gore in A Dog Year
Violence is very mild and brief. The dog, Devon, having been previously abused, exhibits some behavioral problems like destroying objects in the house. In a few tense scenes, the dog may lunge, bark aggressively, or nip, but no injuries or blood are shown. The past abuse is discussed but never depicted.
Language in A Dog Year
Language is extremely mild. There may be a rare, low-level curse word used in frustration, such as "damn," consistent with a TV-PG rating, but the film is largely free of profanity.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in A Dog Year
Minor and incidental. A character is briefly shown drinking a beer while contemplating his situation.
Mature themes in A Dog Year
The film's content is primarily thematic. It deals with mature but gently handled topics including a character's mid-life crisis and writer's block, marital separation due to emotional distance, and the consequences of animal abuse. The process of earning an animal's trust after its trauma is the central theme.
Scary moments in A Dog Year
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for A Dog Year yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Dog Year appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests A Dog Year is best for ages 9+. It's rated G. Based on the memoir by Jon Katz, "A Dog Year" is a quiet, character-driven drama about an author experiencing a mid-life crisis who adopts an abused and unruly border collie. The film received a G rating for its…
What age rating does A Dog Year have?
A Dog Year is officially rated G. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 9+.
What is A Dog Year about?
Based on the memoir by Jon Katz, "A Dog Year" is a quiet, character-driven drama about an author experiencing a mid-life crisis who adopts an abused and unruly border collie. The film received a G rating for its overwhelmingly gentle tone, though some home media releases are rated TV-PG, reflecting its mature themes…
Is there sex or nudity in A Dog Year?
None. The plot involves a marital separation, but there is no sexual content, innuendo, or nudity.
How violent is A Dog Year?
Violence is very mild and brief. The dog, Devon, having been previously abused, exhibits some behavioral problems like destroying objects in the house. In a few tense scenes, the dog may lunge, bark aggressively, or nip, but no injuries or blood are shown…
Is the language in A Dog Year appropriate for kids?
Language is extremely mild. There may be a rare, low-level curse word used in frustration, such as "damn," consistent with a TV-PG rating, but the film is largely free of profanity.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in A Dog Year?
Minor and incidental. A character is briefly shown drinking a beer while contemplating his situation.
What mature themes appear in A Dog Year?
The film's content is primarily thematic. It deals with mature but gently handled topics including a character's mid-life crisis and writer's block, marital separation due to emotional distance, and the consequences of animal abuse. The process of earning an…
How long is A Dog Year?
A Dog Year runs 80 minutes, directed by George LaVoo, released in 2009.
Where can I read the full A Dog Year parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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