7 Must-See Dog Documentaries on Netflix (Updated 2026)

Anyone who grew up watching Shadow limp home to his boy, Peter, in Homeward Bound knows the emotional wallop a good dog movie can punch. With that in mind, imagine the appeal if the story isn’t fictional but true. Documentary films are designed to inform as much as they are to entertain and inspire. If you want something different to stream this weekend, check out these seven must-see dog documentaries on Netflix.

Top 7 Dog Documentaries on Netflix

1. Dogs

This Netflix series is among the most inspiring and tear-jerking dog documentaries you’ll find on any streaming service. First released in 2018, Dogs features two seasons for a total of 10 episodes.

Each episode showcases a different story, highlighting the special bond between dogs and humans. From a child bonding with her seizure-alert dog to an astronaut road-tripping with his dogs to honor his lost colleagues, you’ll want to have the tissues handy when you watch this series.

2. Gunther’s Millions

If you need an emotional break after watching Dogs, check out Gunther’s Millions, a dog documentary that tells an unusual story. Gunther, a German Shepherd, found himself the sole heir of his owner’s $400 million inheritance after the family’s only child passed away unexpectedly.

The human responsible for managing Gunther’s millions was an eccentric Italian man with extravagant taste and possible Mafia ties. This 4-episode docu-series tells the story of Gunther, his namesake descendants, and 30 years of chaos overseen by their Italian caretaker. This series offers wild twists and turns, so don’t be surprised if you binge the whole thing in one night.

3. The Hidden Lives of Pets

The Hidden Lives of Pets isn’t strictly a dog documentary because it features other animals, too. However, dogs appear in each of the four episodes, so it is still worth watching if you’re a canine lover.

This series focuses on overachieving animals from around the world and the science that explains their accomplishments. You’ll meet a communicative dog named Bunny and a border collie who BASE jumps with their owner. Each episode is roughly 30 minutes long, so it won’t take long to get through this documentary series.

4. Muster Dogs

This Australian reality series documents a year in the life of five puppies and the farmers attempting to turn them into herding dogs. The rowdy Australian Kelpie puppies are matched with handlers in the first episode.

Subsequent episodes show the puppies’ training progress at 4 months and 6 months, followed by a final challenge when they reach 1 year of age. This documentary will appeal to people who are interested in learning about the process of training a herding dog.

5. Pet Stars

Welcome to the wild world of animal influencers! Pet Stars documents the work of an animal talent management company (yes, that’s a thing) as they look for new stars. Dogs aren’t the only pets featured, but you’ll find plenty of pups to cheer for in this 5-episode reality series. From a dog surf competition to the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, Pets on Q will leave no stone unturned in their quest to find new canine clients.

6. Expedition Happiness

While not strictly a dog documentary, Expedition Happiness does feature a canine as one of the three main characters. Clocking in at just over 90 minutes long, this film chronicles the adventures of a filmmaker, a musician, and their dog as they travel across North America living in a redesigned school bus.

It is part travel film and part meditation on the search for happiness, and it might just inspire you to hit the road with your best furry friend.

7. Canine Intervention

Like many dog training documentaries and reality series, Canine Intervention is not without controversy. The series follows an Oakland-based trainer who works with dogs with severe behavior problems and their owners.

However, some of his training methods were called into question by viewers who started a petition asking Netflix to cancel the show. At least within the confines of each episode, the trainer appears to get results, which led other viewers to voice support for the series. With dueling opinions on either side, maybe you’ll just need to watch to make up your mind.

What If I Can’t Find These Dog Documentaries on Netflix?

At the time this episode was written, all these documentaries and series were streaming on Netflix in the United States. However, Netflix rotates content frequently, as do all streaming services, so there’s no way to know how long this content will be available.

For example, many dog documentaries we found listed as streaming on Netflix during our research were no longer available. If you’re intrigued by one of the dog documentaries we listed, don’t waste time before you check it out.

Conclusion

Dogs and humans have lived side-by-side for thousands of years, but we still haven’t learned all there is to know about our closest animal friends. These must-see dog documentaries on Netflix all offer something different for your viewing experience. No matter what you’re in the mood to curl up with your pup and watch, you can probably find it on Netflix.

• Related Read: Best Dog Movies on Netflix

Featured Image Credit: Osadcha Olga, Shutterstock