A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is now streaming on Netflix after its November 4, 2026 release, bringing a made-in-British-Columbia holiday production to viewers in Canada and the United States.
The film stars Dennis Quaid as Sander Goss, a widowed grandfather whose family is struggling to stay connected during the Christmas season.
Netflix describes the story as a family drama in which Sander’s teenage granddaughter and his loyal basset hound, Winstead, try to hold the household together after a medical emergency.
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A Dog's Perfect Christmas: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas features Penticton locations
Although the story is set in Traverse City, Michigan, the production was filmed primarily in British Columbia.
A key winter sequence was filmed at Gyro Park in Penticton on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, under the working title Winstead & Ruby.
The City of Penticton said the production used the park’s outdoor rink, Link Road and the holiday light tunnel during the shoot.
The city’s filming notice also said setup took place on December 9, with takedown scheduled for December 11.
Those locations give the movie a recognizable Okanagan connection, particularly during scenes built around skating and holiday celebrations.
Who stars in the Netflix holiday film
Quaid leads the cast as Sander, while Milo Ventimiglia plays Hunter, a member of the Goss family.
Brooke Lena Johnson plays Sander’s granddaughter Ello, whose relationship with her grandfather is central to the story.
Mary Steenburgen, Jennifer Tilly and Kathleen Rose Perkins also appear in the film.
Thomas Haden Church provides the voice of Winstead, the family’s senior basset hound and the movie’s canine narrator.
Ethan Loomis is also part of the cast.
What the movie is about
The film follows a family dealing with grief, strained relationships and a serious health crisis as Christmas approaches.
Winstead becomes the link between family members who have grown apart, while a new corgi puppy adds another source of energy to the household.
The story is based on the novel A Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W.
Bruce Cameron, the author associated with A Dog’s Purpose, A Dog’s Way Home and A Dog’s Journey.
Director Cathryn Michon co-wrote the screenplay with Cameron.
Netflix has classified the movie as a family drama with comedy elements and a story built around animals, family relationships and the holiday season.
Where to watch A Dog’s Perfect Christmas
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is available exclusively on Netflix.
The film has a listed runtime of about 100 minutes and carries a TV-14 rating on Netflix in the United States.
Canadian viewers can find it through the Netflix movie catalogue following its November 4 release.
The Penticton locations may be especially familiar to local viewers, including the outdoor rink and light tunnel near Gyro Park.
For the city, the production is another example of British Columbia standing in for an American setting while also showcasing a real Canadian community on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was A Dog’s Perfect Christmas released on Netflix?
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas was released on Netflix on November 4, 2026.
Where was A Dog’s Perfect Christmas filmed?
The film was shot primarily in British Columbia, including Vancouver, with a winter sequence filmed at Gyro Park in Penticton.
Which Penticton locations appear in the movie?
The production used Penticton’s outdoor rink, Link Road and the holiday light tunnel near Gyro Park.
Who stars in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas?
The cast includes Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Brooke Lena Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Jennifer Tilly, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Ethan Loomis, with Thomas Haden Church voicing Winstead.
What is A Dog’s Perfect Christmas about?
The film follows a grieving grandfather, his teenage granddaughter and a determined basset hound trying to reunite their family before Christmas.
Fact-Checked: Key release, cast and synopsis details were checked against Netflix’s official film listings, while the Penticton filming details were checked against the City of Penticton’s December 4, 2025 production notice. ([media.netflix.com](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/82090597?utm_source=openai))
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