Ready for Halloween? Enjoy our favourite spooky films with dogs
Nothing makes a spooky film better than the addition of a waggy friend! Check out this list of our favourite Halloween movies featuring dogs, from waggy heroes, to barking villains.
With the falling leaves and brisk winds, it seems autumn is well and truly here. With spooky season fast approaching, it's the perfect time to cosy up with your best waggy friends, and watch some seasonal movies to get into the spirit of things. Our favourite spooky films are, of course, the ones with furrier heroes and villains, perfect for watching alongside your pooches and pets. From family-friendly fun, to hair-raising horror, here are our favourite Halloween movies featuring dogs, as well as which human and puppy snacks would go best with each flick.
Grab your blankets and dim the lights, this first Halloween film is a family-friendly classic that everyone can enjoy.
Spooky Buddies
This film is a beloved classic for a reason: it combines heart-warming and adorable puppies with all the charm and comedy of spooky season. 'Spooky Buddies' follows the story of a loveable group of puppies, as they discover the mystery of the evil Halloween Hellhound, and explore a spooky haunted house with the help of their owners. Halloween themed romps are guaranteed with this feel-good flick, so it's perfect for watching with the family, or for a light and fun watch if you're not a horror fan. This film is rated U, but could be scary for very young children, so make sure to use your own guidance.
We think a delicious snack of toffee apples is the perfect way to enjoy this movie. Creating these sticky treats is a wonderful family activity to do together, before you sit down to enjoy your hard-work with a matching movie. For your darling dogs, we suggest a yummy bowl of our Chicken with Salmon Pie, as it's perfect for plucky puppies looking for an adventure this spooky season.
If you fancy something a little more scary, check out our next horror movie featuring one of the most terrifying dogs in cinema history.
Cujo
This one is definitely not your family-friendly puppy romp. 'Cujo' is a horrifying tale about a rabid dog stalking people to their graves. After being bitten by a bat, the film follows Cujo's terrifying thirst for blood, and the caring Trenton family who are now trying to escape his clutches. This 1983 cult classic adapts Stephen King's 1981 horror novel into a Halloween favourite, loved by many for its spooky themes and furry villain. This film is perfect if you want to watch something on the scarier side, that's still good fun with classic horror practical effects. This movie is rated 15, so could be one for you and your older teenagers if you want some campy horror to celebrate the season. Just make sure to keep your dog away from those pesky rabid bats this Halloween!
Chocolate brownies are the obvious choice for this film, as they are dark and indulgent, whilst still satisfying your sweet tooth. For your dogs, we recommend our Lamb Kebab to give them a meaty treat, something we think could chill out even Cujo himself.
Up next, we're veering away from horror, and heading back to the fun and accessible spooky adventures. These classic movies are bound to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Scooby-Doo
This is a no-brainer, as there's no better way to celebrate the spooky season than with a good ol' 'Scooby-Doo' movie. Running since 1969, this mystery cartoon has solidified itself as a staple of western media, especially through it's whimsical titular dog. There are so many films to choose from this Halloween, with both cartoon and live-action versions. We recommend 'Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island', 'Scooby-Doo and the Witches Ghost', 'Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School', and the 2000's live action films, 'Scooby-Doo', and 'Scooby-Doo 2: Monster's Unleashed'. The cartoon versions range from being rated U to PG, and the live action films are rated PG, so may not be suitable for younger children depending on which movie you choose. Ultimately, these films are fun and easy-going choices this Halloween if you want more laughs than scares from it's waggy protagonist.
Our movie snack of choice here is beloved hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream and marshmallows. These classic films deserve a classic snack, that matches their sweet and exciting vibes. For your pup, we're recommending our answer to Scooby Snacks: our Chicken Dinner meal. These yummy bites are a delicious source of protein, and fuel even the spookiest of adventures.
Let's tip the spooky scales again, and look at another super scary horror film. This one is definitely for after the kids have gone to bed.
The Thing
John Carpenter's iconic 1982 film 'The Thing' is loved by horror buffs everywhere for its terrifying score, and intricate practical effects. Although it doesn't feature dogs in its main cast, it does include one particularly memorable scene involving a brave Husky, and a horrifying creature. We don't want to spoil this captivating story, but we can guarantee it will have you on the edge of your seat and holding your pups close. So, if you want proper horror for your Halloween, this is our top waggy pick for you. This movie is rated 18, so one for adults-only this time. Combining body-horror, sci-fi, and survival horror, this film carries its themes well, and will keep you sleeping with one eye-open throughout Autumn.
The music and silence makes this film as terrifying as it is, so we're suggesting popcorn as the ultimate movie snack. The crunchy treat will make the tense mood even tenser, so is great to heighten the horror. Your puppy pal will love a bowl of our Roast Dinner with this spooky flick, as this meal is designed with older dogs in mind and not puppies, just like 'The Thing'.
Rounding off our list is another film of cartoon fun, that follows a dog who is both the plucky protagonist and the scary villain of this tale.
Frankenweenie
From the mind of Tim Burton, this animated Halloween film is rated highly by many for its fun twist on the classic 'Frankenstein' story. 'Frankenweenie' is all about a boy and his never-ending love for this best friend, his dog Sparky. Based off of his live action 1984 short film of the same name, Burton resurrected this heart-warming story in 2012 in his classic stop-motion style, delighting audiences everywhere. This movie will have you sobbing alongside your furry best friend, as it truly highlights the bond between people and their dogs. It is rated PG due to slightly spooky themes and action, so use your guidance before sitting down with your youngest here.
Halloween cookies are the perfect choice, as you can spend the day making them for with your family, and can customise them with all sorts of flavours. You can even create some tasty cookies for your pup too, check out our recipes for dog-friendly baking here. The best meal for your waggy bestie is going to be our Salmon Traybake, as just like 'Frankenweenie', it's light and satisfying whilst providing a unique flavour.
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