Walking the Dog
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United Kingdom3 ways
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The premise
Rival lawyers battle each other in court as their respective dogs fall madly in love, bringing their guardians together at every turn until they reluctantly realize it may not just be the pups who are each other's true Valentine.
How unusual is it?
Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take an enemies-to-lovers arc.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The protagonist's love interest has a vanity license plate that literally says 'LAW ONE'.
- The dogs are portrayed as having a more functional and immediate romantic relationship than the humans.
- The veterinarian boyfriend breaks up with the protagonist by admitting he wasn't jealous of her new suitor and then immediately pursues her friend.
- The dogs run away specifically to have a 'date' at the beach.
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 30 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season3
Romance7
How it all plays out
Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.
Full story (spoilers)
The film opens with Kristie Simmons, a pro-bono-focused lawyer, petitioning the county court for a bike lane in Bradley Beach to improve community safety. Simultaneously, she agrees to foster a dog named Gidget, an 'escape artist' from a local rescue. While walking Gidget, Kristie meets Keith and his dog, Simon. The dogs are instantly inseparable, but the human interaction is cut short when Keith reveals he is the new Town Attorney hired to block Kristie's bike lane. In court, Keith mocks Kristie's petition by suggesting the town would eventually need 'power-walking lanes' or 'skating lanes,' earning Kristie's ire. Despite this, Keith suggests they 'reboot' their relationship with a professional coffee chat, citing their shared history as locals who moved away and returned.
As the story progresses, a subplot involves Kristie's mother, Barb, receiving anonymous gifts at her cafe, including bear claws and roses. Kristie is currently dating Bill, the local veterinarian, but their relationship lacks passion. The tension between Kristie and Keith escalates when Keith's law firm associate, Laura, arrives from Seattle to pressure Keith into fast-tracking a lucrative condo development on the Pittman property, a beloved local nature preserve. Kristie assumes Laura is Keith's girlfriend, leading to jealousy. At a Bar Association dance, Kristie encounters her ex-boyfriend Jeff, who previously broke her heart in Chicago. Keith intervenes, pretending to be her dance partner to save her from the awkward encounter. This night serves as a turning point, leading Kristie and Bill to realize they are better off as friends and break up amicably.
The conflict reaches a climax when a local newspaper reports that Keith is siding with the developers to destroy the Pittman property. Feeling betrayed, Kristie cancels their upcoming date. However, Keith reveals his integrity by quitting his high-powered firm and secretly arranging for Kristie to present the opposition's case directly to the town board. In a final hearing, Keith presents the logistical hurdles of the development while Kristie delivers a moving speech about the 'heart of the community.' The board votes to table the development, effectively saving the land. The film concludes on Valentine's Day with Kristie officially adopting Gidget, Barb discovering her secret admirer is Dan the realtor, and Keith revealing he is staying in Bradley Beach to start a legal partnership—and a romantic one—with Kristie.
Beat by beat
Opening
Kristie begins her legal battle for a town bike lane and agrees to foster Gidget, a dog who immediately falls for the opponent's dog, Simon.
Midpoint
Kristie and Keith's dogs run away together to the beach, forcing the two rival lawyers to spend a night searching and bonding over their personal histories.
Turning Point
At the Bar Association dance, Keith rescues Kristie from her arrogant ex-boyfriend, Jeff, signaling a shift from professional rivals to romantic interests.
Conflict escalates
A newspaper leak suggests Keith is supporting a condo development on the town's nature preserve, causing Kristie to sever ties with him.
Climax
Keith quits his law firm and joins forces with Kristie to present a case to the town board that saves the Pittman property from development.
Resolution
Kristie adopts Gidget permanently, and Keith reveals he has rented a long-term home to stay in Bradley Beach and pursue a relationship with Kristie.
30 tropes in one movie
We counted 30 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 54% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Walking the Dog belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“Your license plate says 'law one'. I think I'm getting you all right.”
— Kristie SimmonsWhen Kristie first sees Keith's car outside the courthouse. “Now's probably a good time to mention she's spayed.”
— Keith AmosAn awkward icebreaker when their dogs are acting attracted to each other. “I'm dating someone. I know. You... How do you know? I spoke to Dan Carlyle.”
— Kristie and KeithKeith revealing he did background research on Kristie's relationship status.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Kristie Simmons
LeadLawyer
IdealisticCommunity-orientedDog-loverStubbornKeith Amos
Love interestTown Attorney
Legal adversary and romantic interest
SmugCharmingPrincipledCareer-focusedBarb Simmons
SupportingCafe Owner
Mother
NurturingRomanticCommunity-pillarBill Nolan
SupportingVeterinarian
Ex-boyfriend
KindAwkwardEmpirically cuteGidget
SupportingFoster Dog
Pet/Matchmaker
Escape artistAffectionate
Questions people ask about Walking the Dog
Where can I watch Walking the Dog?
Walking the Dog is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Walking the Dog?
Walking the Dog runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2017.
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