Good Dogs

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By Tom Pacak

Five black/tan labs; Primrose a female yellow lab, Potomac a male black lab, Poppet a female black lab, Phil a male yellow lab, Patriot a male black lab, and Luna an extremely well-behaved black lab (Just kidding). These five spirited pups will have to go through the toughest training to become guide dogs for the blind. Some will survive the training; others will be too wild to pass. That’s the basic set up for this adorable documentary from co-directors Dana Nachman and Don Hardy. If there’s one documentary that’s got the “Awwww” factor, it’s this one.

Opening up with a super important prologue, we get a quick look at how important guide dogs actually are. They’ve saved people from car accidents, traumatic falls, and even getting people out of the World Trade Center on 9/11. It’s clear the directors really care about having a furry friend at your side. Born in the campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind’s San Rafael in California, these five pups will go through intensive training the day after they’re born. Eight weeks later, the pups will be taken to a “puppy raiser” families and individuals who foster the puppies and teach them socialization skills for 16 months. Some of these families consist of the blind, a veteran suffering from PTSD, and a normal family. One of the saddest scenes in this documentary is watching these families return the pups for good.

A lot of these pups will not make it through the training. Patriot is proven to be a playful dog compared to his first owner, a shy but awkward teenager who doesn’t know how to give Patriot the love he deserves. Once matched with a veteran with PTSD, it’s clear where Patriot’s real home should be. Once the pups are adjusted to social surroundings, they spend 10 weeks going through blind dog training. Most of the time, the trainers wear a blindfold where the dogs must complete several obstacles, demands, and avoid traffic. Keep in mind, even that this high of a stage, the pups can still flunk out.

The successful pups are then matched with some blind individuals. One is a partially slighted woman on her “4th and best dog” as she claims it. The second is a man from Oregon who’s been blind his whole life and has never had the experience of owning a guard dog. It’s a pure joy watching this man unite with his furry friend.

“Pick of the Litter” will definitely be one to warm hearts of dog lovers. Though not the best and most thought-provoking documentary out there, it definitely proves to be more of a dog treat instead of dog poo. The only thing I find disappointing about this doc is the fact that my dog Luna would never be in consideration for being a guide dog. And if you’re ever having a WOOF day, just turn this baby on. It will definitely cheer you up!

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

Note: Now Playing In Theaters and On Demand 

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