What kind of Halloween would be complete without watching our favorite spooky films, right?

And if you're a dog lover, it'd be no surprise part of your watchlist are Halloween movies with dogs in them!

But if you're sick of watching the same thing over and over again every year, you're probably wanting something you haven't seen yet.

Don't worry, because we are about to introduce you to a couple of famous (and infamous) dogs in Halloween movies!

Whether you're looking for a straight-up spine-chilling dog horror film or a cute and fun Halloween-themed movie featuring pups, we've got that covered in this article.

So grab your blankies, make some pup-corn (pun intended!), cuddle with your favorite furry little monster pooch on the couch, and enjoy the show!

Best Dog Halloween Movies of All Time!

Of course, nothing beats a classic film where the dogs (or any pet) play a central role in the story.

Check out this list of some of the fan-favorite dogs in Halloween movies of all time!

Cujo (1983) Cujo [Blu-ray]

A classic hair-raising story from the King of Horror himself, Stephen King, Cujo is the 1983 movie adaptation of the novel of the same name.

It follows the story of a gentle St. Bernard who, after getting rabies from a rabid bat, causes horror and terror in a small American town.

Cujo is one of the most well-known dogs in horror filmography, but this story could also be a heartbreaker, too, as much as it is scary, especially for St. Bernard owners.

Curious yet? Watch the trailer below:

You can purchase a Multi-format version of Cujo on Amazon for $17.99 or watch it on Prime Video for $3.99 to $9.99.

Man's Best Friend (1993) Man's Best Friend (1993)

Science experiment, gone wrong—we've all seen this plot. But this 1993 comedy-horror film Man's Best Friend is still quite different.

This is about a genetically-modified dog named Max who looks like your regular Tibetan Mastiff but is secretly made to be a killing machine.

Despite the exceptional bond he has created with his rescuer, Max still can't escape his science-made nature that'll, later on, kill humans and animals alike.

Check out Man's Best Friend's official trailer below:

This is available on Amazon Prime Video for rent ($2.99) or purchase ($9.99).

The Pack (1977) The Pack (1977)

Based on the novel by David Fischer, The Pack centers around the story of the residents of a famous vacation spot Seal Island as they are terrorized by a pack of dogs.

Now, these dogs aren't your usual stray and rabid canines.

They are, in fact, the remnants of former pets abandoned by vacationers on the island itself.

The Pack shows a classic story of how inhumanity and animal cruelty can come back around to terrorize humans.

Watch this movie's trailer below:

The Pack (1977) is still available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video for $3.99 to $10.99.

There's another nature horror movie also titled “The Pack” released in 2015 about a young Australian family terrorized by a pack of wild dogs.

Although both films are not related to one another, it's still a great Halloween flick you can add to your watchlist! You can check out more details of this movie on this link.

I am Legend (2007) I Am Legend

Set in dystopian New York City, I am Legend follows the story of scientist Robert Neville, the sole survivor of a virus-ridden world that turned most of the population into vampire-like creatures called Darkseekers.

Together with his faithful German Shepherd sidekick Samantha, they try to find the cure for the virus.

I am Legend just proves just how loyal dogs can get when everything—and everybody—has changed.

A fair warning—this movie can also be quite heartbreaking! Watch its trailer below:

You can rent this movie on Amazon Prime Video for $3.99 or buy it for unlimited access for $7.99.

Also, don't miss out on the director's cut version and the one with the alternate ending!

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles

A classic Sherlock Holme story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, no wonder The Hound of Baskervilles has had several renditions throughout the years.

In this story, Holmes and his trusty friend Dr. John Watson investigate the property of a rich heir who claimed that his estate is under a family curse and is haunted by a ghostly hound.

Check out the trailer of this movie below:

You can watch this film for free with Amazon Prime subscription, or rent/buy it for only $1.99 to $4.99.

The Breed (2006)the breed 2006 dogs in halloween movie

What could be a dream vacation turned out to be their biggest nightmare.

In this 2006 film, a group of college friends went to a house on a deserted island (inherited by one of them) for a weekend getaway, not knowing that said island was once controlled by a special canine research unit that was shut down due to a rabies outbreak.

You can already guess what comes after… the question is, did they survive?

Watch The Breed's trailer below:

This film is also available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Animated and Light Halloween Films with Dogs

If you're not a hardcore scary movie kind of pal or gal, you can still enjoy your spooky movie night featuring these beloved dogs in Halloween movies!

Scooby Doo The Movie (2002)Scooby doo the movie

Well, who would pass up watching (or re-watching!) the whole gang of Mystery, Inc. in Scooby-Doo The Movie?

In this movie, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphe, and Fred were summoned individually to Spooky Island to investigate a series of paranormal incidents.

Of course, true to the Scooby fashion, you'd be more entertained than spooked by this movie!

Watch Scooby-Doo The Movie here on Amazon Prime for $3.99 to $9.99.

Frankenweenie (1984/2012) Frankenweenie (2012)

If you love Halloween, we're guessing one of your favorite filmmakers is Tim Burton.

He's very well-known for his gothic fantasy, thriller films after all!

And one of the many Tim Burton creations is Frankenweenie! Whether you opt for the original 1984 version or the recreated version in 2012, Frankenweenie will surely tug at your heartstrings with the occasional jump-scare.

Not to give any spoilers but… what dog owner wouldn't want to keep their pets for as long as they can, right?

Both the 1984 and 2012 versions of Frankenweenie are available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

Spooky Buddies (2011) Spooky Buddies

A Disney Buddies franchise great for Halloween viewing is the 2011 film Spooky Buddies!

The paw-ties of B-Dawg, Budderball, Mudbud, Rosebud, and Buddha are back to overcome the ghost of the Halloween hound inside Warwick the Warlock's Manor in the town of Fernfield.

Nothing can get cuter than a pack of pups running around to save the day!

Check out the Spooky Buddies trailer below:

If you don't have Amazon Prime subscription yet, you can rent or purchase this movie for $3.99 or $7.99.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Nothing can get more classic than this Halloween special animated based on the comics Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

This follows the gang preparing for Halloween as they carve Jack o Lantern, prepare costumes, and go trick or treatin'!

Of course, our good boy Snoopy got his most iconic sequence of flying his own doghouse!

Watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown official trailer below:

https://youtu.be/qM-awZ3zq2c

Starting in 2020, Apple TV+ became the home of all Peanuts specials.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) The Nightmare Before Christmas (Bonus Features)

Another Tim Burton masterpiece, The Nightmare Before Christmas follows the story of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town himself as he plots to take over “Christmas Town.”

Santa may have his red-nosed reindeer, but Jack has his ever-faithful sidekick, Zero the ghost dog, whose light-up nose helps save the holiday!

Zero may be made out of white sheets typical in a ghost fashion but based on his elongated snout, floppy ears, and slender body, he could be a Halloweenie a.k.a. Dachshund!

You can rent The Nightmare Before Christmas in Amazon Prime Video for $3.99 or buy it for $7.99 complete with bonus features!

Isle of Dogs (2018) Isle of Dogs

This stop-motion animated film may not be your typical Halloween movie but it's still goosebumps-worthy with how the dogs were animated and how humans can turn into monsters in misunderstood situations.

The Isle of Dogs is set in the fictitious city of Megasaki in Japan where an outbreak of canine flu happened that led to the banishment of all dogs in the city to Trash Island.

Also, this is a Wes Anderson film so you're sure to get your minds blown when you watch this film!

Isle of Dogs is also available on Amazon Prime Video for rent ($3.99) or purchase ($14.99).

The Dog Who Saved Halloween (2011)The Dog Who Saved Halloween

The second sequel to The Dog Who Saved Christmas in 2009, The Dog Who Saved Halloween still follows the story of former police dog Zeus and his adoptive family, the Bannisters.

Here, they moved to their new home in time for Halloween when the strange neighbor's house piqued the interest of our hero Labrador Retriever.

You can watch The Dog Who Saved Halloween's trailer below:

You can also add this film to your Amazon Prime Video watchlist!

Dogs in Horror Films

Apart from the movies we have listed above, there are still tons of dog horror films you watch.

Just a heads up though, listed below may be some of the evilest dogs in Halloween movies (‘coz you know, they can't be nice all the time!)

Other Scary Dog Characters in Halloween Movies

FAQs on Dogs in Halloween Movies

What is the scariest dog ever?

There are a lot of menacing-looking dog breeds, but none of them rose from the dead or were genetically modified unlike some of the dogs listed above, so don't worry!

Some of the scariest-looking dogs that are enough to make the burglars run are:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Akita
  • Rottweiler
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • German Shepherd
  • Great Pyrenees
  • Great Dane
  • Cane Corso
  • Dogue de Bordeaux
  • Doggo Argentino
  • Boerboel Mastiff
  • English Mastiff
  • Perro de Presa Canario
  • Caucasian Shepherd Dog

What dog breed is Cerberus?

Cerberus, the three-headed dog in Greek Mythology tasked to guard the souls against escaping the Underworld, is mostly portrayed as a Bulldog.

However, if we are going to base it on Ancient Greece, Cerebrus could be either a Laconian Dog or a Molossian Dog.

Dogs in Halloween Movies: Final Thoughts

Nothing can make binge-watching more fun this spooky season than seeing different dogs in Halloween movies especially if you're doing it with your own furry cuddle buddy!

Whether you prefer to get spooked and laugh with the lighter Halloween movie options or you don't mind the hair-raising experience from scary dogs in horror films, you're surely in for a ride this Halloween season.

And if you're looking for other ideas on how to spend Halloween with your dog, check out our next article below.

READ NEXT: Fun Halloween Activities for Dogs

Jossana Zosimo
Jossana started as a TV writer in 2017, until her love for dogs gets the best of her and started writing about them instead for Top Dog Tips. Jossana is the proud mama to Xavier and to mixed-breed dogs Zorro, Budak, Lucky, and Lily, who she loves spoiling with toys and treats.