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Hotel for Dogs (2009) – Discussion Guide

Discussion Guide:

  1. Which dog in the movie was your favorite? Why?
    Caregiver Note: There is a lot of surprisingly heavy content in this movie (and in the rest of this discussion guide) so this is just a low-stakes, fun question to get things started! However, it is often that case that in discussing favorite characters we can learn more about one another’s likes and dislikes, especially when having a conversation about WHY a particular character is enjoyed.
  2. When Andi goes to the pet store and is talking to Dave, she lies about her living situation. Why do you think she does this?
    Caregiver Note: The boys start asking Andi questions about where she lives and her family and Andi does not want to tell him that she’s in foster care. There is often a stigma around foster care and what children who are in foster care are like, so many children will likely relate to her struggle here. This could be a good time to talk to kids about how they feel about being in foster care or adopted, and how they feel about others knowing that. It should be every child’s choice with whom and when they talk about their past, but can also be a very tricky subject to navigate, especially when starting a new school or meeting new people. It’s important to have a conversation about how they want to handle such situations and maybe even practice what they are going to say so they don’t feel so panicked when it comes up.
  3. Why does Andi take the dogs from the pet store home with her, when she is already struggling to take care of her brother and the dogs they have? Do you think she did the right thing?
    Caregiver Note: Dave at the pet store tells Andi that she is the last chance for these dogs, and that if she doesn’t take them, they’ll go to the pound. Andi’s seen the pound and how bad of a situation it is and doesn’t want them to have that fate. She also likely relates to how the dogs feel, as their situation mirrors her own struggle to find a permanent home and family. Most kids will likely feel like she did the right thing — that someone needed to take care of these dogs. And in this case, it worked out, largely because three other teens joined the cause to help take care of the dogs. Had it just been Andi and Bruce they may not have been able to provide well enough for everyone. There is a limit to how many animals (or children) a person can care for and make sure needs are met and this is one reason siblings might not be able to be placed together. It is also a good reminder for those kiddos who want to bring home every dog, cat, and squirrel they see!
  4. How does Bruce use his love of inventing to solve the problems that arise from taking care of the dogs?
    Caregiver Note: We learn that Bruce and his dad used to dream up creative inventions together and this is something Bruce keeps doing, in part as a way to feel close to his father. When he and his friends are struggling to meet the needs of the dogs when they can’t physically be there he comes up with a lot of fun and unique ways to solve these problems! He comes up with ways to feed and exercise the dogs as well as clean up after them. This can be a fun way to talk about your children’s own strengths/interests and how they might use those things they’re good at to solve problems in their own lives.
  5. If you were going to invent something to solve a problem in your life, what would you want to fix?
    Caregiver Note: This goes along with the previous question (as well as the following activity). However, talking about a problem they think needs to be solved may offer some insight into what they value or worry about.
  6. Activity: Dog Inventions!
    Caregiver Note: As seen in the above questions, a big subplot of the move is the inventions Bruce makes to help take care of the dogs at the hotel. As a fun follow-up activity to the movie have kids dream up their own inventions! This is a great activity to get the creative and problem-solving juices flowing. For a less-messy experience have kids draw blueprints of what they would like to make if they could and what the purpose of the invention would be. If they are having trouble thinking of something you could stick to a more limited premise of inventing something to help take care of dogs like Bruce and Andi. If you’re a little more adventurous you can gather basic crafting materials (paper, paint, markers, tape, egg cartons, paper towel tubes, pipe cleaners, etc.) and make your own invention prototypes! Make sure to talk about why a particular invention was chosen and how it will be helpful.
  7. Why do you think Andi and Bruce decided not to go to the new foster family? Do you think they made the right choice?
    Caregiver Note: It’s important to note here that most of the time, this type of decision is not left up to the child. Especially in a case where they are living in an abusive situation and there is a more appropriate place for them to go, as is the case in the movie. The reasons Andi and Bruce don’t want to leave is because they feel a sense of obligation to their dogs and also have finally started making friends and don’t want to move several hours away. In talking to children about this choice, they may likely have varying opinions as to whether Andi and Bruce should have gone to the new foster home or not. There are many factors at play: the dogs, their friends, the uncertainty of going somewhere new, etc. that children may sympathize with.
  8. Why do you think Bruce is so anxious about Andi leaving, even though she’s only going to a party?
    Caregiver Note: We don’t really see Bruce or Andi separated for more than a few minutes during most of the movie. As the older sibling, Andi often looks out for and protects Bruce. However, she is invited to a party with Dave to meet some of the other high school students and Bruce talks about being really worried that she’ll leave and never come back. Since losing their parents, Andi has become a caregiver figure to Bruce and is really the only person he’s able to consistently count on. So, it makes sense that he would be anxious about losing her, the way he lost his parents. This can be a common problem among children in foster or adoptive homes. Their lives have been marked significantly by separations and so it makes sense that they would have anxiety around this. It may be helpful to discuss plans with them for what would happen if anything did happen to you, or what to do if they get separated from you while out in the community. (However, these conversations do have the potential to cause more harm, so if a child has severe anxiety around separation or anything else it is best to make sure a professional such as a therapist is involved).
  9. How do you think Andi felt at the party when one of the kids recognized her from foster care? How does she respond?
    Caregiver Note: Andi has been telling her new friends a lie about where she lives and where her parents are in order to avoid having to admit she’s in foster care. However, a boy who lives in her building and knows her foster parents says hello to her at the party and mentions how he knows her, not intending any harm. This causes Andi to panic and hastily try to add to the lies and she eventually leaves the party crying. Every child should get to have a say in how and when they tell their story and who they want to know that they’re in foster care. Unfortunately, as in Andi’s case, this isn’t always possible. Children may relate to this scene if something similar has happened to them. As mentioned earlier, it’s important to have conversations with youth about how they feel about people knowing their situation and to make a plan for how they will handle it when something like this inevitably occurs.
  10. When Andi and Bruce are sent to different foster homes, why do you think Andi blamed herself? Do you think it was her job to take care of her brother?
    Caregiver Note: This is another topic to navigate carefully. As discussed earlier in this guide, children often blame themselves for being placed into care or moved to a new home, especially if they’ve ever gotten into trouble like Andi and Bruce frequently do. We’ve also seen Bernie tell Andi and Bruce that this is their last chance, and if they mess up, they’re going to be sent to separate homes. This perpetuates the notion that it’s their fault when, in reality, it’s because they have abusive foster parents. Though, sometimes, removal happens for a number of reasons that are not the caregiver or child’s fault. This is an important concept to reiterate with kids and make sure they fully understand that the reason they are not with their biological parents or siblings is NOT their fault. Andi likely feels responsibility as the older sibling to take care of her younger brother, which is a positive thing, but she is a child too and it’s not her responsibility to provide for him.

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**Transfiguring Adoption is a nonprofit organization seeking to nurture growth in foster and adoptive families by giving a HOOT about their families. Transfiguring Adoption does not intend for its reviewers nor its review to be professional, medical or legal advice. These reviews and discussion guides are intended to help parents to better be able to connect and understand their children who come from traumatic backgrounds.


Written by
Jenn is a central Virginia native who received her BA in Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2012. Since then she has worked for a local mental health agency and the Department of Social Services in various capacities and has been involved in her community’s efforts to create a Trauma Informed Network. Currently Jenn works in vocational rehab and mentors youth in foster care. When she isn’t working, Jenn enjoys writing stories, visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and spending time with her nieces and nephew.

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