I first saw Old Dog at last year’s Top Dog Film Festival, but I re-acquainted myself with this 2018 documentary on the Dog Play platform.

Old Dog tells the story of retired Sheep farmer Paul Sorenson, something of a legend in New Zealand because of the number of sheep dog trials he has won and for his kinder, gentler handling techniques. In the film, he admits that he prefers dogs to people and that he was mostly an absentee father to his children, a fault that makes him seem more human than the ‘hero’ movies we see on the big screen.

Filmmaker Sally Rowe wanted to make a film about rural New Zealand and, in the process, the film depicts some of our wonderful New Zealand landscape. If you’re locked down due to Covid-19 restrictions in your country, then I think you’ll enjoy the scenery.

This film is well worth the watch of just over one hour and, as Paul says, “If you’ve got a problem dog, nine times out of 10 either you’ve created it or someone else has.”

Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand