What Kind of Dogs Does John Wick have? Breed Information, Pictures, and Facts

The John Wick movies are action-packed thrill rides filled with vengeance, justice, and an endearing canine cast of dogs. It all started with the tragic killing of John Wick’s beloved puppy, Daisy, sparking his relentless mission for revenge. Throughout the four films, Wick leaves a trail of destruction as he destroys those responsible for killing his dog. Along the way, Wick also bonds with other incredible canines. Dive in to learn more about the kinds of dogs John Wick has!

John Wick: Dog Lover and Skilled Assassin

The first installment of the John Wick film franchise debuted in 2014. The story revolves around the enigmatic protagonist, John Wick, an exceptionally skilled assassin who recently lost his wife to cancer. As a final parting gift, Wick’s late wife gave him a sweet beagle puppy named Daisy, who instantly captured viewers’ hearts. Tragically, however, Wick’s life was shattered again when a band of Russian gangsters invaded his home, not only stealing his car but also cruelly killing his innocent puppy. 

Although Daisy’s death occurs just 20 minutes into John Wick, her legacy forms the foundation for the entire franchise, leading Wick to return to his life as a deadly assassin as he unleashes vengeance on the puppy’s murderers. 

Following Daisy’s iconic role in the first film, dogs continue to feature prominently in each of the movie’s sequels, including John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and recently, John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).  

The Dogs of John Wick

John Wick’s first dog, Daisy, is a beagle. Although Daisy’s character in the film is female, her role is actually portrayed by a male beagle puppy named Andy. At just eight months old, the incredible pup began working on the set of John Wick. According to Andy’s trainer, Kim Krafsky, they specifically selected a beagle for the breed’s charming demeanor and adorable appearance. The intention was to create an immediate emotional connection between the audience and John Wick’s character.

Even the actors fell in love with the sweet puppy. Keanu Reeves instantly bonded with Andy, and Omer Barnea didn’t even want to pretend to harm the puppy in scenes, making sure to give Andy plenty of cuddles after each take. Ultimately, however, the puppy’s on-screen death helped viewers connect with Wick’s character on a more relatable level, empathizing with his emotional journey and thirst for revenge. Furthermore, Andy made a memorable red-carpet appearance at the premieres of John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. After the film, Andy was adopted by a friend of his trainer and lovingly renamed “Wick”.

Beagles are charming scent hounds with droopy ears and soulful brown eyes. Not only are they visually appealing, but they also have extremely charming personalities. Their playful spirit is infectious, and they are always ready to play or go on an adventure. However, they also cherish moments of closeness, cuddling with their humans and showering them with affection. 

The Dogs of John Wick: Chapter 2

In John Wick: Chapter 2, Wick owns a pit bull. At the end of the first film, Wick stumbles into a veterinary clinic to treat his wounds and discovers a small gray pit bull puppy. The puppy was scheduled to be euthanized, but Wick adopted it and brought it home with him. 

Wick never officially gives his new dog a name, perhaps because it would be too painful to become so emotionally attached again. Instead, he simply calls him “dog”, “boy”, or “good boy”. However, Wick obviously cares for his new canine companion, and the dog loyally remains by his side. He is seen alongside Wick in Chapter 2, as well as Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Wick’s pit bull is not depicted as a fighter, but rather as an emotional support and trusted companion. In Chapter 2, the dog was portrayed by Burton, a male canine actor Reeves affectionately nicknamed “Bubba”. However, in Chapter 3 the dog was portrayed by a female pitbull named Cha Cha.

The term “pit bull” refers to a group of dog breeds, such as the American Staffordshire terrier, the American pit bull terrier, the American bully, and the Staffordshire bull terrier. Due to their strength, many people used these dogs for bullbaiting and dog fighting, which are now illegal. Unfortunately, this has led to an undeserved bad reputation that pit bulls are inherently aggressive, even though there is no evidence to support such a claim. In truth, pit bulls are loving, devoted companions with an immense amount of love and affection. They are remarkably gentle and nurturing towards children and have even been called “nanny dogs”. 

The Dogs of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

Although Wick’s pit bull appears alongside him in the third film, viewers are also introduced to some new canine stars as well. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, features two Belgian Malinoises. 

In the film, the dogs are owned by Sofia Al-Azwar, portrayed by Halle Berry. To enhance the authenticity of Sofia’s on-screen bond with the dogs, Berry dedicated two to three hours each day to training with them. This allowed for seamless performances and eliminated the need for off-screen trainers to guide the dogs during scenes.

Sofia’s two Belgian Malinoises in Chapter 3 were portrayed by five different dogs: Ikar, Santana, Boyca, Tai, and Sam 7. Unlike Wick’s beagle and pit bull, the Belgian Malinoises fought right alongside the assassins. The dogs were highly trained and even performed all their own stunts without CGI — including climbing straight up a 15-foot wall! 

However, the dogs did struggle with a few real-life archnemeses while filming in Morocco. During filming, stray cats often visited the film set. Occasionally the dogs broke character and took off after a cat right in the middle of a scene! 

Belgian Malinoises are incredible dogs, packed with loyalty and intelligence. They also thrive on companionship but require consistent training to be their best selves. They were bred for herding, have boundless energy, and need lots of daily activity. Belgian Malinoises are intense dogs that are quick to learn and excel in many different areas, such as search and rescue and guard or police dogs. 

The Dogs of John Wick: Chapter 4

In the fourth film of the John Wick franchise, a new canine character stole the spotlight. The unnamed dog belonged to Mr. Nobody, a mysterious character hired to kill Wick. Mr. Nobody’s dog in John Wick: Chapter 4 is a Belgian Malinois. The dog is portrayed as a skilled canine assassin and helps to take out several of the hitmen trying to kill Wick. Wick even risks his own life to save the dog! After Wick saves his dog, Mr. Nobody abandons his assignment and decides not to kill Wick. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Benjaminj88/Shutterstock.com