“A Dog for Christmas” is a sweet movie for the holiday season about a girl and her dog that brings joy to the entire family. The film, released in 2015, was directed by Chris Nickin and Joel Paul Reisig and stars Dean Cain, Richard Karn, and Dustin Diamond among others. In this article, you’ll discover the locations where the movie was shot, who played which roles, and interesting backstage facts.
Where it Filmed?
The movie was filmed in the United States, specifically in Rockford and Grand Rapids, both located in the state of Michigan. Unfortunately, the exact dates when the filming took place are not available. Nevertheless, the two Michigan cities contributed significantly to the overall festive atmosphere of the film.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dean Cain | Earl |
| Richard Karn | Santa |
| Dustin Diamond | Fred |
| Glenn Alverson | Office Boss |
| Hugh Gall | Dave Madison |
| Janet Caine | Sandy Madison |
| Sophie Bolen | Kasandra Madison |
| Derek Brandon | Brandon |
| Joseph Scott Anthony | Daryl |
| Mark Boyd | Matt |
| Keith Seccombe | Wesley |
| Brian Titus | Ben |
| Kristin Mellian | Rachel |
| Paul Tierney | |
| Dominik Peplinski | Dominik |
| Riley Snider | Earl’s Son |
| Gabrielle Snider | Gabby |
| Rachel White | |
| Tom Kruszewski | College Hockey Guy |
| Joshua Ray Bell | Aggravated Patron |
| Kim Crozier | Anna |
| Linda L. Douglas | Marsha |
| William G. Babbit Jr. | Dad walking with daughter |
| Caitlin E. Babbitt | Girl walking with dad |
| Jay J. Bidwell | Belching Party Guest |
| Dana Blackstone | Susannah |
| Dylan Brandon | Cousin |
| Carrie Foster | Neighbor #2 |
| Elizabeth Foster | Elizabeth |
| Emily Foster | Neighbor #3 |
| Mark R. Foster | Husband in Bumping Car |
| Paula Marie Fournier | Woman in Bumping Car |
| Joe Goode | Waiter #1 |
| Kim Harris | Parent |
| Laura Henderson | Cashier |
| Brandon Hoezee | Young Office Guy |
| Zachary Hunt | Zach |
| Jennifer Jelsema | Hostess |
| Dane Kieninger | Dane |
| Teri Lee | Carol |
| John M. McDevitt III | College kid #3 |
| Rose Anne Nepa | Christmas Party Attendee |
| Schuyler Norton | Wesley’s Son |
| Kathleen E. Overfield | Woman Earl cuts in front of at grocery store |
| Randall Perry | Neighbor #1 |
| Greg L. Rogers | Mr. Drummers |
| Dominik Rossin | Jeffrey |
| Jettzen Shea | Kyle |
| Jeff Sicile | Pedestrian |
| Ethan Slavin | Cousin |
| Julia E. Smith | Girl at skating rink |
| Connie Sonnenberg | Extra |
| Michael Szczepanink | Jumbo Loan Guy |
| Mishell Szczepanink | Office Party Kim |
| Jason M. Varso | Mark |
| Patricia Lynne Cissell | Diner (uncredited) |
| Harrison Flechsig | College Hockey Guy (uncredited) |
| Brandon Lang | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Linda Linsley | Christmas Office Party guest (uncredited) |
| Allison Mooney | Pedestrian (uncredited) |
| Baylie Mooney | Pedestrian (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- Richard Karn, who played Santa Claus in “A Dog for Christmas”, also played alongside an old castmate from “Home Improvement” (1991) who, intriguingly enough, played Santa in The Santa Clause Trilogy from Disney.
- The film’s budget was estimated to be around $250,000.
- “A Dog for Christmas” was also known as “Christmas Staycation” in the United States and “Собака на Рождество” in Russia.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Latitude: 42.9633599
- Longitude: -85.6680863
- Place ID: ChIJFShQu2BUGIgR0KjTG8uqk6U
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Timezone: America/Detroit
