A Tired Dog is a Good Dog Parts 1 & 2 (2025)

Overview

One of Matthew Lax’s most personal works merges two complementary explorations of canine and human relationships. Drawing on his upbringing as a quadruplet in a dog-breeding family, the film weaves original footage with family archives to examine animal husbandry, canine behavior, and the human tendency to mimic dogs through kink. In its second phase, it expands its inquiry into pack behavior and the dynamics of dominance, submission, trust, and consent—both in human-dog relationships and within pup play. Love, bonding, and personal loss underpin the narrative as Lax reflects on his intimate connections with the dogs he has loved and lost.