Hi, folks, and welcome back to Dog with a Blog. We sure had a white Christmas, or close enough, which can be very tiring and stressful for dogs who do not enjoy cold weather or snow.

Their paws can feel agitated from the salt, and the temperatures are nasty. It’s not great for us out there either.

Even I, a self-proclaimed dog expert, had some trouble with my Winnie adjusting to the season. My mom ordered some booties online, which showed up the day before all the snow melted, and Winnie was just not having it. The booties were too big, and barely fit on her short, stubby legs. I don’t think you could even call them booties on her. They were more like swim flippers. That leaves our one protection against the snow to be her thin sweater, which doesn’t even cover her belly. Even though she has two coats of fur, Winnie was freezing this break.

Anyway, all this cold has made me want to do one thing: stay inside. And what better way to way to stay warm inside than to cuddle up with your pup and watch movies. Here is my top five list of the best films featuring dogs.

5. Beethoven (1992)

A staple of my childhood, “Beethoven” is a classic for all dog lovers. A suburban nuclear family stumbles upon the unruly but sweet St. Bernard, quickly creating a connection. Although Beethoven destroys the house and slobbers over everything, his family goes to great lengths to save him when he is kidnapped by an evil veterinarian. If you’re looking for a message about companionship, this is the right dog movie for you.

4. Life is Ruff (2005)

One of Disney Channel’s finest, “Life is Ruff” stars Kyle Massey (AKA Cory Baxter from That’s So Raven and Cory in the House) as a bitter dog hater who enters a dog show for the money. Although predictable, he falls in love with the St. Bernard/Labrador mix and eventually adopts him as his own. This movie is full of laughs, good music and classic mid-2000s slang.

3. Best in Show (2000)

For the less emotional, more sarcastic types, “Best in Show” is perfect. The movie is all about drama at the Westminster dog show — both backstage and centerstage. It’s filmed like a documentary, with an array of wild characters similar to those on the NBC show “The Office.” Although this movie is funny, it is rated PG-13, so it is advised not to watch as as a family. Despite the rating, you still get to see a bunch of cute dogs, and you’ll be cracking up at the same time.

2. Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Once I heard “Secret Life of Pets” as a concept for a summer blockbuster, I was immediately hooked. I counted down the days until this movie was released, and ended up seeing it at the Boulevard Drive-In on “Bring Your Dog” night. This animated movie exceeded all my expectations, illustrating exactly how it feels to be a dog owner and connecting animals’ feelings to our own. The plot itself centers around Max, whose life is turned upside down when his owner brings home a new dog. He’s huge, he’s smelly, and his name is Duke. Max immediately tries to get rid of Duke in any way he can, going through an entire day of adventure and antics. By the time their owner gets home, Max and Duke are buds. It’s a great movie for the entire family to enjoy, and I strongly recommend it.

1. Air Bud (1997)

How could I not include this classic? 20 years after its debut, “Air Bud” still reigns supreme in wild, heartwarming dog movies. The plot itself is hilarious: a magic dog makes the school basketball team and helps a pre-teen boy break out of his shell. There’s plenty of sports, comedy, family values and of course, scenes of a Golden Retriever sinking 3’s and dunking on the visiting team. There is an underlying plot line about some scheming former owner, but no one really pays attention to it because there is a dog in a basketball jersey right on screen. It’s so ridiculous you can’t help but fall in love with every moment of it. “Air Bud” is the best and tops any dog movie that has come out since its release. Luckily, there’s plenty of him to go around, and even his kids are famous. They deserve it, though. This movie is legendary.

No matter what dog movie you choose, the important part is spending time inside with your best friend. It’s what companionship movies are all about.