White Dog

White Dog

Year: 1982

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

ThrillerDramaHorrorIntense violence and sexual transgressionRacism and the powerful fight for justice

When man’s best friend becomes his fiercest enemy… A trainer attempts to retrain a vicious dog that’s been raised to kill black people.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen White Dog yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – White Dog (1982)

Trace every key event in White Dog (1982) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Julie hits a stray dog in the LA hills

Julie Sawyer hits a stray dog while driving through the Los Angeles hills at night. A veterinarian treats the dog, and she brings him home while searching for his owners. The encounter seeds an uneasy bond that drives the early choices in the story.

night Los Angeles hills
2

Dog protects Julie during a home invasion

A rapist breaks into Julie's house and tries to attack her, but the dog defends her. The incident strengthens Julie's resolve to keep the dog as a protector. Her boyfriend Roland Graele strongly disagrees with adopting him.

night Julie's house
3

The dog is secretly trained by a racist

Unbeknownst to Julie, the dog has been trained by a white racist to attack Black people on sight. The training remains hidden as the dog forms a bond with Julie. The threat behind the dog's loyalty begins to loom over her life.

Hidden training location
4

The dog kills a Black truck driver

The dog sneaks out and kills a Black truck driver on the street. The act demonstrates the lethal potential of the conditioning. Julie remains unaware of the full background behind the dog's violence.

later Street
5

The dog mauls a Black actress on set

Julie takes the dog to work, but on the film set the dog mauls a Black actress. The incident draws public and professional alarm about the dog’s dangerous temperament. Julie must confront what keeping him means for others' safety.

after adoption Film set
6

Carruthers urges euthanasia

Julie seeks help from Carruthers, a dog trainer who tells her to euthanize the animal. He argues that the dog’s violence cannot be controlled. This meeting sharpens the moral stakes and tests Julie's commitment.

after set incident Carruthers' facility
7

Keys begins retraining the dog

A Black trainer named Keys offers to retrain the dog. He uses protective gear, confines the dog in a large enclosure, and is the sole caregiver feeding and supervising it. The process reveals a controversial approach to remolding a conditioned killer.

after euthanasia suggestion Training facility
8

The dog kills an elderly man in a church

The dog escapes during training and kills an elderly Black man inside a church. The act shocks everyone and escalates the fear surrounding the retraining attempt. Keys recovers the dog and debates whether to hand it over to authorities.

during training Church
9

Keys resists turning over the dog to authorities

Keys chooses to keep training the dog and prevents authorities from taking it away. He warns Julie that the training has reached a tipping point where the dog could be cured or driven insane. He believes success could undermine white racist programs that breed such dogs.

after church incident Training site
10

The dog grows friendly toward Keys

Gradually the dog becomes friendly toward Keys, suggesting progress in the retraining effort. Julie remains wary but begins to hope that a cure might be possible. The evolving bond adds complexity to the story's themes.

after tipping point Training enclosure
11

Owner arrives; Julie proclaims a cure

Another dog owner arrives to claim the dog, and Julie publicly tells him that the dog has been cured by a Black person in front of his grandchildren. The confrontation underscores the film's provocative stance on race and redemption. It also marks a turning point in how the dog is perceived.

after dog-friendly phase Owner's arrival at Julie's home
12

Final betrayal: the dog turns on Carruthers

Just as Julie and Keys think the danger is over, the dog turns on Carruthers and attacks him. Keys shoots and kills the dog to save Carruthers. The ending delivers a brutal twist about the limits and costs of attempting to reshape violence.

final confrontation Training facility

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:56

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