A golden retriever sits by a park bench, its tail thumping against the grass as it locks eyes with a fluffy samoyed. Nearby, two strangers holding the leashes suddenly bump into each other, exchange apologetic smiles, and strike up a conversation. This classic "meet-cute" is a staple of modern storytelling.

In The Proposal , the icy Sandra Bullock doesn’t suddenly become nice to Ryan Reynolds; she softens when interacting with the family dog, Kevin. The dog trusts her, so we trust her.