In a TV landscape dominated by thrillers and sci-fi, the Spanish show Old Dog, New Tricks stands out on Netflix thanks to its warm and intelligent humor and a deeply human perspective on contemporary societies. Set in the heart of Galicia, the story follows a veterinarian who, due to the economic crisis, leaves fieldwork to seek redemption in a luxury pet shop.
The show is produced by Alea Media, known for hits like Entrevías, from whose cast comes Luis Zahera, the protagonist. The project was created by Víctor García León, who also directed and wrote the screenplay.
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Old Dog, New Tricks – all the key details
- Title: Old Dog, New Tricks
- Original title: Animal
- Format: TV show
- Length: 1 season, 9 episodes
- Genre: Comedy
- Country of Production: Spain
- Original Language: Spanish
- Director / Creator: Víctor García León
- Main Cast: Luis Zahera, Lucía Caraballo, Carmen Ruiz, Antonio Durán “Morris”
- Production: Alea Media for Netflix
What Old Dog, New Tricks is about
In a small Galician village, the country veterinarian Antón sees his world collapse: with accounts not adding up and increasingly fewer clients, he is forced to leave barns and pastures. Offering him a hand is his niece Uxía, who “recycles” him into her shiny city pet shop. It’s a cultural shock: the man who cared for cows and horses now has to sell “gourmet” snacks for spoiled dogs, learn polite smiles, handle demanding customers, and urban-paced coworkers.
Amid blunders, professional rivalries, and small identity crises, the protagonist of this delightful Spanish series learns to tame (first and foremost) himself: discovering that behind the shine of the shelves there are people and bonds capable of putting him back on track. The series intertwines a clash between rural and urban worlds, dry humor, and a growing uncle-niece affection episode after episode.
Cast and main characters
Luis Zahera, twice awarded the Goya for El reino and As bestas, is already a familiar face on Netflix, playing Ezequiel Fandiño in the previously mentioned Entrevías. In Old Dog, New Tricks, he portrays a gruff but charismatic veterinarian, torn between traditional values and new needs. Lucía Caraballo, one of the most promising emerging Spanish actresses, brings to life the idealistic Uxía, convinced that animals deserve respectful and modern treatment. The cast is rounded out by Carmen Ruiz and Antonio Durán “Morris”, whose performances bring the authenticity and humor typical of Galicia.
Our review of Old Dog, New Tricks
The show avoids clichés about rural life, offering a sincere and sometimes melancholic portrait of a world in transformation. Old Dog, New Tricks presents itself as a sharp social comedy that, behind its “light” appearance, hides a keen critique of the disintegration of the rural world, the contradictions of urban capitalism, and the cost of identity in an era of precariousness.
Antón’s journey, a country veterinarian forced to move to the city to work in a luxury pet boutique, becomes through Víctor García León’s lens a mirror of betrayed aspirations and human frailties, with a tone oscillating between bitter irony and sincere feeling. The show doesn’t just aim to make you smile: it wants to make you think. In recounting his misadventures, Antón is never a pitiful loser nor a forced hero, but a man balancing dignity and compromise.
Is Old Dog, New Tricks base on a true story?
No, Old Dog, New Tricks is not based on a true story. However, it draws on real social issues and the challenges of rural life in Spain, making the show feel grounded while remaining an original fiction created by Clifford López.
Where the show was filmed
Filming took place entirely in Galicia, particularly in the province of La Coruña. Among the chosen locations are the picturesque villages of Dioño, Pontemaceira, Teo, Vedra, and the area surrounding Santiago de Compostela. The region’s green landscapes and characteristic light give the series a unique and evocative atmosphere.
When to watch Old Dog, New Tricks on Netflix
Old Dog, New Tricks is waiting for you, already available on Netflix ➡️ Watch the show on Netflix
