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Keanu Reeves has come a long way since bursting onto the Hollywood scene in the mid-1980s. The actor has evolved from lovable goofball Ted “Theodore” Logan into the gun-toting, martial arts-fighting action superstar of the John Wick series. Fans no longer debate whether he is a bad actor or not. The real question is if Reeves has a dog, like John Wick himself.

A smiling and bearded Keanu Reeves talks 'Replicas' at the 2017 New York Comic Con
A smiling and bearded Keanu Reeves talks ‘Replicas’ at the 2017 New York Comic Con | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

The death of John Wick’s dog sets off the entire Keanu Reeves franchise

As fans of the John Wick series know, the entire action franchise kicks off in part because John’s puppy is murdered. Of course, there’s a lot more to the story than a dead dog. In fact, the puppy — named Daisy — was a gift from John’s recently deceased wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). As such, Daisy represented John’s hope in a life and love beyond his wife’s death.

Thus, Daisy’s death awakens the part of John he’d put behind. His past as the world’s most feared assassin come bubbling back to the surface. And before his enemies know it, John is — as his famous line goes — “thinking [he’s] back.” The John Wick movies continue to evolve the mythology, giving Reeves increasingly ambitious and intricate action sequences to master.

Do the Keanu Reeves movies reveal the actor’s own love of dogs?

While John Wick: Chapter 2 wasn’t as heavy on dogs, the third film returned to form in that respect. In fact, one of the most memorable action set pieces in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum prominently features Halle Berry and a pair of dogs. But does Reeves share his character’s appreciation for dogs? According to CelebrityPets.net, the actor actually does not have any pets at all.

When asked in a Reddit AMA about his preference between cats and dogs, the actor was noncommittal. “Apples and oranges. I’m going to say some days cats, some days dogs. Depends on the cats and dogs you meet,” Reeves said. Unlike John Wick, he seems to have a more general appreciation for animals. Of course, this fits with the previous accounts of fans who have met the actor in person.

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Will the ‘John Wick’ series still be so animal-focused in the future?

As much as the John Wick series hinged on one particular dog, the question remains whether it will continue on that way. Save for that sequence in the third film, dogs have only made fleeting appearances in the sequels. Reeves’ character did adopt a pitbull at the end of the first movie. But it has rarely appeared on screen so far. Could this new canine friend join the fight soon?

It certainly seems like Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have plenty of opportunity to go that route. After all, Reeves has already signed on for at least two more John Wick movies. John Wick: Chapter 4 is already filming and is set for a May 2022 release date. Fans will no doubt keep their eyes peeled for some canine action in upcoming installments of the series.

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