The John Wick saga has become a fundamental pillar of the modern action genre. The killer played by Keanu Reeves, who gives his name to the four films, embarks on a flight forward full of violence in which he destroys anyone who gets in his way. Behind him he accumulates a large number of murders executed in every imaginable way – even using a pencil. Wick only shows mercy to his few allies and his dogs.
These animals play a very important role in the franchise. They are the origin of the beginning of the murderer’s revenge and, in addition, his fighting companions. The two he adopts do not participate in any deaths, but in the bloody action scenes he does find the help of several Malinois trained to kill. They even save his life in Morocco and Paris.
John Wick’s bond with his dogs begins with Daisy, a beagle given to him by his late wife who symbolizes the love and life they had shared. Daisy’s tragic death at the hands of Russian gangsters awakens in Wick a desire for revenge that drives him to return to his old life as a hitman, marking the beginning of his odyssey. He no longer has anything and has nothing to lose.
At the end of the first film, a pit bull is presented that is about to be euthanized and the killer decides to adopt it and give it a second chance – something he will not have. This new companion symbolizes a new beginning for Wick, a chance to move forward despite the wounds of the past.
Unlike Daisy, Wick decides not to name this dog, perhaps as a way to protect himself emotionally. So, if he suffers the same fate as his previous dog, he believes it won’t affect him as much. This pit bull becomes a faithful companion throughout the films although, at the moment of maximum danger, the killer prefers that the dog stay safe in the Continental.
Daisy, the beagle from the first movie, is actually a male named Andy. Despite his limited screen time, Andy’s performance was key to establishing the emotional plot of the series. Only eight months old at the time of filming, Andy proved to be an agile student, although certain scenes required ingenious methods to achieve the perfect shot.
After his role in the film, Andy was adopted by some friends of his coach. Andy’s life after Hollywood included a name change to Wick, in honor of his appearance in the film.
The unnamed pitbull, who becomes Wick’s constant companion starting in the second film, was played by two different dogs throughout the saga: Burton and Cha Cha.
Burton, the first to take on the role, was chosen for his endearing looks and temperament, which fit the director’s vision and the need for genuine chemistry between him and Reeves. His immediate friendship with Reeves helped restore a canine presence as strong as Andy’s.
Cha Cha, on the other hand, joined the team for the third film, John Wick: Parabellum, and although he shared less screen time, his participation was crucial in maintaining the continuity of Wick’s canine companion.
Although she was also very calm, this female had more problems than Burton during filming. In fact, Andrew Simpson, who was in charge of all the scenes with the dogs, even said in 2019 that Cha Cha had a small hookup with a horse that she chased without anyone being able to stop her.
