Disney Channel has a weird history of high-concept sitcoms, but honestly, a show about a talking, blogging canine named Stan takes the cake. It sounds like a fever dream. Yet, from 2012 to 2015, Dog with a Blog was a legitimate staple for a generation of kids who grew up watching the blended Jennings-James family try to keep their pet's secret off the internet. It wasn't just about the gimmick. The cast of Dog with a Blog had this specific, chaotic chemistry that made the "talking animal" trope actually work for three seasons.
Most people remember Stan—the golden-retriever-husky mix—but the human actors really carried the emotional weight of a family struggling to get along. Since the show wrapped up nearly a decade ago, the career trajectories of these actors have been wildly different. Some stayed in the Hollywood grind. Others basically vanished or pivoted to entirely different industries.
Genevieve Hannelius (Avery Jennings)
G Hannelius was the backbone of the show. She played Avery, the high-achieving, slightly high-strung sister who was usually the one cleaning up everyone else's messes. She was a Disney veteran by the time the show started, having done stints on Sonny with a Chance and Good Luck Charlie.
She didn't stop at acting.
A lot of fans don't realize that Hannelius became a tech entrepreneur. She launched a nail-art app called G Nails, which was a pretty big pivot from the sitcom world. It showed she had a business brain similar to her character Avery. On the screen, she eventually broke out of the "Disney kid" mold by appearing in the Netflix true-crime satire American Vandal. That show was a massive departure. It was gritty, funny, and showcased a range that Dog with a Blog never really demanded of her. She’s also been very vocal about sustainability and veganism, often using her platform to talk about ethical fashion rather than just posting red-carpet photos.
Blake Michael (Tyler James)
Then there’s Blake Michael. He played Tyler, the popular, slightly dim-witted but charming brother. Before the show, he was already a "Disney Prince" of sorts thanks to Lemonade Mouth.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
After the show ended, Blake didn't just stick to acting; he got heavily into the world of finance and social media strategy. If you look at his career now, he’s kind of a Renaissance man. He’s a partner at a venture capital firm and has become a significant voice in the "creator economy." It’s a bit of a trip to see the guy who played a goofy teenager giving keynote speeches about digital assets and the future of marketing. He did continue to act in indie projects and shorts, but his focus clearly shifted toward the business side of the industry. He’s a great example of someone who used the Disney platform as a springboard for something totally unexpected.
Francesca Capaldi (Chloe James)
Francesca Capaldi was the youngest of the group, playing Chloe. She was five or six when the show started.
Growing up on camera is tough. Capaldi seems to have handled it with a lot of grace. After the show, she voiced the Little Red-Haired Girl in The Peanuts Movie, which was a huge gig. As she moved into her teens, she starred in the Brat TV series Crown Lake. It was a much darker, mystery-focused show compared to the bright lights of Disney. Now, she’s essentially transitioned into the world of fashion and college life. She’s often seen at major fashion weeks and has a massive following on Instagram where she leans into her status as a style icon for Gen Z.
The Parents: Beth Littleford and Regan Burns
Every Disney show needs the oblivious but loving parents.
Beth Littleford (Bennett) was already a comedy legend before the show, being an original correspondent on The Daily Show. After Dog with a Blog, she just kept working. She’s one of those "hey, it’s that lady" actors who pops up in everything from Dead to Me to The Mindy Project. She’s a pro.
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Regan Burns, who played the dad, Stan’s "psychologist," has maintained a steady career in commercials and guest spots. He’s one of the most prolific commercial actors in the business. You’ve probably seen him selling insurance or snacks without even realizing it was the dad from the dog show.
The Voice of Stan: Stephen Full
We have to talk about the dog. Or rather, the man behind the dog.
Stan was voiced by Stephen Full. While the dog on screen was Kuma (and later Mick), Full provided the cynical, witty personality that made the blog posts funny. Full was already known in the Disney world for I'm in the Band. Since the show ended, he’s continued to do voice work and guest roles on shows like Santa Clarita Diet.
It’s worth noting that Kuma, the original dog who played Stan, was a professional animal actor who had a bit of a controversy behind the scenes. There were reports about a trainer dispute that led to Kuma being replaced by another dog, Mick, for the remainder of the series. Most kids didn't notice the swap, but for the cast, it was a big shift in the daily filming routine.
The Cultural Footprint of the Show
Why do people still care about this cast?
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
It’s nostalgia, sure. But it’s also because Dog with a Blog represented the end of an era for multi-cam Disney sitcoms before the streaming wars really changed the vibe of teen TV. The cast felt like a real unit. When you see them reunite at weddings or birthday parties—which they actually do—it feels genuine.
Notable Guest Stars and Cameos
The show also featured some faces that became much bigger later on.
- Leigh-Allyn Baker popped in, crossing over from Good Luck Charlie.
- Peyton Meyer had a recurring role as Wes, Avery’s love interest, before he went on to star in Girl Meets World.
- Danielle Campbell appeared as well, right before she became a lead in The Originals.
What to Take Away From Their Careers
If you’re looking at the cast of Dog with a Blog as a blueprint for child stardom, the takeaway is diversity. None of them stayed in one lane. Hannelius went into tech and indie film. Michael went into venture capital. Capaldi went into high fashion.
They avoided the typical "child star breakdown" narratives that the media loves to harp on. Instead, they leveraged their Disney years to fund and fuel their actual interests.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
- Follow the pivot: If you’re a fan of a specific actor, look beyond their IMDb. Many, like Blake Michael and G Hannelius, are more active in the business and tech sectors now.
- Watch the transition: For those interested in how child actors transition to adult roles, American Vandal (Hannelius) and Crown Lake (Capaldi) are the best examples of how this cast moved into more mature storytelling.
- Respect the craft: Even a "silly" show about a dog requires incredible comedic timing. Watching the blooper reels of Dog with a Blog shows just how much work went into coordinating scenes with live animals while maintaining the sitcom pace.
The show might have been about a blogging dog, but the humans involved proved they had a lot more to say once the cameras stopped rolling. They’ve built lives that are arguably more interesting than the fictional ones they led in the Jennings-James household.