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Is Ava From The Noel Diary Justin Hartley’s Real Dog?


Justin Hartley as Jake Turner in The Noel Diary
Credit: Netflix

The Noel Diary is one of the trending movies on Netflix right now. The film follows a famous author who lives with his dog, Ava. After discovering a diary that belongs to his late mother, the author starts to unearth his past.

Apart from Justin Hartley's performance in the film as Jake Turner, many can't help but wonder if Ava is the actor's real pet. That's because Hartley has a number of pets at home. Fans also ask if the story is real or fictional. Here's what we know about The Noel Diary.

What Is The Noel Diary About?

Justin Hartley as Jake Turner in The Noel Diary
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Credit: Netflix

As mentioned, The Noel Diary is about a famous author who discovers his mother's diary after her death. The diary connects Jake to a mysterious woman named Rachel (played by Barrett Doss), who is searching for her birth mother.

Another character we meet in the movie is Ava, Jake's loyal companion who has been with him through thick and thin. Many are curious to know if Ava is Justin Hartley's real dog.

Is Ava From The Noel Diary Justin Hartley’s Real Dog in Real Life?

Barrett Doss as Rachel, Justin Hartley as Jake Turner in The Noel Diary
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Credit: Netflix

No, Ava from The Noel Diary is a professional dog actor who belongs to a dog trainer named Ariane M. Bailey and is actually called Skye in real life. She is an Australian Shepherd who has competed in various sports and even won competitions like USDDN World Finals and ASCA Nationals.

Skye has also performed in Playing with Dogs at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' production together with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

According to director Charles Shyer, Ava wasn't part of the original story but was added in to complement Jake's "loner but not lonely" character.

Perhaps, one of the reasons why many wonder if Skye was Hartley's real dog is because he is a proud dog parent and calls dogs "emotional creatures." Hartley also frequently shares photos of his canine friends but doesn't "expect much from them" since they simply want "to hang out and enjoy life."

Is Jake Turner Inspired by a Real Author?

Justin Hartley as Jake Turner in The Noel Diary
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Credit: Netflix

Justin Hartley's character in The Noel Diary is purely a fictional character that Richard Paul Evans created for his novel. Although there is a real author who goes by that name, the connection between him and the fictional character is purely coincidental.

But there are some similarities between the character and its creator. The two are bestselling authors with their own fanbase. They also both write mystery novels and write about their personal experiences.


The Noel Diary is available to stream on Netflix. You can watch the trailer here:



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