Hollywood sometimes does things in pairs or more, pushing out similarly themed projects within a short time period to see if they can manufacture a trend. In the late 80's the subject du jour seemed to be 'cop teamed with a dog'. This and K-9 were entries into that niche segment of the market. A heck of a lot of people find dogs personable, of course, so the crucial component that guarantees a good pairing is a likable star to go alongside the furry performer. Few can do likable as easily and naturally as Tom Hanks, and his flair for the zany helps see to it that all ensuing proceedings are kept nice and lively. Even the romance is bearably sweet without becoming schmaltzy or dominating the whole show.
The sequence of events that lead to him becoming an animal guardian for the first time are perhaps intentionally kept murky for the sake of family-orientated viewing, so the only thing about it that has any 'bite' at all is Hooch (don't worry, his bark is worse!) but if you're a sucker for cute pets plus Hanks' breezy charm, then you'll be entranced in no time.
