Literature is rife with interesting appealing loner men who have back stories. They may continue tgeir lonership with a dog or a chewbacca or they find a great gal. Either one makes a good story
Taking that premise and casting a fluffy boy with a bossy mom-earring-wearing feminist is senseless.
It will lose.
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Don Johnson roams around with his telepathic dog after WWIII. Based on the short story by Harlan Ellison.
He’s loner with a great dog and he finds a gal.
I don’t remember if it’s in the movie but the best line in the book is “A boy loves his dog.” I guess I’ll have to dig out the movie and have another watch.