Favorite "Dog Movie" - Fun Topic

We've had such controversial and intense topics so far on the blog, I thought I'd throw out just a fun topic for us to discuss. I'm a huge movie buff and usually try to see most dog related movies, either in the theater or at least on dvd when they're released. How about everyone listing their top five dog related movies and why they love those movies so much.

I'll start.

1. Lady and the Tramp - I must've been about 6 or 7 years old when I first saw this beautiful movie. In fact, I think this is one of the first movies I can remember seeing. My mommy took me to see it and I was mesmerized. I loved it so much and to this day I get tears in my eyes thinking about it.

2. 101 Dalmatians - Duh, huh? Yes, the Disney company single handedly ruined the Dalmatian breed, but I'm sorry, I have nothing but love when memories of seeing this movie come to mind. God I hated Cruella DeVille. She is still one of my most hated movie villains of all time.

3. My Dog Skip - It was probably the time of my life that I saw this movie, but I remember leaving the theater crying almost uncontrollably after seeing this movie. My Irish Terrier bitch Fiona had just turned 16 years old and I was going through a difficult time in my life at the time and just seeing the elderly Skip sent me right over the edge. I will never forget it.

4. Eight Below - This one caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting much but I really found this movie to be very well done, so much better than the other Husky movies like Snow Dogs (barf). I also loved the fact that it was based on a true story. That is always a plus.

5. Lassie - Okay, there are probably a dozen or more movies with Lassie as the heroine (even though oftentimes the dog playing Lassie was a femaile impersonator!!), but I have to give it up for the most popular dog movie star of all time. Lassie is the quintessential symbol of the most awesome dog ever. I could watch a Lassie movie or episode of the 50's television show anytime.

Let's hear yours .................

My new obsession -The Dog Whisperer

I have to admit that I am fasinated with Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. I even added 100 more channels just so I could get the National Geographic channel! Every afternoon from 2-3pm I'm glued to the tube in awe of what he can do with an unruly dog. Even the not so unruly ones, today there was a Newfoundland that would not eat his food. He doesn't claim to be a "dog trainer" but a dog phychologist. "I rehabilitate dogs, train owners".

The fact that his "pack" can all wait for Cesar to hand out chicken and none of them fight over the food, just amazing to me. They also do not bark constantly once "shhhhst". Wouldn't that be great for daycares?

I have a problem with Logan running at the door and barking. I've tried shaking a can of pennies, telling him to "shush", etc. After watching an episode of "The Dog Whisperer" I've gone to "claiming my space" in front of the door to keep ALL the dogs from crowding me. This has been very effective. I like it much better than the "throw them outside" method I had been using.

There is even an article in my son's Cub Scout magazine about him.

What does everyone else think of Cesar???

What do I think of Michael Vick?

What do I think about Michael Vick? Well first, let me just say I'm not a pro football fan at all, haven't been since I was a little girl growing up in Allentown, PA and you had no choice but to be one. Go Steelers! But that was a loooooong time ago, and ever since I've actually developed a strong dislike for professional football and its players. I find many of them overpaid, overrated and downright arrogant. And of course I am a MAJOR dog lover - duh, I've only devoted most of my adult life to working with them in some capacity. So, by all accounts I would be the prototype person calling for the head of Michael Vick. And I am. But at the same time I am disturbed by all the hypocrisy surrounding the issue. From the way it's being presented you would think Michael Vick invented dog fighting. This vulgar, inhumane and despicable practice has existed for hundreds of years, in fact it wasn't until 1976 when dog fighting was finally outlawed in all 50 states. Even more importantly, the reason dog fighting was outlawed had more to do with its association with other criminal elements (gambling, drug trafficking, etc) than our government's compassion for animals. Because let's face it, our government and society at large cares very little about dogs. This is apparent from the fact that hundreds of thousands of homeless dogs are euthanized every year like waste products. Where's the public outcry about that? Not to mention the fact that our government still considers a dog property, i.e. a dog owner can take a perfectly healthy dog in to be euthanized with no repercussions whatsoever because, after all, it's his property.

And then I guess we're supposed to believe the NFL really cares that deeply about animals and dogs in particular, huh? It's common knowledge that the NFL is no stranger to dog fighting. Quite a few players have been involved in it through the years but now that Vick has been outed, the NFL and commissioner Goodell want to distance themselves from it. Okay.

Well, let's look at the good that will hopefully come from all this. Dog fighting is under the microscope now. All the former case precedents will now come to light and the slap on the wrist sentences they've previously received will undoubtedly become much stiffer. That's a good thing. And maybe in an effort not to appear like complete hypocrites, all of us who are outraged by dog fighting will also take a stand on other equally barbaric and vulgar practices like fox hunting and any sport hunting for that matter. Yes, I consider the willfull, calculated and planned murder of an animal of any kind for sport to be despicable. I just can't understand anyone who takes a life of any kind for fun. Yuck.

So yes, string up Vick, if for no other reason but for being one of the dumbest people on the planet. He, along with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, et al, sure know how to mess up a good thing, don't they? Here he was a young man enjoying benefits that most people can only dream of and what does he do? He throws it all away. Idiot. And he has no one to blame but himself. He made his bed, now he will have to wallow in it. Good riddance. But while we are stringing him up, I hope we don't stop there. I hope this puts all killers of animals for sport on notice. Wrap it up any way you like it, you're no better than Vick in my book.

Why I Let Tucker Sleep With Me

When we first get in, he cozies up real close, usually lays his head on my leg, my shoulder, or my chest, and is very respectful. More importantly, he is warm, cuddly, and with Mike often working til the wee morning hours, he's an appropriate bed buddy that won't land me in divorce court. It's one of the most peaceful, tranquil parts of my day. However, after a few hours the bliss is gone. I'm usually awakened by the discomfort of a large mass pressing against me and the covers forming a turniquat around one of my legs. What I find is Tucker has completely claimed the bed and has systematically shoved me right up to the edge. Any attempts to move him are met with dead weight and then the battle ensues. First I have to break free and unravel myself from the spider web of covers I'm trapped under, then I have to literally sit up and push him with all my force back over to his side of the bed. The funniest thing is, he pretends to be in a dead sleep. Yes, I said pretend. I know I tell my classes all the time that dogs are not calculating, but I tell you, he should get an Academy Award for this performance, because I am quite sure if I were opening up a bag of treats he'd spring out of that bed like greased lightening. So, this may go on a couple of minutes, and then we are back to our peacful co-existence, until Mike comes home and kicks him out of the bed entirely!

But we do this dance every night and will continue to do so? Why? For those first few tranquil, peaceful moments that I simply must have. No matter what has occurred during the day, those moments make everything seem alright. Those moments helped get me through Bryan's illness. Those moments help get me through a hard day at PNI.

Tucker will be 9 years old in September. I will continue to cherish every night he is still here and able to shove me to the edge of the bed.

Pet Food Recall

I couldn't agree with you more. Why isn't the public made aware that these so called high quality foods are not high quality? Isn't that false advertising? I've read the ingredients and they sound as if they are okay. I think I'm going to start making the dog food myself. (Of course I can't cook worth a darn and perhaps the store bands would be safer.) But this last recall has really got me thinking. It is not easy changing food diets for 5 cats. They are particular and won't even consider eating a piece of chicken. The dogs no problem they will happily eat just about anything. My challenge is to find a truly high quality food that doesn't have corn in it. One of my dogs seems to have a food allergy. Any suggestions?

The Pet Food Recalls - A HARD lesson

I haven't fed grocery store brand dog foods for well over 15 years. The last one I remember purchasing with any regularity was Purina One. But even still, I've only been feeding human grade food for about the last 3 or 4 years. So, even though I have fed what I thought were the better foods, it's only been pretty recent that I figured out, hey, if it isn't fit for human consumption, do I really want to feed it to my dogs? Uhhh, duh! But why did it take me so long? I'm an educated person. I ate well myself and knew all about proper nutrition for humans. Why didn't the same standard cross over for my dogs? The truth is, just like the millions of people who have been scared straight by this recall, I truly didn't know. I had absolutely no idea the origin of the ingredients in most commercial dog foods. I never thought about it and assumed the ingredients were safe. I assumed they had to pass the same regulations as our foods. Ha! As they say, ignorance is bliss - until reality comes crashing down on you. I remember the woman who set me straight. Her name was Evie Velez. At the time I was confidently feeding Nutro Natural. When she told me that was a sub par food, I was flabbergasted. How could that be??!! And then she explained the difference between most commercial and human grade foods. My first question, why isn't this information getting out to the public. And most importantly, whose responsibility is it to educate them? Breeders? Vets? Trainers? The government? Ha Ha?

Is this what had to happen in order for people to understand that any food unfit for human consumption shouldn't be fed to our pets??

Non-Compete Clauses

I need some opinions here. As an ambitious, fairplay sort of person, I've always been against non-compete clauses, though many pet related businesses require their employees to sign them. In fact, I think most privately owned training facilities in northern VA requrie them and quite a few grooming shops as well. But I've never been on the receiving end of it. During the past year I have had several employees come to work for me, stay only a couple of months, take our classes, get our handouts, get their Pet First Aid certification, then resign and within weeks they "decide" to start teaching classes on their own. It wouldn't be so bad if they stated up front that they wanted to eventually teach their own classes and/or open their own daycare, etc, but the last few people have completely misrepresented their intentions. In fact, the last person swore up and down that they were only interested in doing things "over the internet," never in person and definitely not in this area. "Personal reasons" were cited as the reason for resigning, and again, lo and behold within weeks they're directly competing with PNI teaching classes.... with all our handouts and training notes in hand, mind you.

So, my question is, am I being naive here? I'm used to being a one-woman show and have never been in the position of having to rely on a person's word when it comes to my livelihood. Since PNI is so BIG in size I think people forget that it's really just a small, single-owner business. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and maybe I'm inspiring them to try it themselves, but do I need to start thinking like a business person now that we're looked upon as the "big kid on the block?"

Laurie

My budding Spielberg

When I mention my son Bryan, occasionally a student, colleague or acquaintance will comment , "I didn't know you had any human kids - only dogs." That still blows my mind because when my son was young I was the quintessential Mommy & Me Mom! We lived on the Marine base and I was the one who coordinated the baby playgroups, baby swim classes, Mommy's Day Out, etc. Yes, I had my dogs too, but Bryan was, and still is IT for us. He's the only human child we will ever have and he is our light. Well, most of you who know me well know that he was diagnosed with lymphoma right at the same time we started planning to open Pup 'N Iron. At the time in our lives when our dreams were becoming a reality, our world was also crashing down around us. We would spend all day at PNI painting walls, ordering equipment, finishing the floors, and then return to the hospital to spend the night with him. He was at INOVA Fairfax hospital for 5 months. It was our second home for 5 months.

Well, the good news is, Bryan has been in remission for over a year and a half now and PNI is going strong. God has been very good to us.

I'd like to share with you guys a movie that Bryan made for his film class. His teachers have entered it into the GMU Film Festival that will take place April 20-22. I'm told I should give you a kleenex alert before you watch it.

Bryan's Movie - Out of the Box

Multi Dog Households - How do you manage?

I can't even remember what it's like to have just one dog. I can remember having only two, about 23 years ago, but ever since dogs have outnumbered humans in the Williams pack.

I still get the occasional dismayed look from people here and there when I tell them how many dogs I have. Granted, it's usually from a person who is having difficulty managing one dog, but I can only imagine what images they must be conjuring. I guess they picture dogs running amok all through the house, jumping on counters, laying all over the furniture, excessive barking, fighting, and just generally causing havok. Well the truth is, I must have the laziest dogs on the planet because they spend the majority of their day sleeping. They know that outside is for acting a fool, inside is for acting like they have some sense. Even the young ones, who my husband has dubbed, "the wild boys," know that running through the house is a big no no.

There is very little barking. I have neighbors who have one dog that I hear barking far more than all mine put together. My barkiest is little 3lb. Geoffrey, and truthfully his bark sounds more like an annoying chirp. Yes, they do lay all over the furniture, but the operative word is lay. They are calm, still, sleeping, and most importantly, they get off immediately when told. As far as dog fights - there are none. There is an occasional hissy fit here and there, all talk, and they cease and desist immediately when told. Not a drop of blood has ever been drawn.

I guess you could say that they get it. They understand the hierarchy and structure in this pack - I'm top dog, alpha bitch. Next in line is probably Mo Mo, my Standard Poodle. The rest of them fluctuate from position to position depending on what's going on. Tucker is off to the side, or should I say, is on a pedestal. I don't let any of the others mess with him. He is the prince, mommy's Golden Boy, and they know it. If it were up to Geoffrey, I can tell from his vocalizations and posture that he'd be King of the Dogs. Of course the others find this both odd and amusing. When he is jumping at them attempting to discipline, they just stand their in awe until I pick him up and plop him on the couch for his own protection. Mike, well, he doesn't really fit in the pack either. He's just their love bug.

Do I have too many dogs? Some might say so, but I disagree. I do feel guilty at times when I can't give each of them all the attention I'd like to but then I look at their lives. They are all happy dogs and quite frankly I don't think anyone on this planet would take better care of them than I do. They have a wonderful home with us, and just like a family with multiple human kids, we love them all, perhaps differently, but each one has his/her place. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The greatness of a nation......

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Ghandi

How do you think the U.S. measures up?

First, let me say, I love and am proud to be an American! I feel I need to say this because we've been existing in a climate where if you say anything less than favorable about the U.S., you are deemed a a traitor or downright un-American. However I feel the U.S. has a lot of ground to make up in its treatment of animals compared to European countries. Things are getting better, but truly we're not that much of a pet friendly nation. Let's start at the top with our government. Despite fostering a 30+ billion dollar industry, pets are still considered mere property in the eyes of the law in every state in this Union. That's right, our beloved companions are looked upon almost the same as the car sitting in our driveway. While there are humane and animal cruelty laws on the books, the fact is, an animal has to be treated very, very badly or killed in order for law enforcement to intervene. On the other hand, in many European countries dogs can accompany their people almost everywhere, including restaurants. In fact, when I was in Belgium and the Netherlands Amsterdam, I even saw dogs in the pubs! It was really awesome to see.

How do you think the U.S. measures up?

AKC Breed Registration Statistics

Something that has been on my mind lately are the AKC Breed Registration statistics just released a few days ago. In case you haven't seen it, take a look. AKC Breed Statistics. I don't know, but that list always bothers me. I'd love to look at it and think of all the happy, well-adjusted dogs of those "top 10" breeds that I've encountered, but unfortunately that doesn't happen. What does come to mind is all the behavioral issues I've encountered in dogs of those breeds, all the medical issues surrounding many of those breeds, all the rescues and re-homed dogs I've encountered in those breeds, and sadly, all the dogs of those breeds that, upon meeting, I know are on borrowed time and have not found a forever home.

Now sure, one could say of course you're going to see more problems in those breeds because, well, there are more of those breeds. Simple math. But even if I focus solely on percentages, it doesn't look any better. Let's take the venerable favorite, the Labrador Retriever. Now, don't get me wrong, I do know some really, really, really GREAT Labs. There are a few that stand out in my mind as not only being great Labs, but they are literally some of the best dogs I know out of all breeds. However, the reason these particular dogs do stand out so much is because they are rare. For every awesome Lab I know, I encounter three or four times as many that are "problem" or difficult dogs, dogs that are destined to a life "in the backyard" or will be jockeyed from home to home to home, shelter, to shelter to shelter. The sad thing is, most of them wouldn't be difficult in the right home, but that's the thing. When a breed's popularity goes up, so does the indiscriminate breeding, the doubling up on both genetic and behavioral problems, and the misconceptions and mismatches of dogs to homes. Remember, I know this first hand. I'm the one with the great Dalmatian.

So, along with those statistics I just wish the AKC (ha, ha, ha) or someone would also publish the corresponding shelter and rescue statistics of those popular breeds. Perhaps that would help some prospective owners dig a little deeper beyond the popularity of the breed when trying to find a dog that matches their lifestyle. But most importantly, maybe, just maybe that would make some of these breeders think twice before adding more to either side. Ya think?

Introduce Yourselves!

Okay, now that I've started inviting people to the blog, when you get here, please introduce yourselves! Undoubtedly most of you will know each other from classes, but who knows, we may get someone new from time to time.

Happy 2007!!

I've been wanting to create a blog on this site for quite some time. So, guess what one of my New Year's resolutions is? That's right, at long last, here it is.... my Dog Listeners blog. It's my hope that this blog can become interactive, with the Pup 'N Iron community adding comments, questions and their own insight as well. If you'd like to add comments to the blog, send me an email (onesmartpooch@aol.com) and you will be registered as a member of the blog. Remember, this blog is for sharing and listening.... to each other and to our dogs. Welcome!

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2007 isn't supposed to be the "Year of the Dog ", technically last year was, but I never let technicalities get in my way. In my life every year is the year of the dog, and has been for quite a long time. I've always described myself as the quintessential dog person. I am an animal lover in general, well, sort of. I think a better description would be an animal respecter. I respect all living things, well, sort of. I am known to kill plants, not intentionally, but I tend to forget they're there. As for rodents and insects - I can respect them as long as they remain in their own domain. Once they invade mine, it's on. But by and large, I have a great respect for animals, admire their beauty, and most of all, admire their pureness and simplicity.

But when it comes to companion animals, dog are it for me. Through the years I've had cats, birds, hamsters, and fish as pets, but that's just it - they were pets. I took care of their needs, fed them, gave them shelter, cleaned their litter boxes, cages, etc., but that was the extent of the relationship. The relationship I have with my dogs is much more than that. For one, they are an integral part of my life. Yes, I still clean up after them, feed them and give them shelter, but they have responsibilities in the relationship as well. They provide me and my family with reciprocated companionship and non-judgmental emotional support, but it goes even deeper. Through training, dog sports and therapy work, I've given my dogs additional duties, responsibilities and jobs. This has enhanced the relationship, promotes teamwork, and makes us more as partners rather than merely "caretaker and animal." After all, that is the historical basis of the human/canine connection. Whether we are to believe man brought dog into the relationship, and tamed him, or it was the dog's choice, the bottom line is the relationship was meant to be mutually beneficial. While we could trick outselves into believing that a dog wants to lie around on the floor or couch all day and night, deep down we know that isn't true. A dog is happiest when he is doing, and participating in the relationship, not just being a bystander. Watching a dog do what he was bred to do is one of the most exciting sights.

So, that's the goal. Creating mutually beneficial relationships with my dogs, and helping others to do so as well. This IS the Year of the Dog.
~Laurie