The film “Marley & Me” stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. It is a biography (based on a true story book), from the point of view, of a dog that they receive as a puppy (a yellow lab named Grogan – played by “Jonah” (he was also in the 2007 documentary “Zoo“) and have the dog for a pet for 13 years. The puppy is a typical dog in many ways – untrained, high energy, destructive (but not though malice), and eager to please his humans (from a dog’s point of view).
As the family and their canine family member grow, the humans have children as they accept (and love) Marley the way he is until his dying days. (more…)
Files under Labrador Retriever, Movies |
|
No Comments »
In 2006 Tim Allen starred in the remake of the 1959 film, “The Shaggy Dog” gets bitten on the hand by a dog that was used for animal testing. In the process Dave (played by Tim Allen), at times, turns into a bearded collie which helps him solve some mysteries as well as solving problems at his home. (more…)
Files under Bearded Collie, Movies |
|
No Comments »
For close to 20 years Fox has shown the weekly show, “Cops” and since then there have been many spin-offs (best police chases, best police videos, etc..) and quite often you see the K9 officer being involved (nothing beats a video of a K9 taking down a criminal). 
From what I’ve seen, the vast majority of these K9s are either German shepherds or Belgian malinois. In all the years of watching Cops, I think I can count on one hand the number of non-malinois and non-GSD K9 units in the show (once I did see a Dobie and it was interesting to watch).
Why GSDs and malinois? These two breeds are easily trained (both being very intelligent), have stamina to be able to work a long day, are herding dogs (so they are very attentive and protective to their “pack” (meaning the K9 handler)), have a relatively long working life span (roughly 7-10 years for a GSD, 10-15 years for a malinois), can be very powerful (their size, the momentum they can build up while running, and powerful bites), plus the sight of a good example of these breeds can be extremely intimidating.
Don’t think these two breeds are killers – they make great pets (GSDs are far easier than malinois, though) and raised correctly they can be a very loyal companion to any family.
Files under German Shepherd, Malinois, TV Shows |
|
No Comments »
The 2006 Disney film, “Eight Below” was a story about survival and the strong bond a handler has with his dogs – whether it is one dog or an entire team of sled dogs.
The story starts out with Jerry Shepard, who is a sled dog guide in an Antarctica based research center, taking a scientist to a site where me feels he might be able to find meteorite fragments. They are called back and need to leave in an emergency – Jerry is promised that they’ll be able to come back for the dogs but unfortunately they are not able to and the dogs are left to fend for themselves in the Antarctic wilds. The story revolves around the dogs’ story of survival as wel as Jerry’s dedication to them and he spends everything he has trying to get back to his dogs left behind.
All of the dogs are huskies which are used as sled dogs in snow covered areas of the world (Arctic and Antarctic). The husky’s thick and pluch coat ofers them protection from cold, moisture, and wind along with their strength and stamina make them the perfect dog for distance sledding. (more…)
Files under Husky, Movies |
|
No Comments »
I haven’t watched all of the films yet but from what I’ve seen most of the animals are CGI (computer generated graphics). There are many animal trainers and coordinators listed in their credits. (more…)
Files under Movies |
|
No Comments »
While animals do play a very significant role in this film (being the humans’ dæmons), as far as I can tell all of the animals were CGI (computer generated graphics) and none were real. There are also no animal trainers listed in the credits.
Files under Movies |
|
No Comments »
The 1993 film, “Look Who’s Talking now” was the third installment of the “Look Who’s Talking” series. In the previous two films you heard the “thoughts” of the two children but the third installment you heard the thoughts of their two dogs, “Rocks”, voiced by Danny Devito, and “Daphne” voiced by Diane Keaton.
Rocks, the first dog who is adopted into the family (by James and Mikey) is a run of the mill typical street mutt (shepherd mix most likely). In the beginning (and throughout the film) he is dirty, messy, clumsy, and always getting into trouble. This portrays one end of the dog behavior spectrum – chaotic.
Daphne is the second dog adopted into the family (by a few minutes – adopted by Mollie and Julie). She is a standard poodle and is the exact opposite of Rocks – polite, well trained, neat, proper, polite, and does not get into trouble. She displays the other end of the dog behavior spectrum – completely orderly. (more…)
Files under Movies, Other / Unknown, Poodle |
|
No Comments »
The second episode of the second season of the TV show Millennium was “Beware of the Dogs” and featured a pack of “wild” dogs that seemed to be attacking people in a town. These “attack” dogs were nothing more than a pack of well trained Belgian malinois (ak.k.a Belgian shepherds).
Malinois (or “Mals” amongst the breed fanciers) are an extremely versatile breed. They are herding dogs, family companions, protectors, and hard working dogs. There aren’t many fields that a mal could not easily excel in with the right trainer. Their intelligence and loyalty to their “pack” (family) along with their primal and intense look make them the perfect breed for hard work including police and military work worldwide. Israel only uses malinois in their military and may police departments in the USA use many, if not all, malinois with their K9 units. Only the German shepherd can come close to competing with the malinois. (more…)
Files under Border Collie, Malinois, Pomeranian, TV Shows |
|
No Comments »
In 2002 Cuba Gooding Jr starred in the Disney film, “Snow Dogs” who is a dentist in the warm climate of Miami who is thrust into Alaska upon hearing of his mother’s death. During this time, he inherits seven Siberian huskies and a border collie. (more…)
Files under Border Collie, Husky, Movies |
|
No Comments »
The 2000 mocumentary “Best In Show” helped bring the world of professional dog showing to the eyes of the masses – mainly focusing on the Westminster Kennel Club show, in a comedic fashion (well, it’s not a comedy to those of us who have shown dogs professionally!). The film starred many dogs, including a nervous Weimaraner (well, nervous owners), an overly spoiled Norwich Terrier, and a bloodhound. The film was directed and written by Christopher Guest (“Spinal Tap“).
The movie starts off with each dog owner in their own corner of the country as they set off to the premier of dog shows, The Mayflower Dog Show (based on the Westminster Kennel Club show). Of course, just getting to a dog show in itself can be quite an adventure as some off them realize. (more…)
Files under Hounds, Movies, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Terriers, Weimaraner |
|
No Comments »
