Chars Dogs and Dog Info

There has always been a rule for actors and actresses: Never star with an animal or children-they will upstate you. Evidently, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston didn’t listen to that old adage. They are the parents that adopt Marley, the disorderly Labrador retriever that steals the show in this movie. Marley wiggles his way into the couple’s hearts even though he loves to tear up things like chair cushions, home electronics and pillows. They even try obedience training, but Marley flunks out of that too.  

During assorted scenes in the movie, 18 dogs were used to represent Marley during different states of his life. The American Humane Association (AHA) supervises animals while they work on parts in movies and TV so that they aren’t harmed or misused in any way. AHA always has a safety representative on the set to make certain the animals welfare is taken care of. They will even shut down production if they see that an animal has worked too hard in one day. 

Shelters are where most of the dogs used in films are found. Some dogs were found through breeders, trained to do specific jobs and made certain that the dogs who played a certain role look the same. There are a number of times that crew members fall in love with certain dogs who work on the set and end up adopting them once they are done with their job. 

I think it is fantastic that most of the dogs used on the set of Marley and Me were adopted from shelters. That just means more dogs are saved from uncertain death and are brought to a forever home where they can be loved the rest of their life. 

The dog is still at large and hasn’t been caught but his image is on security tape after shoplifting at a Murray, Utah market. The name of the store was Smith’s Food and Drug Store and the thief was a dog. The dog gingerly enters the store through the front door, as any customer would, sniffs a small girl at the checkout counter and proceeds through the store like he knew what he was after. The dog acted like he really knew what aisle to go to-the dog food aisle. The manager of the store said he had never seen the dog before.

Once the dog reaches the correct aisle, he picks up a rawhide bone and proceeds to exit the store. However, he is busted by the manager who asks the dog to drop the bone. The dog ignores him. Since the manager wanted to keep all his fingers intact, he didn’t try to take the bone away from the dog. The dog went past the manager and out the front door of the store. This was all captured on video by the security tape. 

WOW! What an amazing and smart dog! I hope he’s enjoying his Christmas treat!

The movie Marley and Me came out in theaters on Christmas day. It is a story about a Labrador retriever who is rather unruly and lacks in discipline. He is also sweet and lovable. Although he can’t seem to get the idea of being on a leash or being obedient, but still seems to steal the show.

It stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as Marley’s parents and they adopt him. They are really cute together and go together quite well with Marley. For any dog lover, this movie will really make you laugh and be sad at the end. It is a very entertaining movie for the whole family and especially those who are doggie parents. 

The Guinness World Records has named their new World’s Oldest Dog for the 2009 book. She is named Chanel from New York and is a blonde wire-haired dachshund. Chanel was born in 1988 which makes her over 20 years old. Her owner, Denice Shaughnessy, says that Chanel has some cataract problems but other than that is very healthy and active. 

Chanel has lived on an Army base with her mom for most of her life, which her owner says attributes to her long life. The Army mandates that dogs that live on base have to have their yearly exams and vaccinations. The owner says she would do that anyway because the dogs are like her kids. Chanel lives with her owner and three year old sister that is a dachshund also at Port Jefferson Station. 

If you are like me, you always want to keep your pups from safe from harm. The one thing you don’t want to happen is to have someone steal your dog. A couple of years ago, my neighborhood had a rage of dog snatchers. People who left their dogs out in their backyard behind fences had strangers come to the gates and open them and let the dogs out. Some dogs were found, others weren’t. When I heard about this, I put padlocks on my fence gates. There are other ways to avoid getting your dog stolen and I’ll give you a few tips. 

1. Never let your dog alone out in front of a store, in your car or anywhere left unattended.

2. Always keep your dog inside the house when you leave. Never leave your dog outside when you are gone.

3. Your dog needs to be micro chipped and have current identification on their collar. You also need to keep a current photo of your pet on hand in case they do get lost or stolen. 

Hopefully, these tips will help keep your dog safe from harm. 

My five furry kids are the love of my life. We are all suffering through the perils this recession is causing us, but I try to not let it interfere with my dogs happiness. I still buy them the high-quality premium dog food I have always fed them. I still buy them the healthy treats. The two schnauzer boys still get groomed every seven weeks. And they still drink bought water rather than drink the stinky water that comes out of my faucet. If it is time for their annual vet appointment and shots, they go as scheduled. Yes, they are spoiled and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

I really haven’t cut spending a bit on them. It is not the fact that I have tons of money and I really should cut back, but I just can’t seem to do it. I have not purchased medical prescriptions for myself at times, so that I could buy what I needed for the pups. Not smart, but just how it is. They have always come first in my life and always will. If we are short on money for a certain week, and they need dog food, we eat hamburger and don’t eat out that week. 

All for the love of the dogs… 

There is nothing cuter than a little puppy with a big red bow on its collar on Christmas day. However, if you are thinking of giving a puppy as a Christmas gift, please think hard before you do it.

One thing to consider is if the potential new puppy owner actually WANTS a new puppy for Christmas. Dog lovers that we are, think there is nothing more special that owning a dog as a pet. However, not everyone feels this way. This is a pet that someone will be taking care of, feeding, loving and keeping safe for the next 10-15 years. This is a very lengthy time to be responsible for a pet that they might not want. We sure don’t want any more dogs going to shelters because of someone not really thinking about the gift they are giving. 

Also, if you are like me, you want to be able to pick out your furry friend yourself. I know when I went to look at my dogs for the first time; I was able to know that the dog was for me. I could just feel it. Don’t take that special first connection away from a person. 

If you really know that this person wants a puppy, give them a card with a note written inside, that this card entitles the person to a puppy. That way, you can go with your friend to pick out their forever puppy after the holidays. It will be a much calmer time and your friend will have ample time to train and get used to the new puppy. This would be fantastic for all concerned. 

There are a lot of dog owners who feel that if they don’t take their dogs with them on a vacation, it isn’t worth going. If you are taking your pup with you, you do need to plan ahead. Here are some tips to make the trip safe and happier.

1. Call ahead for motel reservations to make sure they are pet friendly. Never leave your dog in your vehicle overnight.

2. Make sure your dog had proper identification tags on him. You don’t want your dog to jump out of the car and get lost in a strange area and not able to be indentified if found.

3. Take your dog’s health records with you. In case Fido gets sick and has to see a vet, it will help if the vet can look at your dog’s health records.

4. Be ready in case of an emergency like having car trouble or being stranded. Have dog food and water and extra dishes with you just in case.  

5. Aim to keep your dog on his regular schedule. Feed him at the normal times and let him out for some exercise also.

These are just a few tips to make your holiday travel with your pet safer and easier for everyone.

We all know Christmas is coming upon us very quickly. We don’t want to leave our furry kids out of our Christmas gift giving, but in this poor economic time, some of us might want to be more frugal in our doggy gift giving.

I have come up with some ideas for handmade gifts that our dogs will love and won’t cost you much of anything.

How about making Fido a great Christmas bandana? You can find fabric that doesn’t cost very much, it is easy to do and you can use any design you want. Here is a url that shows you how to make one. Click here.

Pick up a cheap Frisbee and have fun with your dog and let him get some good exercise with the Frisbee. Larger dogs may enjoy the famous tennis ball. They last quite awhile with most dogs and you can just bounce them and most dogs will jump up with glee to catch them.

Do you have some clean spare rope lying around? Just get a long string of rope, tie knots in it and it can make a great tug toy. Check it every once in awhile to make sure it doesn’t unravel. You don’t want your pup to ingest any of it.

Those are just a few ideas for Christmas gift giving and make him happy too! 

Do you have it set up in your will what will happen to your dogs in case of your untimely death? It sure is something to think about. If you die unexpectedly, unless you have something specifically set up, your pups will probably go to the pound. If you are like me, you don’t want that to happen to your precious dogs.

I have it set up in my will, that if something happens to my husband and me, my dogs are to go to a good friend of mine. I know that by doing this, my pups will be loved and taken care of like I would want them to be. Many people make wills to make sure their wishes are carried out with regards to their possessions and money. Why not do the same for your beloved pets?