Marley & Me

I couldn't get through the book, maybe I'll be able to watch the movie. John Grogan, the author of the book and Marley's owner, is a terrific writer, but knew nothing about dogs. He couldn't find a good trainer and had to live with a dog that had no manners, and had no idea how to behave. As a trainer, I wanted to scream "Get a crate and teach Marley how nice his own den can be!"

So much of Marley's misadventures could have been avoided with a little effort on the part of the human beings in Marley's life.

There's no need for alpha, dominance, or forceful training. Check out what the Association of Pet Dog Trainers had to say about the movies.

So I hope the Jennifer Aniston and the 22 dogs that played Marley will make this movie something I can finish, unlike the book.

Update 12/27/08

The American Veterinary Society on Animal Behavior (AVSAB) issued this press release about the movie Marley and Me:

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE

CONTACT: Babs
Chandrasoma, babs@prbythebook.com,
512-289-4339

 “Marley and Me” A Heartwarming Film But
Not A Guide For Dog Owners

GAITHERSBURG,
MARYLAND (December 26^th, 2008)- “Marley and Me,” a film based on
John Grogan’s life with his loveable but unruly Labrador Retriever, is a
wonderful example of the depth of the human-animal bond.  However, much of Marley’s “bad” behavior was
unknowingly created by his well meaning but poorly prepared owners and some of
it was an anxiety disorder called storm phobia.

The American
Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) makes the following
recommendations.

1. Puppies
   require a great deal of time, attention, and training.  Prospective owners should be well educated
   and prepared to begin teaching good manners from the minute they get the
   puppy.  Waiting until the puppy is so
   large that he is uncontrollable will make the process much more difficult.
2. Owners
   should enroll puppies in puppy classes as soon as possible.  This is important for the owner’s education
   and for socialization of the puppy.  This
   should be arranged before the puppy comes home. 
   
3. Unruly
   behaviors such as jumping, pulling on the leash, and chewing household items
   can be prevented in the adult dog by teaching and rewarding mannerly and
   appropriate behavior in growing puppies.
4. At
   no point was “Marley” trying to be the “alpha male of the pack,” as claimed by
   the film’s dog trainer.  Training does
   not require “dominance” and harsh corrections. 
   Being a good leader by training and reinforcing desired behavior using
   positive reinforcement is the safest and most effective way to train
   puppies.  For example, kneeing Marley in
   the chest to stop jumping up was potentially dangerous, completely ineffective,
   and unnecessary.  Simply teaching him
   from puppyhood to sit for petting would have eliminated that problem.
5. Many
   dogs suffer from behavior problems that are unrelated to traditional
   training.  For example, destruction and
   vocalization during storms often occurs because of the well-recognized
   condition of storm phobia.  This
   condition is very treatable by veterinarians with a special interest or
   certification in animal behavior.  “Most
   veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists see this problem very commonly.  Treatment at an early age can alleviate
   stress experienced by the family and improves the quality of life for the dog
   itself,” said Dr. John Ciribassi, Immediate Past President of AVSAB and owner of the Chicagoland
   Veterinary Behavior Consultants.
6. Viewers
   should resist the temptation to adopt a puppy or dog based on a movie.  What is on the screen is entertainment, not
   reality—even if it based on a true story. 
   Shelters were filled with Dalmatians purchased after people saw the
   Disney film “101 Dalmatians” several years ago. 
   Once the adorable little puppies grew up into rambunctious and
   destructive young adults, many owners simply dumped them.

 “Having a dog in
your life can be a tremendously satisfying and enriching,” said Dr. E. Kathryn
Meyer, AVSAB President and owner of Veterinary Behavior Clinic in Gaithersburg, MD.

“However, there is a significant level of
commitment required and it is a decision that should not be made lightly.”  AVSAB has published position papers on Puppy
Socialization, Choosing a Trainer, The Use of Punishment, and Dominance Theory
in the Behavior Modification of Animals. 
These documents are available at AVSABonline.org.