Dog movies make great holiday entertainment

December 20, 3:58 AMDC Dog Training ExaminerLaurie Williams

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If anyone is looking for me on Christmas Day I’ll tell you exactly where I’ll be — in a theater somewhere watching the premiere of “Marley & Me.”

For those of you who didn’t get an opportunity to read the bestselling book by John Grogan, it’s the story of a family’s life and adventures with their lovable but ill-behaved and out of control Labrador Retriever.

There have been so many great dog movies through the years. This holiday season, in addition to “Marley & Me,” I think I’ll watch a few more.  In fact, I think I’ll pick a day to do nothing but curl up with my dogs on the sofa (yes, egads, my dogs get on the furniture), and enjoy my very own, nonstop dog moviefest.  Here’s some titles that will definitely be on my list:

•  Lady and the Tramp – I must’ve been about 6 or 7 years old when I first saw this beautiful movie.  I guess you could say this was the first love story I ever watched on screen and it was every bit as meaningful as the Erich Segal version starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw.

• 101 Dalmatians – Even though the Disney company single-handedly ruined the Dalmatian breed with this one, I must confess I really do love this movie.  For me there have been few villains in movie history viler than Cruella DeVille.  Someone who wants to kill puppies and make coats out of their fur?  She was likely inspiration for the Hannibal Lector character.
• My Dog Skip – There is just something about the story of a boy and his dog that tugs at our heart strings.  I had recently lost my 16 year old Irish Terrier Fiona when I first saw this movie and remember crying almost uncontrollably when I left the theater. Seeing the elderly Skip lay down on his boy’s bed for the last time sent me right over the edge.
• Eight Below – This is the story of a researcher who must leave his team of sled dogs behind in Antartica, loosely based on an actual failed expedition mission that occurred in 1958.  This was a pleasant surprise.  I must admit I I wasn’t expecting much given other sled dog movies in recent years.  I'm convinced Cuba Gooding was forced to make "Snow Dogs”. 
• Lassie 50th Anniversary TV Edition – This DVD contains 24 episodes of the television show spanning from te 50's through the 70's.  It is very interesting to see the different "Timmies" as well as all the dogtors that played the part of the heroine, even though quite a few were female impersonators!  We have to give it up for the most popular celebrity dog of all time.
• Balto – This animated film is also based on the true story of the 1925 sled dog mission that transported diphtheria vaccine from Anchorage to Nenana, Alaska.  Balto is the dog that led the last leg of the trek.  Who can resist a movie where a dog saves the day?
• The Adventures of Milo and Otis – This is the movie that made the world fall in love with Pugs. It’s really just a charming little story and tear jerker about a little orange tabby cat and a fawn Pug who find friendship and live happily ever after.  I rented it one day when my young son was home sick from school.  It was a tender mother and son moment.
• Babe – “That’ll do, pig.  That'll do.”  Now that’s a classic movie line right up there with, "yo Adrianne, we did it!"   Who cares if the movie is more about a pig than it is about dogs?  There are plenty of dogs in it, namely Border Collies doing what they love to do! 
• Homeward Bound – This remake of the 1963 film "The Incredible Journey" shows the lengths three pets, an American Bulldog, Golden Retriever and Himalayan cat   go through to return to their loved ones.
• Rin Tin Tin – I am happy to report that I'm too young to have seen the originals, but there are at least a dozen movies, several TV series and countless radio recordings starring this wonder dog. I only recently found out that there actually was a real Rin TinTin, not just a movie character. Though he had many successors, the original Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd puppy an American soldier found in France and trained to do some incredible stunts. 

All these titles are available on DVD through amazon.com and many can be found at your local video store as well, but rent your copies early.  I have a feeling I won't be the only one enjoying dog movie marathon this holiday season.

Enjoy!