Seen "Marley" yet?

DennisArrow · Oct 11, 2009

Last night on HBO, as there was very little once again to watch of interest among our 500 channels, we decided to watch "Marley and Me". Hesitated because I had the impression that it is a kiddie dog show, has an actor that I really don't care for as the lead, and would have a 4 year old plot.

Was I ever wrong. Funny, uplifting, and downright heart rending. I know that a lot of us on here have talked about the love they have for these "family members" and the attachments, travails, adventures, and grief. Without giving away the plot, this movie is well worth the couple of hours. It will take you back to every dog you ever had and loved..........

God bless........Dennis

MossRoad · Oct 11, 2009

I did not like most of the movie. Anyone that would let their pet behave that way is not doing the animal any favors. I did like the ending, though.

Mike Costello · Oct 11, 2009

My wife and I were at our local Walmart awhile back with her guide dog when we heard someone shout, "There's Marley". Pretty soon all these people gathered around to talk about how close her dog (yellow lab) resembled Marley. Lots of fun that day!

om21braz · Oct 12, 2009

I saw it too - lost our Marley "look-alike" named Sandy about 2 months later in similiar circumstances. Yeah, she was only a dog, but we miss her like family as she went everywhere we went for 10 years.

RobertN · Oct 12, 2009

Movie was ok. Book was much much better.

My question to myself has been, what would you do with a dog like that? How in the world do you train a dog like that? It was totally out of control...

Alan L. · Oct 12, 2009

Our 8 year old granddaughter picked this movie out for us grandparents to take her to. Ooops, quite a few adult scenes! I liked the movie til the end. I think they should have chopped it off earlier.

As far as how they "let" this dog act the way it did, it was supposedly a true story, so it was what it was.

Wow, did anyone check how Kathleen Turner? Man, what happened to her????

MossRoad · Oct 13, 2009

Alan L. said:
Wow, did anyone check how Kathleen Turner? Man, what happened to her????

She grew up.

Western · Oct 13, 2009

Funnier version of "Old Yeller" for me

studor · Oct 13, 2009

As SWIMBO said to me --when you have gone through the experience of losing one of your best friends and companions in real life, why would you go watch it happen to someone else as entertainment and pay for it? JM(Twisted)HO -- read the book -- find it more fun to have a well trained dog than be able to tell a lot of stories on how bad one can be!

RobertN · Oct 14, 2009

So reading the book, seeing the movie, I still wonder, what can you do with a dog like that?

I have been fortunate; all my dogs have been pretty well behaved. I am not good at training, but they(past and present dogs) know sit, down, pillow, basic stuff. The two dogs we have now know basic commands, and have been to a community dog training; ie we were out at the fairgrounds once a week for six weeks working on basics with 40 other people and thier dogs.

What does the average person do once they find out they have a "challenging" dog? I have no idea what you would do with a dog like Marley. I know for sure, do something early on. But what?

DennisArrow · Oct 14, 2009

If you remember Marley went as a "clearance dog" even though the owner still had a full litter. Breeders KNOW and get rid of the "trouble" dogs upon the unsuspecting. We raise Anatolian Shepards as livestock guard dogs. We KEEP for raising and selling at a year to 6 months, those pups that act a certain way (loners, wander off with the goats, don't care about humans) while those that are crawling all over us are the "clearance dogs". The more they are all over you the more we want to get rid of them. Yes, they usually go to someone with kids, a yard, etc. We steer actual livestock folks away from them.

Had 2 Marleys. One a golden/mix and then a full blood malamute. Both rescue dogs and CRAZY. The golden would NOT stay around and tended to get through fences and chase cattle. The malamute specialized in barking at anything, chewing up anything including door trim and facings and any hose left out in sight. ON AND ON..........Gave them both back to the pound after trying to train them for 3 months each.

lolol.....yes, these are rare; but the Marleys do happen. A dog that will not train. The deal is though that for each one of those there are 10 that are such great critters and friends. Our Border Collie rescue dog knows left from right, push the herd, put that one in the barn, escort to the trailer, go to the barn, find mama (my wife)......on and on.........SMART......
But then again, that golden mentioned above would fetch a ball all day but the border collie thinks that HE is wayyyyyy above that and just gives you a grin and lays down........

Life is great.....just like God.......Dennis