On January 16th you can check-in at your local movie theater and watch Hotel For Dogs. It’s the story of two foster kids who have a dog they need to keep hidden, and the lengths they go to do so.

The movie is about unconditional love, showing it doesn’t always take a family in the traditional sense to make a home.

“Hotel for Dogs,” Andi (Emma Roberts, niece of Julia) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T. Austin) live in a strictly no-pets household and are fast running out of ways to keep their perpetually hungry dog, Friday, under wraps.

When they accidentally stumble on an abandoned hotel that is already home to a couple of resourceful strays, Andi has an idea. She taps Bruce’s mechanical genius for turning everyday objects into mechanical marvels, and, with the help of their friends in the neighborhood, transform the down-and-out hotel into a magical dog paradise – not only for Friday, but for every stray they can find.

But when the barking dogs make the neighbors and the suddenly out-of-work local dog catchers suspicious, Andi and Bruce have to use every invention at their disposal to prevent them from finding out “who let the dogs in.”

There were many dogs used in the making of Hotel For Dogs.  When you see a film with animals you  may recall the  “No Animals Were Harmed” disclaimer, that’s part of the American Humane Film & TV Unit. They make sure that when animals are involved everything is done in a safe and non-stressful environment. Have you ever watched a movie where there is a stunt that looks like an animal was harmed ?  That’s called perception vs. reality, it looks so real, but it was done in a safe manner with a lot of prep work.  The American Humane is there to document this so that there is no doubt everything was done properly.

I had the pleasure of doing a phone interview with Jone Bauman, Head of Communications for the American Humane, and Beth Langhorst who is a Senior Certified Animal Representative. Beth has a very impressive background, graduating from Moorpark College with a degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management. She was on the set of Hotel For Dogs for three months during the filming overseeing everything that involved the dogs: stunts, make-up, special effects.

One of the neat things I learned from the interview is that approximately 75-80% of the dogs you see in movies are rescued animals. After the movie many are adopted by the cast and crew, the rest go to other forever homes.

The American Humane provides this service free of charge which is great, plus they can never be accused of making a decision based on who’s paying them. They work on over 1,000 productions a year with only 11 full-time  and 25 part-time safety reps.

So, go enjoy the movie and know that “No Animals Were Harmed” thanks to the wonderful work of the American Humane.

* Photo courtesy American Humane.

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For all the Bill & Star fans out there who have been wondering what they’ve been up to I’ve got the latest scoop.

They’ve been traveling around making people happy. Bill and Star travel the country visiting schools, civic groups, and retirement homes bringing smiles to all those who meet them.

Below Bill answers the questions that you, his fans, submitted to him. Dogster really appreciates him taking time from his busy schedule to answer them.

Rachel and the pack: How has your wife been doing?  Have you gained any fame after leaving the show?  Do people recognize you?

Bill: My wife is doing fine.  When I got back from California we bought an insulin pump that has made her diabetes so much easier to maintain.

People do recognize us, especially when I wear those orange shirts. It really thrills me to see kids when they realize that the dog they are petting is Star from TV, I get a bigger thrill than anyone.

Oh yes, we are now famous at our local Coffee Cafe in Flint. I get my coffee free there, now that’s famous.

Cynthia: Do you keep in touch with JD?

Bill: J D and I became good friends on the show, he taught me so much about Frisbee stunts. I talk to him several times a month. He has set up some practice sessions for me with some world champion Frisbee folks so that I can learn to teach Lucille my border collie. He is a really great nice guy. I hope that each of you have the chance to see what he does with 11 dogs at one time. He is amazing!!!!

Cody boxer: Who was the most fun to bunk with on the show?  Did you go back home to your same routine or has it changed since being on the show?

Bill: Most fun to bunk with was Ron and Tillman, funny funny funny!!!  Ron and I would talk over morning coffee about the show or just things, I talk or email with Ron often.

When I got home it was a Monday at 8 a.m., our plane was delayed in Los Angeles so we were really late getting home.  I slept most of the day while Star dug up most of the backyard and Tuesday I went back to work at my regular job.  My routine went back to the way it was before I left for California. In fact I did not get a day off for about 41 days.

Kenyon’s Mom: Being that Star is a dog, albeit a good dog, she has to be naughty sometimes. What has Star done that was naughty? And does she have any lovable little quirky habits that make you laugh?

Bill: Oh yes, Star has some goofiness that just makes me laugh right along with everyone else. When she knows it is dinner time Star brings her food bowl and stands there in front of me, I have to laugh at that.

And naughtiness, that’s easy, I like to go to Subway and eat lunch when I can.  If the pups are with me I get them a sugar cookie. I wrap it in a napkin and usually place on dash of my truck. If I am not watching Star will grab the cookie and eat it before I can get it back. If she eats the whole cookie I have to go back and purchase another cookie for the other two pups. The Subway folks need to have Star promoting their cookies.

Charli: The judges on the show seemed to be rather inconsistent with their expectations, at least to us viewers. On one show, you were criticized for pushing Star to keep competing in the challenge and the very next show, you were voted out after stopping when you knew Star had had enough. Did you or the other contestants feel that the judges were inconsistent?

What made you decide to try out for the competition and would you have done it if you’d known beforehand that you’d have to be away from home without contact for so long?

Bill: That is a question that I cannot answer fully due to contractual restrictions.  I thought it was based on the ‘bond’ between the handler and the dog, but what do I know?  I’m just a fat bald old guy that likes playing with dogs.

You bring up something that all dog trainers know, being consistent is the key to training.

A lady here in my area actually sent me an email about the show along with the application. Star and I had done Barney the purple Dino so I thought this would be fun to try out.  When we got our ticket to audition in California I took it as a vacation as I had not had a vacation in about 13-14 years. I thought this would be a great time I could spend with Star and relax.

I talked to my wife Sherrie about the time away. She was the one that really gave us the ‘push’ to go on a once in a lifetime adventure. We have been married 37 years and never been apart more than 4-5 days at most, so we knew it was going to be hard.

When I got back I had to reintroduce Star back into the pack. We spent about 30-45 minutes in the front yard letting the other two pups figure things out.  Star was excited to be home, I had no rules for her for several weeks, I let her be a dog and just play.

Susan: Has Star learned any new tricks since being on GAD?  What have you learned from your  appearance on GAD? Have you applied this to life after the show?

Bill: Star has learned some new tricks.  JD has a trick that Galaxy jumps on his back,  now Star does that. I also had time to teach some tricks that I had in my head but just never had time to do at home. One that we showed in our audition at CBS Star learned the night before in about 5-10 minutes, I felt very confident about it so I showed it.  She will pick up a dime and place it in a cup, since the show I now have her placing the dime in a bottle. Cool trick, but it was difficult for me to figure how to start and to get her to place the dime into a container.

I learned something that my wife told me, “Enjoy the ride.”   I had been working so hard and trying like everyone to keep the boat afloat, I had forgotten to enjoy the ride.   Now when we do the performance with Star, Maggie, and Lucille I sometimes step back and just soak up what is happening and how much fun this is.

Nina: Did you think some of the challenges were dangerous? My mommy says she wouldn’t have let me anywhere near that elephant..what did you think,  were you worried for Star?

Bill: That elephant did not worry me at all.  I knew Star could out run it and I knew elephants don’t eat fat bald guys. Star has been around cows, and farm animals all her life, I just figured that she would think it was a goofy looking big ( no, huge) cow with a funny thing hanging out of its face. She did fine, she never barked at Susie, only walked around it using that bird dog nose to try to understand what it was.

On a positive note, I may get in trouble with CBS about this, but later that day we were allowed to go out and let our dogs meet the elephant. Star and I walked around Susie in circles till I saw Star was not interested in the elephant. I then walked up to Susie and Star lay down in the shade of her with no fear at all. So the fact is, if there is ever a pack of elephants that run down the road here in Flint, Texas I know that Star will just sit there and look at them.  She has been proofed on elephants!!!

Oreo:What was it like meeting so many dogs?

Bill: Star has never been social with other dogs.  She just leaves them alone, that is the bird dog in her. But living with so many and being able to play daily has made her more tolerant of dogs that run into her face, something most older dogs don’t like. Especially when puppies do that,  older dogs will set the pups in there place.

Jennifer: In the previews before GAD it showed Star going down the zip line but in the challenge it was made to look like she refused to go down. Can you explain what really happened with that challenge?

Bill: Sorry Jennifer, due to a contractual agreement with CBS I can’t answer that question at this time.

Jane:Other than being away from your home, what was the hardest part of being on the show?

Bill: My wife has been a diabetic for 30 years, we took this on together.  I have never missed an appointment with the diabetic doctor, not once. Over the years Sherrie has developed some eye problems.  During the week that I was so emotional was the time that Sherrie was having surgery on her eyes to keep her sight. I knew this and told no one,  when I received the phone call I asked her “how is sugar?”  This was a code that we had worked out, when she said “my sugar is fine” I knew that her sight and the surgery was successful.

Erika: Did you resent being kicked off the show because Star was tired? I thought she did an amazing job trying to impress you, but older dogs sometimes just don’t like pups. Is that how you feel?

Bill: No, I never resented being expelled from the show. What an amazing adventure we were on, and my orange dog and I had so much fun.  The friends we made in front and behind the cameras was more than we could have dreamed. What made me the proudest was that my orange dog made so many people smile, and she is still doing that.

Arwen and Amadeus: Was it harder for your wife Sherrie to monitor her blood sugar while Star was gone on the show? Do you have Star’s painting and professional photo from GAD somewhere in your house?

Bill: Sherrie monitors her sugar like all diabetics I assume, by a prick of the finger and testing the blood. Then giving a shot of insulin to bring the sugar into a normal range. Too many highs and lows are not good. The pump that we purchased after I came home has really helped Sherrie’s sugar to become more stable and changed her life.

The pump is what I would call a “drip U lator” meaning it dispenses insulin all the time, You can set it up for the desired amount of units you need per day. The pump is hooked to you 24 -7 and you have to change the injection site every three days. If you have a high at 3 am till 6 am every night you are able to set the pump to dispense more insulin during that time only. If you have a family member that has not looked into the pump have them check with a professional. Sherrie and I have been so pleased with this, I just wish I could hug that person that developed the pump. It has changed Sherrie’s life!!!!

The painting and pictures were property of CBS, we were not allowed to have any of that.

Roxy, Duke And Sheila: Like we told you when we became pals, our mommy has diabetes also. We were just wondering since you are famous now, if you would use your fame for diabetes awareness? We were thinking it would be wonderful if you walked one of the JDRF walks for a cure events, or maybe volunteered at a summer camp for kids with diabetes like Camp Conrad-Chinnock. It’s in southern California, and is great.

Bill: We do talk about the pump and about diabetes at civic groups and some in our performances. I would love to be involved with the work of the American Diabetes Association. No group has ever approached us about a camp but we would be more than happy to be there.

Jett: Now that you have left canine academy, are you more confident with Star?  Did this make you prove that your dog can do all of the challenges?

Bill: I have taught many agility classes at one of the local dog training clubs. I have worked with the obedience people there and we do the silly pet tricks for fun. After I was on the show I realized that I am a pretty good dog trainer. I have never charged a dime for any help that I have given anyone.

Star helped me so much, as she is so soft and I can not be harsh with her or she will shut down. In the classes that I have taught I always try to be upbeat and excited, this will cause the people to be excited about training.

Star, Maggie, and Lucille all have different things they are great at. I am lucky to understand that they hold the key and I just have to find the right door for that key. Meaning, Star loves people and tricks, Lucille loves agility and Frisbee, and Maggie loves to herd sheep and cows. In school some kids were good in sports, some in English, and some in math. It’s the same with dogs, some are better at different things just like kids, and finding that door is an amazing adventure.

Valerie: What were the first things you ever taught Star?  Did you come away learning anything from the other contestants?

Bill: The first trick that I ever taught Star was to hold a treat on her nose.  We all have done that, and at 10-12 weeks I thought that was so cool.  Since then Star has moved on to some really neat tricks.  JD, Teresa, and Laura all had a cool trick or two.  JD taught me the most with the Frisbee stuff and  I tried to soak it up,  Teresa showed us some cool stuff, and Laura taught us how great little dogs are.

Daisy and Cleopatra: What have been the biggest changes since the show? Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?

Bill: The biggest change since the show is keeping up with the many emails we get on our website.

We do keep in touch with everyone by phone or email. I have said this before, everyone of those folks on the show are invited to my house for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and I mean that. I enjoyed my time with the other contestants, we all had something in common… the love for our dogs.

Barb: It seemed that the judges placed a lot of weight on the dog who showed the most growth throughout the competition. Naturally a younger dog would have the better chance of winning. Were you and the other contestants with older, more trained dogs ever told that this would be the determining factor before the competition started?

Bill: I would respond to this question with the same answer I gave Charli.  I thought it was based on the ‘bond’ between the handler and the dog.

Bill lives in Flint, TX with wife Sherri and Star’s two housemates, rescues Lucille and Maggie.  To learn more about Star and Bill, find out about their upcoming appearances, or ask a question you can stop by their site. Maybe you’ll be lucky and they’ll be coming to a town near you.

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For all you Bill and Star fans, you’ve probably been wondering what’s been going on with them since their departure from GAD.

Good news…I’m going to be doing an interview with them and catch you up on everything.

Since Dogsters loved being able to ask Laurie & Andrew, from GAD, questions when I did their interview I’m going to give you the same opportunity again.

Submit your questions today through Tuesday, November 25th and I’ll pick some to be answered in the interview.

Start thinking about what you want to ask,  this one’s for you.  Bark away!

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There is a wonderful series of books called Planet Of The Dogs, written  by Dogster member Robert McCarty. His wife, Stella Mustanoja McCarty, creates the beautiful illustrations.

The books revolve around the dogs who live on a planet on the other side of the sun, who come to earth to teach people about love.

The latest in the series is Snow Valley Heroes: A Christmas Tale.  It is the exciting story of the dogs from Planet Of The Dogs who come to earth to help save Christmas.

I had the pleasure of getting to interview Robert and find out more about the series and how it began.

HH: What was your inspiration for this series of books?

RM: The Planet Of The Dogs came from one of those conversations revolving around the notion that the world would be a better place if people were more like dogs, especially, as regards the qualities of unconditional love and loyalty.

HH: How did you come up with the characters in your books?

RM: All the principal dog characters are based on dogs that have been part of our lives or belonged to family members.

HH: What is the age range for your books?

RM:The age range of kids who really like the books has been contrary to establishment parameters. We actually have very enthusiastic comments by kids and or parents from ages 4-12…obviously some kids are more advanced etc…but the unifying element, in my mind, has more to do with the love of dogs and human/canine bond.

Dogster’s group Dog Eared Book Club has chosen Snow Valley Heroes: A Christmas Tale as their November book of the month.  Having recently read the book I can understand why it was chosen.

While I’m well out of the 4-12 year old range I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  The book brought me back to my youth, a time when it seemed my imagination was endless, something that gets lost in adulthood.

The holidays are right around the corner and Snow Valley Heroes would make a great stocking stuffer.  Thanks to Robert McCarty you have a chance to win your very own copy of the book.  To enter just share what book about dogs you like, in the comment section, and you will be entered to win.  The contest starts today and ends Monday, November 10th when one winner will be chosen at random.

If you would like to ask Robert McCarty a question, stop by  his pup Dafi’s homepage or the Dog Eared Book Club.

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Calling all Westie lovers, and/or book lovers, for a live Dogster event this Saturday.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Where: DOGSTER FORUM FOR BOOKS AND MOVIES

Time: 9:00 p.m. EST

Book being reviewed: “City Dog” by Alison Pace

Alison’s Westie, Carlie, is a member of Dogster and WU.

Some of you may already know Alison. She has published many books with dogs having roles in the books:

MINATURE SCHNAUZERS:
“IF ANDY WARHOL HAD A GIRLFRIEND”

PUGS:
“PUG HILL ”

MINIATURE DACHSUND-TERRIER MIX
“THROUGH THICK AND THIN ”

We hope you can join us at this fantastic event.

See you there this Saturday!

If you have any questions please p-mail Atticus Finch.

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I’m happy to announce I will be doing an interview with Laurie and Andrew of Greatest American Dog fame.

I know they had a lot of  Dogster fans, so I thought it would be fun to do something a little different than the standard interview.

Rather than me coming up with questions for the 2nd place duo, I’m asking you to submit questions, then I’ll pick some to be included.

Ask anything you want, about the show or Laurie’s dog training business. Find out what Andrew really thought about sleeping in the Dog Bone suite. This is your chance to get the real scoop on the behind the scenes goings on at Greatest American Dog.

Leave your question in the comment section by Monday, October 13th if you would like a chance at being included in the interview. Bark away!

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Wondering what Dogster’s top dog is doing these days? Hob nobbing with the internet jet set crowd, that’s what. Here we see Ted being interviewed, on Internet Superstar, by Martin Sargent of TechTV fame.

It’s an entertaining piece I think you’ll enjoy, if only for the segment 30 – 60 seconds in.

Get a glimpse back to Dogster at its inception, as well as the plans Ted has for the foreseeable future.

If you can’t see the video click here.

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For all the  “Greatest American Dog” fans out there,  if you’ve ever wondered what Victoria Stilwell is thinking take a look at this this great interview by Christine Keith.

August 18, 2008

I spoke with trainer Victoria Stilwell about her experiences as a judge on CBS’ reality competition program, “Greatest American Dog.” My article based on this and other interviews is here.

Christie Keith: … I really like things I’ve seen you say in your writing and in your other interviews about the concept of “thinking dog.” Can you tell our readers a little bit of what that’s about?

Victoria Stilwell: Well, as a trainer I always like to get my clients, before they start training, to try and think what the world is like from a dog’s point of view.

I find so many people don’t even think about that. How is the environment that you have created around your dog affecting your dog both psychologically and physically?

I think when people take time to start thinking what must this be like from the point of view of the dog, I think they begin to understand their dogs. That’s the first key to understanding why your dog does things, why it responds to certain stimuli in certain way and what it’s thinking. We know so much more about our dogs now than we used to, from study and scientific research.

That’s why I always say it’s important to think dog. I think it makes you a better dog owner.

To read the full scoop on her thoughts on the photography competition, doggie dancing, the “infamous” snarl bands, and more hop on over to Pet Connection.

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So many times we watch animal actors in the movies or other media and we forget that there are very dedicated people behind the scenes making sure those animal actors “hit their marks.” Mark Dumas, one of the best animal trainers around worked with the recent movie, ” Ace of Hearts.” He was kind enough to answer some questions for us about his life as one of the most in-demand animal trainers in Hollywood.

Here is just a partial list of Dumas’ movie credits:

Best in Show
Dreamcatcher
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
The 13th Warrior
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Wild America

Thanks to Mark for sharing a little bit of his life behind the camera with us!

Joy: How did you get into animal training for the movies?

Mark: I started training animals at an African Lion ranch in Los Angeles in 1970. I then left the lion ranch and when the manager of the ranch started his own business I went to work with him.

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What a way to celebrate two years on Dogster! As you might have noticed the For Love of Dog Blog hit two years old in March. And how are we celebrating? By blogging of course AND being featured on the PetSaleAve.com site.

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