Marley and Me
discussion
Difficult Dogs
date
newest »

message 1:
by
Sandy
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 10:56AM)
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Mar 30, 2007 10:29AM

reply
|
flag

I also found his attitude selfish. Marley's behaviour was unacceptable and the author's acceptance was unfair to to both the dog and the humans he encountered.
Dogs well trained are a joy and provide so many benefits to humankind but some people are not suited to owning a dog. Dog ownership must be a win win situation. The dog must win and so must he owner.



Anyway, sometimes I think it isn't always the owner's fault and I think John did a pretty good job handling Marley--he probably doesn't regret a moment of it!

I did DIE laughing when Marley was in that movie!!! What a great, great scene.
Have you all read "A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me" by Jon Katz?
It's short, but I thought the author had a more complex view point than Grogan. I got a couple of good laughs out of it, too. The dogs in it were cool- they were difficult like Marley, but not in such a goofy way- they were clearly rescue dogs, who, as well all know, have some... INTERESTING ways! Like my hound Ruby.


could have been trained better.
I have worked at an animal shelter for many years, and althought 99% of dogs respond well
to constant training...every now and then you get the incorrigible one! No matter what you do, it's like beating your head against a wall... they just don't get it!


Right after reading the book, we had to have our English Pointer put down. So Marley was so close to my heart at that time. I knew I was not the only one who could feel the lost of a dog.
Great book, for those of you who love, and I mean love, labs. I guess you need to know a lab to truly understand the authors feeling about his dog.


I started reading this book as I got the news that I would be putting my loyal best friend to sleep later in the week. Towards the end I couldn't stop crying. But she knows she is a great dog and she knows she will always be loved.
If you've never had one of these quirky beasts, you will never fully understand.



I don't think that he was quite irresponsible as just out-of-the-know. But he learned from his experience. Also just saying that sometimes it is the dog- it's possible for dogs to have behavioral issues too, you know.


Even though it left some people mad thinking, 'zomg he doesn't know how to take care of a dog."
Well guess what, nearly all of the people in the world don't. It's funny considering how big the number of dogs there are in the U.S. and how small the amount of people there are that actually knows anything about them. Can't blame him! Everybody even now still gets a dog for all the wrong reasons.

Sometimes dogs just don't respond the way we want them to. This is how so many end up in shelters. Kudos to John for sticking with Marley.


i love this movie. it's very sad because i love dogs & it shows the dog getting put to sleep ;( i've only watched it twice because i resist to see it because i cry every time watching it. MARLEY.<3

I totally agree with Stickinsect.
Sandy wrote: "This book was an excellent study of how this family stuck with this "difficult" dog. Made me laugh and cry..great story even if exaggerated at times?"








I have often asked the opposite question: why do we not have the same compassion for our human loved ones that we do for our animal pets?
Ideally, we would all, human and animal, die peacefully in our sleep but that isn't always the case and there has to be an evaluation of quality vs. quantity of life.
As our animals' caretakers, it is within our power to ease their suffering when they have reached the end of their enjoyable life. I sincerely hope that someone will make the same decision with/for me when I reach that point in my life.

THANK YOU!!!! Finally, someone who shares my viewpoint. The book infuriated me because of the continual lack of effort on behalf of the Grogans. Sadly, their attitude toward dogs and training is the very reason there are so many dogs relinquished and "given up." I did not appreciate the book nor its passe take on having dogs as a prelude to parenting. Again, thank you!

a very personal decision that each dog owner must make. my own past experience making such decisions were based on my beloved pets' suffering and not my selfish desire to keep them alive and miserable for my own benefit.

We were there for the Brittany's end and the last things she felt and heard were our hands gently stroking her and our voices telling her we loved her. I missed the Dalmatian's end, something I regret to this day. The Heinz dog got cuddles and gentle stroking before she too was put to sleep.
Was putting them to sleep wrong? I don't think so. In each case, the dog was unhappy and uncomfortable and to let them go on living to avoid feeling guilty about putting them down would have been far crueler.
We did what we felt was right. Others may see it differently. It is wrong for us to judge what another person has deemed the best thing for their pet.
Whether a pet dies in its sleep or is put to sleep by a vet, the loss is gut-wrenching.

I still suffer when I recall our much loved black Labrador Jasper being put to sleep by our local vet in Mauléon in south-west France. Within seconds he had died. All I could do was look at Jasper and stroke him. I think that I was just too upset to even cry.
Jasper's brief five year life was obviously up as he indirectly was responsible for his own death. He had foolishly chased a tractor, raced past it and the farmer just couldn't stop in time. Perhaps with hindsight it would have been better if he had died there and then? All that he had wrong with him was a broken hind leg. He wore a plaster for a month and he was fine. Then Jasper's stomach started swelling up and the vet had tests made and he was diagnosed with leucaemia. I'm quite convinced that the trauma of the accident brought this on but the vet wouldn't have it. Well, a couple of weeks went by and in the end he just couldn't walk and there was the possibility that he could just haemorrhage. So John and I looked at each other across the breakfast table and we both agreed that we had to go to the vet. I think that it was the hardest decision that we, well it was for me, ever made. Jasper's ashes remain with me as I just couldn't bear to let them go. No more dogs we swore but we love them and now our black Labrador Chloé is with us. They were both the reason why I wrote my fantasy book as a tribute to them.
Jasper's brief five year life was obviously up as he indirectly was responsible for his own death. He had foolishly chased a tractor, raced past it and the farmer just couldn't stop in time. Perhaps with hindsight it would have been better if he had died there and then? All that he had wrong with him was a broken hind leg. He wore a plaster for a month and he was fine. Then Jasper's stomach started swelling up and the vet had tests made and he was diagnosed with leucaemia. I'm quite convinced that the trauma of the accident brought this on but the vet wouldn't have it. Well, a couple of weeks went by and in the end he just couldn't walk and there was the possibility that he could just haemorrhage. So John and I looked at each other across the breakfast table and we both agreed that we had to go to the vet. I think that it was the hardest decision that we, well it was for me, ever made. Jasper's ashes remain with me as I just couldn't bear to let them go. No more dogs we swore but we love them and now our black Labrador Chloé is with us. They were both the reason why I wrote my fantasy book as a tribute to them.

In 2006, the author consulted with Cesar Milan about his newest lab, Gracie. It was an interesting show.

It is up to us thereafter to honor these pets with new and better choices we make for our future furry loves. It's the "difficult dogs" (and also the "difficult cats") that teach us the most, and I think we get the pet that we need...at that point in life.
Just waxing philosophical this morning. *s*

fun fun
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic