Dogs on Stage - 101 Dalmatians the musical debuts in Atlanta

Now, I'm not normally enthused about the latest show debuting on stage. However, I heard rumblings about 101 Dalmatians using real dogs on stage. I can't imagine the work that went in to training these dogs, especially with all the distractions that are possible! I found an interview with the 101 Dalmatians dog trainer only to learn that most of the dogs were from rescues and shelters. I LOVED that part!

They searched through hundreds of dogs, basing the ones they chose on their personalities. For example, they needed high-energy dogs like Tanner. Tanner loves to stand on his hind legs and wave his front paws in the air, therefore he was the perfect candidate for pushing the lawnmower across the stage :). Another dog was a non-stop barker, and by training him to bark on cue he not only broke his habit but learned a new trick!

Pet 'Top Tens' to Ponder

I've found a few top ten lists that caught my interest lately. The first is a top ten list from VeterinaryTechnicianSchoolsOnline.com, discussing the facts and fiction about the most talked about Pet Myths out there. Do cats smother babies? Can dogs detect cancer? Are cats smarter than dogs? Do dogs see in black & white? It's time to find out! I found the facts on how dogs see very interesting!

My second top ten is a list of the Top 10 dog parks in the United States. Full of descriptions & pictures! I just wish Minnesota had a dog park in this list :)