Hi all,

I have just received an email from one of the dog groups that I subscibe to, regarding a new family who will appear in the soap, with said dog, from September. and the Irish Wolfhound club have set up a petition against this happening, for the following reasons:
It is effectively, marketing the breed to possibly unsuitable people, as Irish Wolfhounds are large, unsuitable for town/city living, have a large food/care requirement and will fall victim to another "I must have one of those dogs, even though I know nothing about it" Much, I presume like  teenage mutant ninja (SP) turtles did some while ago . Also, the BBC, in their blurb about this family say "they are a dodgy family with an even dodgier dog" Which of course does not endear.

The BBC have been contacted by the IWH club and they say that they will take all comments into account but have no plans to drop the dog from the story line.  I wonder what all of you think about this? I can see both sides of the argument, but having never owned an IWH myself, am not in the position to comment.

They also say it will encourage puppy farmers as there is the "supply and demand" syndrome, which I entirely agree with. Are they overreacting? or would you feel the same if it was your breed? What do IWH owners think about it? If it was my breed, I would be inclined to agree with them.

Your comments will be interesting :)

Husky and Malamute people have seen this *syndrome* with the film Snow Dogs and Dally folk saw it with the release of 101 Dalmations.

There's been quite a hoo-hah over the Dane pup in Corrie too, with breed clubs and enthusiasts feeling the coverage has been very irresponsible.  What's the attraction with the huge dogs and soaps suddenly?

I think it's an extremely bad idea, for all the reasons you state in your post.  Let's hope the breeders have the sense to ensure that as few adults as possible fall into the wrong hands while the novelty element is there, and stud owners are very careful who uses their dogs.

Hopefully they will make it so badly behaved that nobody wants one - maybe if it eats the house and causes them untold expense, it will put some people off. :D

Marina

Marina,

Now theres a good storyline,eating the house and perhaps they can also show the size of the doggy packages it leaves behind it :D :D :D That would certainly put a lot of "novelty owners off" ;)

Have BSD breeders seen an increase in demand with the arrival of 'Well'ard'???

If they used a dog from a resue they could pay for its up keep, also it would be hard to get a trend going as its more difficult to find cross breed that look the same.

I know nothing about the breed, but having spoken to an owner of two once, she said they were an ideal town dog, although large in size they didn't need much exercise and were infact couch potatoes.  She was quite elderly but her dogs looked in great condition.

Unless the breed is mentioned I am not sure joe public won't think it is a large mongrel or lurcher.

Sandra

I think the problem with wellard was that most people who aren't up to date on dogs think he is a GSD...in fact I even saw a programme about the dogs on different TV progs that said he was a GSD!
Archer

Wellard has always been portrayed as a mongrel (thank goodness) but years ago when he was first on, ( a different dog in fact to the one today) there were " Wellard lookalike" pups advertised :(

Lindsay
X

Wellard has always been a bitch in real life

I hate it when they use dogs in adverts and programmes, its so irresponsible. :(

sarah xxxx

Ive met Well'ard in real life ;)

Yep and me, shes lovely :)

Yes that's true :)

Lindsay
X

If enough people write in and complain they do listen. I got a campaign going years ago to get an advert taken off the air featuring a golden retriever. In the advert the dog is seen chasing a bicycle, the next scene being a shot of the bike rider having fallen off the bike and was crying and injured. The advert was for an antiseptic I think. I wrote to enlist the help of columnists in the dog press as well as golden retriever breeders I knew. Word spread and the advert was removed because they had been approached by so many breeders, owners and other dog lovers.
I had not seen the advert until a child I was looking after said to me, "Oh you have nice dogs, they are not like those viscious yellow dogs on TV, they attack kids on bikes!" she added there was one living near here and she was too frightened to walk on the pavement past it's gate, so she would cross a busy road, then when past the house, would cross back. TV is a nuisance, it promotes these ridiculous ideas.
The next thing the poor old IWH will end up owned by some dodgy person in real life then end up on the DDA dogs list of breeds to be muzzled in a public place. I am glad I don't watch TV I'd just get so annoyed by it.

But to put another slant on this (not that im agreeing or disagreeing with anything) but really it isnt the TV companies fault if kids believe in the tv adverts, they had worse when I was a kid im sure but I knew it was just tv (although grot bags did scare me a bit :D :D ), I think these days kids believe tv is real life and cant differentiate (SP ;) ) between the two - maybe its the parents fault. 

Now the wolf hound on enders would be different but unfortunately I agree that when people see this breed as it is "different" from the norm and everyone will want one :(

well I am TOTALLY AGAINST IT :( and have written to the Beeb to show my dismay. having received 4 calls this week from people who have seen a certain car advert & now interested in my breed :( I can well imagine the problems it will cause responsible IW breeders.

Well my  main breed is labradors they are exploited to the hilt look at the figures and I hate to see labs advertised as on andrex etc..
But we have to realise that the average household own a dog and sadly now they want pedigree they have no thought what so ever wether the dog suits their life or not so smichel and the irish wolfhound well may be exploited but somehow i think not as they are not common I believe the dog in "Bread " Called "Mongy" is a GWP up to now they are not exploited as they are specialist breed being HPR and  I think well Hope   Most  of the top breeders are very strict as to where their dogs go people didnt know what breed that dog was  and believe me I have one and they need  a special owner  need to be stimulated 
the soaps should take the oppotunty to educate people on the breeds show them ripping carpet up or running up masses of money at vets that would be a good story line especially in labs because I am also in lab res and tonight a young 6 month was brought in reason Too boisterous  :( 

I think one of the worst portrayals recently was in Casualty when a puppy was "delivered" in a box a day early!! - No care instructions or anything just delivered as a bunch of flowers would be - and for a surprise Birthday present!!!!!!!!

I thought Coronation street were doing quite well portraying the way Schmicael was too much for Chesney so he had to go to the kennels, then last night they showed schmicael walking along as happy as larry, perfect on the lead with a lad that looks the same size as my 9 yo on his own :O. Now that WAS irrisponsible :( How old is schmichael, he cant be a year old yet can he???????? And am sure, even with the best training in the world, a dog would still have points when he did not walk properly on the lead, so deffinatly not let loose with a 12yo (?)!!!!!!!!!!
Lea

theyve had alot of dogs in enders havent they,roly,ethels pug willie,wellard,do you remeber sam mitchell had a lab pup from a pet shop but she lost it? terance the llasha, who else?

If all tv programmes had to portray everyone as responsible human beings in all situations there would be no tele at all!

And isnt it 'life'!!!!!!!!!!!
Whats the ratio of 'dog households' in britain.
I suppose they actually dont show the 'norm'!!!!!!!
For the amount of families in these soaps, there are hardly any dogs.
I think Emmerdale is the one with the most, but they dont make a big thing of them, and show  the side of kennels/vets etc!!!!!!! So are deffinatlky the most realistic.
Lea :)

Calm down dears, its only a soap!