Hello everyone,

I have seen posters advertised everywhere for the new Disney film ""Snow Dogs", and I wondered how the owners of Sibes, Mals and other Artic and Spitz breeds in general felt, as this film is bound to promote interest in our breeds.
While I am all for positive education and promotion of these wonderful breeds , I also feel that their are many downsides.
EXAMPLE
101 & 102 Dalmations provided the foundation for many a Dalmation to be "the fad" and bought by the public without much thought and subsequently many ending up in rescue or the classified adds.

Also, I think puppy farmers love these type of films.

What are your thoughts?

Jessie

Hi Jessie

Well naffed off to say the least :(

We already have a Welfare problem with Sibes. Good Breeders breed rarely and are very strict on homing dogs, therefore indiscriminate breeders have already moved in on the breed to make a quick buck, with no health checks and no after care service.

Results is lots of uncontrollable yearlings in Welfare.

They are such an attractive breed, but they have so many bad traits if they are not kept correctly, heaven knows what the film will do for them

Thats what I thought, especially as some of these breeds can become very large and dominant. They are also very intelligent and need a great deal of training.

Jessie

If my breed is promoted in a possitive way showing the way they are warts & all thats fine, but if they are only shown to have a cute & cuddle side I'll be very worried indeed. I'm devoted to my dogs but they are lets face it, not the easist of dogs to own. Jackie H

Funnily enough, I rented it for my kids last night. The dogs looked great! There was so much doggie noise in it, my aussie sat for a good 20 min. and watched/listened to it! :D The border collie Nana was really lovely too! The DVD version has a special section about filming with the dogs.

hi jessie,
as sarah said we are all worried about the impact this film will have on our sibes. in fact many of us our putting leaflets and posters in cinemas in the hope we can get people to responsible caring breeders and not the back street puppy mills. if any one would like to help and drop off some leaflets at a local cinema please e mail me and i will send you a copy. all help will be much appreciated.
thanks,
kelly

Hi Jessie,
We are feeling the impact of this film. We gets lots of little children looking at our dogs and saying things like " look Daddy, snow dogs" this is quickly followed by "can we have one". It makes me shudder. All it needs is a lot of indulgent parents rushing out to buy their kids the "in dog". As we know mals and sibes are not the easiest of breeds. I am very fussy who I consider for a pup but I know there are people out there who are not. This sort of thing happened with the Dulux dog and the andrex puppy.

Yesterday Whilst out walking, a group of older children noticed our dogs and started talking about how "Lush" they were (as if I didn't know! LOL) and how they wanted one.
Then one of them shouted to me "Do you know your dogs are in the knew film out - Snow Dogs?"

I replied that they weren't my dogs and carried on my way.
But I realised that they hadn't distinguished between the Samoyed and the Malamute, thought they were both the same breed.....Siberian Huskie!!

That was when I realised that it wouldn't just be Sibes affected by this film but many of the other Artic and Spitz type breeds also.

Jessie

Absolutely right Jessie, A lot of the Spitz breeds are going to get caught up in this one. Maybe others too because one day while I was out a chap came over and said what a nice Alsation Floyd was and how he had never seen a grey one before. My sister has a GSD and I'm still trying to see the resemblance.

Hi Scratchy ,

I would happily hand in a load of leaflets ..id the film out just now.

I work near the Odean which is one of the only picture houses in fife.

Please mail me one and I will print it off..

Pamela

hi Pamela,
thank you! i have e mailed you a copy of the leaflet,
kelly

What I want to know is why the disney corporation isn't printing leaflets and distributing them with the film???????

How about sending them one and asking that they produce them for mass distribution!!!!

Barbara,
Apparently Disney did something like leaflets for the sequel to 101 Dalmations only because the Humane & various rescue societies got together an complained to them.
"Snow Dogs" has been out in the States since about Christmas time. There might be problems encountered that are now listed on some of the various sites which resulted from the publicity of the film??? As I remember, it kind of flopped and didn't really sell that many tickets. (Everyone was busy seeing Harry Potter and/or Fellowship of the Ring).
I think it's now on DVD/Video and that's probably where all the interest will come from after parents play & replay the film for the kiddies.
toodles

I always think a kiddies film, a TV series or any new advert that shows cute, funny, irresistable dogs and pups must be the worst nightmare for any breed. When you see adverts in the free papers for "the dog in the soap advert" or similar it's enough to make you weep:( Guess all the responsible breeders will have there work cut out again!

I guess the best thing those involved with the breed can do is screen people properly. Say no to those who really aren't suited to them!

That is fine, but it is the puppy farmers who will get a hold of them and the breed rescues pick up the pieces, as those puppy producers certainly don't. Who funds breed welfare? Certainly not those who profit most from the sale of puppies!

I have started with my last few litters inviting those who are new to the breed to test drive them with me! I take them for a walk in country park, where they can gauge their level of obedience (or lack of, LOL) attitude to other dogs, activity level etc! Also they can see how they are at home! I find each litter a learning experince re choosing homes, and it is when problems crop up with placements that new ideas or policies are developed to try and ensure the perfect new home. Sadly circumstances change for people, and some pups will always need rehoming.

Especially when these films so endow the dogs with human characteristics, that a potential owner can have no idea of the reality of owning any dog, let alone one of the primitive breeds!

The bit in101 dalmations that got my goat was the scene where all the little darling pups were contained in a wicker baske behind a curtain. Not a sign of poo or wee anywhere ecept when usedfor comic effect. No sign of puppy pen pooey paper and feet!

From the trailers I have seen they have turned these dogs into furry people, with human values and minds. Most of the problems people have with dogs is not understanding that they are dogs, not little people in fur coats!

I am dreading the first of the 'ooh snow dogs' comments. I get enough of the look at those Huskies/Akitas!

This happened to my breed after they were heavily promoted on a certain antiques programme. A bloke up north got hold of a couple of bitches & bred dozens of litters, selling them to the unsupecting public at exorbitant prices, needless to say they went to the most unsuitable homes & many ended up in rescue, the owners unaware that they do not make good house pets. Only this week i have had emails from spmeone who clearly has no factual knowleedge of the breed, thinking they would be a nice family pet!

Hi All
Don't get me started on my favourite gripe! I love Disney films as much as the next person (I have every one on tape! LOL) BUT why do all the bad guys have to be Dobermanns??? Lady & Tramp 2 - Who was the bad guy? Oliver - Bad guys? I could go on - even in the new film, Cats & Dogs the elite 'army ' were Dobes. As if we don't get enough bad press already it seems in built to kids films - I even had a small minded neighbour stop his children coming around to play as soon as he realised what breed my dog was ( Salem was nearly 10 months old before he realized LOL) I know lots of people have the same problem with their breeds negative image but Disney gets everywhere!
Every cloud has a silver lining though - at least Dobes aren't going to be the next fad 'must have' LOL :)

Haven't seen the film yet but we have Akitas, present one being all white (lost Mum during section ) everyone thinks she is everything but Akita, presume Mals etc are similar in temperement and if so they are definately a breed for an experienced owner. I would hate to see them in inexperienced ownership and fully understand why so many end up in 'care', would have to say I love them to bits but they are not an easy breed.

Lorraine

Hi Jessie,
As I have said in melodys post (T shirts).
Someone at work asked me if Storm was one of those dogs from "Snow dogs". So not just kids.:( I just hope this doesn't spoil the breed as others have mentioned earlier. I do hope that it is a passing fad, as the saying goes.:(

Jane :)