Does "Marley & Me" teach irresponsible pet ownership?

"Marley & Me," the film adaptation of John Grogan's bestselling book, has topped box office revenue lists since its release Christmas Day. But while it's won legions of fans (including the American Humane Assn., which gave it an "Outstanding" rating), not everyone is singing its praises. 

A notable naysayer?  Times film columnist Scott Collins, who writes:

No, I have not come to bury "Marley & Me" for its corny sentimentality and Christmas-card triteness -- many others have already beaten me to that. My beef is that the film ... represents a toxic hazard to dog owners as well as anyone who ever comes near a dog -- basically everyone, in other words.

Marley's owners, played by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, "sit by with a kind of bemused helplessness" as their wayward Labrador commits bad deed after bad deed, Collins says.  Marley, he ponders, might be a perfect candidate for celebrity dog trainer Cesar Millan, who's known for his emphasis on training dog owners to "stay calm and assertive":

Now Millan's "rehabilitation" techniques are themselves not without criticism. (The American Humane Assn., for example, in 2006 attacked "Dog Whisperer" for training that was "inhumane, outdated and improper.") But Millan's focus on the need to train the owner -- rather than simply the dog -- falls well within the mainstream of opinion among dog experts.

People being naturally lazy, most owners bend Millan's mantra into an imperative more to their liking: much affection, minimal exercise, zero discipline. And that's more or less the strategy on display in "Marley & Me." A lot more people are going to see the movie than will ever watch "Dog Whisperer."

What do you think? Does "Marley & Me" promote negligent dog ownership?

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo:  Associated Press / 20th Century Fox, Barry Wetcher

Comments

[Melissa Jo Peltier]

Actually, Cesar Millan has indeed worked with the delightful Grogan family - John, Jenny, and their kids - on helping their next-generation lab Gracie (Marley's follow-up) curb her overactive prey drive. The episode aired on Dog Whisperer (National Geographic Channel) in Season 3, and we're happy to report that the real-life Grogans are definitely well on their way to becoming much more effective pack leaders to their subsequent dogs...while loving them every bit as much as they loved Marley.
The Grogans' case is yet more proof of Cesar's message: that you can have enjoy both love and leadership in your relationship with your dog - to the betterment of both human and animal quality of life.
And speaking of pack leaders, in Cesar's second book, BE THE PACK LEADER, he directly references the issues raised in MARLEY & ME; that is, the "bemused helplessness" of the Grogans as Marley proceeds to lovingly upend their lives. Because both John and Jenny are journalists, they approached dog ownership with that ingrained "observer" state of mind from their journalistic training, which turned out to be part of the problem. Check out the book for the fascinating details.
Melissa Jo Peltier
Executive Producer, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan;
Co-Author with Cesar Millan on: CESAR'S WAY, BE THE PACK LEADER, and MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

[John Q]

Of course not. This is a family film about a loveable, but naughty puppy. I don't understand why reviewers critique these types of films so harshly? Next they will be telling us that the lack of dicipline Marley was given by its owners, represents Britain's appeasement of Nazi Germany. A small percentage of film reviewers or "cultural commentators" need to get a life, and get real.

[Penny L.]

NO, people are largely responsible for the behaviors in pet ownership. Some of the same ethics should be used on raising a dog as it would be to raise a child. Do you let your baby sleep on the floor or on your bed unattended? NO. If people used crates to train a dog from the start, they would find a more ruly dog in the end. ALL of the dogs I have ever owned stayed in a crate while I was away and ALL of them would go into a crate when asked. Same as you would put a baby in a playpen or in a crib.

Personally I thought the movie had a great point that has totally been overlooked. Those in the movie had an unruly puppy, but they kept that puppy and show responsibility to that dog for the life of that dog no matter how "bad" he was. The reason we have so many dogs in shelters and rescue is because whenever the dog did not behave to the owners liking, they just got rid of the dog. We should focus on the positive pet ownership in this movie.

[Gay Dunlap]

Frankly, I was shocked to discover, in Marley & Me, the offhanded attitude both the author and his wife took with regard to training Marley. So much agony could have been avoided with something as simple as "Crate Training". As a breeder and multiple dog owner for 40 years, I found it a painful read and I was hard pressed to find humor in Grogan's tale. Sadness, yes, laughter, no.

[Heather]

I agree that the movie is sad. That was a great dog who could have been "good" if the owners had put in any effort. I also watched Cesar's episode with the Grogans and thei new dog, Gracie. New dog, same problems. Hmmm... Humans need the training. also clear that they bought the WRONG breed for their family. They bought the "popular" breed without thinking about whether they really had the energy or desire to have a true hunting dog. Gracie was bought from top hunting lines. What were they thinking? Cesar taught them to work with this new dog, play games, give her a JOB which she so desperately wanted. His methods were completely humane and clearly what the dog wanted all along. Too bad they hadn't met Cesar when they had Marley. Then again, they would have missed out on a lot of publicity and a lot of money from the book and movie.

[Marie]

Haven't seen the movie yet, but come ON people, irresponsible ownership is about the ones who GIVE AWAY dog after dog after dog because it "can't be trained". At least they did NOT give him up to buy another and another until they get one that trains itself! Of couse the idea is about all of the classic mistakes dog owners make. Maybe that is the lesson! Please, have a sense of humor. Even the best dog trainers learn to laugh at the mistakes they and their dogs make. All of our NOT SO well behaved dogs make us LAUGH. That is what makes LIFE FUN!!!

[Pam R.]

Marley and Me was just a story about the Grogan's experiences with their first dog.
They picked the wrong dog and got the wrong advice but they didn't give, they kept trying and they always tried to see the good in the dog.
Their treatment of Marley might have been misguided but they certainly remained responsible for this dog where others would've sent him to the nearest shelter.

[Liz Harward]

As a raiser of service dogs I could not get past about page 20 in the book- it is horrid to think that adults with ANY type of education would not seek help and support and LET the dog eat the couch! I am a trainer that uses management and postiive reinforcement, it is not rocket science? Yet using a baby gate and managing what you can't control is liked to calculus in this film. America loves the victim! Dog training is just like anyting else, decide what outcome you want (Loving life with well behaved one year old Labrador) write the project down (and since you can't do a project only the very next action) write down what that next action is- "Call the clicker trainer to scedule puppy class" would be what a puppy owner needs to do to work toward that outcome. The process is what needs to be learned- the training is easy but we don't teach outcome thinking to young adults!

[Erika]

I can only hope that "Marley and Me" has no more influence on pet owners than "Home Alone" did on parents.

[N. Ward]

I do not,contrary to its rating, feel this movie is suitable for all audiences. Having viewed the trailer, I thought this flick would be an uplifting, light-hearted doggy/kids flick that would lift the spirits of my down in the dumps (due to illness) wife. The first half was just what I was looking for, but the second half - Nope. I could not get into Jennifer Aniston and some guy with a Donald Trump/Sly Stone mouth (and goofy nose) inability to deal with their dog, and Aniston resenting the fact that raising children require her time and effort.
I am, tho, very, very happy that I decided not to not invite my Grandkids along-guarenteed meltdown and bad ride home unless your kids enjoy dead dog movies.

[Cathy Jennings]

Please irresponsible i think not, uneducated in how to raise a puppy yes, but really what is the big deal here. They loved there dogs with all his faults as he loved them with all theirs, the didn't drop him off a local pound like most people would and DO when they can't control their dog.
And John was there by Marley's side when it was his time to go, now if that is irresponsible then i too what to be like that.

[Pat Anderson]

This movie like any Disney movie is to entertain and it promotes love of animals. Love will prevent abuse. I would like to see all people take their pups to puppy classes and learn how to get help early on but we need to do that by responsible adoption practices. All people adopting any dog should be advised to take them to obedience classes and the importance of using that training through out their lives together. I pay little attention to movie critics. They do not care if the movie entertains, only if the actor or actress meets their standards in performance. I like the love shown the dog and their committment to keeping the dog. Those are important things also.

[Rachel]

I think this movie was a great thing!!
I saw it 3 times!
And i think it makes people want to train their dogs more so they DONT end up being wild like Marley.And some dogs are just wild NO MATTER what you do. I have 2 dogs that are wild and no training helps them.