LASSIE TRIVIA

Thanks to everyone who played our holiday game of Lassie Trivia!  See a picture of our adorable Grand Prize Winner ojn our Guest Dogs page.

 Meanwhile here are the answers you may have missed.

The Lassie franchise was based on a 1937 short story by Eric Knight, Lassie Come Home, which he later turned into a novel.  In the book, Lassie, a working collie in Yorkshire, England is sold when her family falls upon hard times. Her new owner takes her to Scotland, where she runs away and makes her way back to Yorkshire, having many adventures and touching the lives of many people along the way.  The book became so popular that it was made into a motion picture starring the male rough collie, Pal, who was owned and trained by Rudd Weatherwax.  Legend has it that Pal won the role by performing a scene in which Lassie had to swim a river,  stagger onto the bank, and collapse with exhaustion.  Pal  showed a talent for acting in this scene that blew away his competition.  During the years of the Lassie television show, Lassie lived first with Jeff Miller before going to live with Timmy Martin, who was played by John Provost.   When the studio finally decided that Lassie had run its course, they tried to buy out the contract for a significant sum of money.  Rudd Weatherwax believed so strongly in his dog, however, that he  gave up the money and asked instead for one thing: Lassie.  Because of that, the Lassie brand has survived to this day-- and the rewards to the man who believed in his dog have been more than ample!

Gone to the Dogs

I used to have white carpets.  I used to take long vacations in a wide variety of places that may or may not have accepted pets.  I used to wear black skirts, and vacuum twice a week instead of twice a day.  I used to drive a sports car. Then came the dogs, and everything changed.

Suddenly I was training dogs, dancing with dogs, competing with dogs, traveling with dogs, reading about dogs, talking about dogs,  studying about dogs.  I took up agility, rally obedience,  hiking, flyball and canine musical freestyle to give my dogs something to do.  And because I did not want to embarrass my dogs on the field of competition, I began a rigorous fitness program just to keep up with them.  My weekends revolved around agility trials and freestyle competitions, and my week days were filled with training and therapy dog visits.  The best vacations I ever had were at dog camp.

I make my living writing novels.  I've done fairly well at it, and have even won a few awards.  But nothing I ever did as a novelist got me interviewed on Japanese television, or featured in an hour long cable t.v. special, or spotlighted in as many newspapers or local broadcasts as my dogs have done.  The only mention I ever got in the New York Times was not for one of my stellar works of fiction, but for dancing with my dog.   

Today my floors are hardwood, stone and tile. I don't wear skirts much anymore, or anything that is black or non-washable.  I drive a mini-van because it takes a big car to comfortably transport multiple dogs and all their equipment.  I walk two miles a day because when you have dogs, staying in is not an option.  I used to stay at the Four Seasons and dine at five-star restaurants.  These days I stay at the Holiday Inn and have room service.  Guess what?  The company is a lot better.    

 People say my life has gone to dogs.  I say "Thank goodness!"

How has your dog changed your life?