|
A Dog Named Woodson
Sunday, June 15, 2008
As the shooting of the Marley & Me movie was wrapping up late last month outside Philadelphia, the producers from Fox 2000 Pictures asked me if I would sign a copy of my book for everyone involved in the production. That was 300 people -- and 300 books. I was happy to do it, and each member of the cast and crew received a Marley & Me tote bag with a variety of goodies inside, including my book.
My gift was altogether more wonderful. While on the set for the filming of the Marley toboggan scene, I looked up and there stood the movie's chief animal trainer, Mark Forbes, and one of his assistants, Larry, and with them was a fluffy, nearly pure white Lab puppy named Woodson. Woodson had been in some early scenes of the movie -- including the scene in which Owen Wilson as John brings Marley home for the first time -- and now here he was back on the set, even though I knew his scenes were long over. My daughter Colleen was with me, and she immediately dropped to her knees and began petting the little guy and accepting his kisses.
Mark asked her if she liked Woodson, and Colleen nodded an enthusiastic yes. He then asked: "Would you like to take him home with you?" And she looked at me, slightly confused. I smiled. Mark and the movie producers earlier let me in on the surprise, that the puppy was ours if we wanted him. And, yes, yes, yes, I really wanted him. Mark continued: "Because you're going to be taking him home with you today." Colleen flashed what I believe is the biggest, brightest smile of her life. Woodson was ours.
He stayed with us on the set all day, managing to get in the trash, chew electrical cords, eat the artificial snow covering everything, roll in the mud, and lick Jennifer Aniston all over her face. Yes, I couldn't help think of the real Marley. Then we brought him home, and he slept the whole way in the car. The photo above is of him and me minutes after arriving in our driveway. He was so sleepy he could barely keep his head up.
Woodson has been with us for about three weeks now, and I must say it's like the ghost of Marley has inhabited this puppy's body. A few examples:
* Like Marley, he picks up his water bowl -- full! -- and runs through the house with it.
* He was only home about an hour when he tried to mount our female Lab, Gracie. She's 70 pounds to his 28 and about three times taller than him. Talk about confidence!
* Then he grabbed her tail in his teeth and pulled with everything he had.
* Then he jumped up on the table and lunged for the nearest dinner plate.
* Then he skidded across the floor and began gnawing the remote control.
* For months, we've stored Gracie's dog chow in a galvanized tin with a tight-fitting metal lid. She's never even tried to bust in. Woodson was home less than a day when from the laundry room I heard a loud bang and looked up to see the lid of the dog-food can turning the corner and rolling into the kitchen. When I got around the corner, I found him inside the can, hind legs and butt sticking out as he gorged himself.
* In his first week, he chewed the cord (unplugged) off an appliance, the bottom rail off a chair, and the covers off two books.
You get the idea. My neighbor Kim says we should rename him "Sequel," because he sure seems to have all the right moves. I was thinking of "Rerun." Woodson is a puppy and has all the mischief and energy puppies are supposed to have, but, despite his antics, I can already tell he is calmer and more focused than Marley was at this age. Or really any age. I think he's going to be a great dog. He already has fit into our family seamlessly, and we all -- Gracie, too, at least when he's not humping her -- love him to pieces.
Woodson, welcome to our home. This is where you belong. And hey! Drop that shoe!
posted by John Grogan at 7:32 PM
 
30 Comments:
<< Home
Previous Posts
|
|
|
Awwwwwwwww!!
Congratulations!!
How lucky are you!! He is beautiful!! Congrats!
I bought the book last year and it has been on my 'to do' list for quite some time. Eventually (sad to say), to actually read it, I carried it into the bathroom I share with my '18-going-on-40' daughter. While I started it sooner than she did, Desiree started carrying the book around with her, and finished it already. Last week, I saw her reading it and crying, so needless to say, I can assume Marley has passed on by the end of the book (I'm only halfway through). My daughter and I both volunteer in dog rescue (although we specialize in tiny Chihuahuas and Chinese Cresteds), so we've had more than a few "handfulls" of dogs we've pulled from shelters hours (minutes) away from the euthansia table, rehabbed and then placed in adoptive homes. Fourteen months ago we (on purpose) adopted a puppy mill puppy named 'Riley' who absolutely fell in love with my daughter (and the feeling was/is mutual). Working through his various issues, Riley has taught the meaning of "unconditional love exceeding the normal 'functional' psychological boundaries" to my daughter (and yes, I have a picture of him on the kitchen table with a piece of KFC Chicken AND the bucket he stole it from!). Every one of our 'throwaways' (dogs that couldn't be adopted for one reason or another) are intrical parts of our family (we have 8 dogs) but each one has their own "issues" that we have overcome through TLC, love, patience, discipline and an unending source of time dedicated to bringing out the best of them - whatever it may be! I thank you for writing "Marley and Me" for it proves to all that no matter what the issues (personality, origins, health, age, etc.) ANYTHING is possible if only you believe (and love) the dog! Here's our crew: http://www.caninescorner.org/misc/EveryoneGetsAlong.htm - the foster in this photo got a furever home right before Christmas and we've added one more since then (BeeGee, a female less than 6" tall and 5 pounds, dumped by the owners while trying to deliver a puppy too large for her). Our days wouldn't be as filled with joy, laughs and grins without our puppers, so I can appreciate what your home is like with the new addition! BRAVO! for what I've already read of "Marley and Me" and I look forward to finishing it, even with the sad ending I believe I will find.
i'm from singapore. i've bought the book marley & me. and i'm so addicted to it. its awesome. i can understand well every "oh my god" things that marley had done. i've an english springer spaniel. and he's crazy too. he's exactly like marley, i would say. every habits and actions exactly the same. i was laughing out loud when i read. no matter how they are,they are still the best to us. yupps. just wanted to drop a comment to compliment on your efforts in this book. its really AWESOME (:
I was wondering if you would get a puppy at the end of production. Really! It makes perfect sense that one of the "Marleys" would go home with you.
Congratulations on the new addition, I'm sure you'll have lots more stories to tell!!
Woodson is beautiful, you're so lucky to have another lab and Woodson is a lucky pup. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about him.
Joan
Liverpool
UK
Thank you Marley for having inspired your master, such a fantastic and moving story ...
I read the book last night and have problems to concentrate on my work this morning...
From Spain
MJ Reeves
What a cutie pie! Congratulations on your new family addition :)
Olá!Sou brasileira,acabei de ler "Marley e eu",ri muito e chorei da mesma maneira,seu livro é de uma sensibilidade linda,parabéns pelo livro e por sua familía maravilhosa!.
I am a volunteer at our city library and I was about to shelve your book Marley and Me. I had heard of it so thought I would check it out and read it. I
mostly laughed through it, but at the end cried as I also relived having to put my dog Amber down, which was a year and a half ago. She was a cocker mix. Through the years of my life it seems like I have always had a dog in it. Since Amber, this has been the longest time since I have been without a dog. I'm kind of reluctant getting another one because if it outlived me I don't know what would happen to it. I still look through the petfinder.com for our area. Maybe??
Your book is a great story and you sure know how to bring out the best of it the way you write. Thank you for a great read.
I loved the book. But two words of advice if Woodson does turn out like Marley: Cesar Milan (or Dog Whisperer). I have often wondered what Cesar would have been able to do for Marley!
How exciting for your family to have Woodson come live with you! He is one handsome pup! CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!!
Congrats on your new family member.
And micetro9, they have met Cesar when he came to their home to work with Gracie. So they are very familiar with him and his work.
Olá John!!
Nesse momento acabo de ler seu livro "Marley e eu" e ainda estou me recuperando pelos risadas dadas e pelas lágrimas derramadas nos últimos capitulos lidos...sem dúvida me senti parte da família Grogan nesses dias de leitura e emocionada com o carinho, com a paciência e amor dado a Marley...mesmo em suas piores travessuras!!
Parabéns!!:-)
abraços
Again, congratulations John, what a handsome pup! Do I hear Cesar Millan (wearing his LaCoste) shirt saying "Off to the Grogan's " LOL.
Congratulations John on your newest addition. I know you will love him well. There is nothing like a new puppy! All the best from Memphis. -Hope
How amazing that you have another little Marley. I bought the book last night and finished it in less than 24 hours. I love your book more than any I've read lately, maybe more than any I've ever read. Your story moved me!
John, Jenny, and family. I just read Marley and Me. I have never enjoyed a book quite as much as yours. I laughed till I cried and cried until I smiled at the legacy left by your beloved family member Marley. Thanks for sharing your story with the world.
Congratulations on your new puppy! Sounds like Woody is going to be a great dog. He sure is beautiful! With all of that energy, he'd probably do great in field trials.
Can't wait for the movie to open!
www.twobarkingdogs.wordpress.com
What a beautiful puppy! It sounds like Woodson will bring you many happy and fond memories to add to the wonderful memories you have of Marley!!!
What a beautiful puppy! It sounds like Woodson will bring you many happy and fond memories to add to the wonderful memories you have of Marley!!!
John, Congratulations on your new dog. You must really miss Marley that Woodson, being Marley's ghost, is going to give you the time of your life. It sounds like he is already comfortable enough in, what he thinks, is his alpha dog status. I have had 4 beagles and the list of destruction is lengthy.
-Eddy got into the food container where we stored his food and gorged himself to the point of lying on the floor for a good 24 hours because his stomach was so swollen from all the kibble.
He also destroyed multiple leashes, collars, tore a foot off each blind in the living room, ate 2 car seat belts, destroyed blankets, shoes, pillows, carpets, and was even busted on video chewing a carpet and doing his business on top of the chewed carpet, etc, etc
-Tanner ate a remote, New Years Eve tickets, one of my utility bill (fun explaining that one to utility company), my bankbook, all trim on the bottom of the couch, pillows, shoes, blankets, the brand new oak kitchen table legs (not to mention we would catch him walking on that very table when we walked in the door), and many hunks of my body parts due to his aggressive behavior etc, etc.
-Buddy ate 100's of dollars in chew toys, busted out of his crate, cleared a 4 foot piece of plywood to get run of the house (quite high for a beagle), blankets, pillows, shoes, more blankets (his favourite snack), his bowls, leashes, collars, etc, etc
-Digger was a good boy, but his chewing of choice was kleenex, garbage in the bathroom, and his bathroom (aka in the winter poopsicles). Otherwise, as already posted, he was an excellent and the best dog.
Eddy and Buddy were Houdini dogs and would escape any leash or crate. If they got out of the yard, good luck and many hours of worry to find them. Eddy was hit by a truck, but not hurt seriously. All the dogs would take off whenever they could. Try hunting through town when 3 at one time take off. Eddy and Digger loved to jump out windows of moving or unmoving vehicles which resulted in hours of chasing and worry. All the dogs slept with me and I ended up on the floor. The stories go on and on, but I love them anyhow. All are gone now, but "Marley and Me" brought back some of those memories.
Congratulations!
It seems Woodson may still be character from the Marley and Me movie!
John - I just got done reading "Marley & Me". I absolutley loved it. Towards the end it reminded me of my "Onxy". She was Black Lab & Grey Hound. We had to put her down at the age of 14 for the same reasons as Marley. So your book really hit home for me. I still have tears flowing. I borrowed this book from my cousin who has a 9 month old yellow lab retriever (Calvin)who is the smitten image of Marley. Thank you so much for sharing him with us. Karen Madore Andover, CT
I cannot believe how beautiful Woodson is. Must stop staring at him! I'll have to show this picture to my students when I see them again. After reading Marley and Me, I bought the young adult version and read it to my students. I tried on three different occasions to read the ending but each time I started crying. Thank you for a beautiful story as well as your wonderful columns in the Sun-Sentinel. I kept your farewell column for a long time because it was just so lovely. Good luck with Woodson.
Wow! Congratulations on your "rerun" with Woodson. I love your book, John. I'm looking forward to the Movie
Joey from the Philippines
I so appreciated the book Marley and Me! What a joyous ride his life story made, and I am so thankful you shared it with us. I am the proud mama of what may be the world's BEST behaved yellow lab, but I love her anyway! :) As I approached the section of the book where Marley was in his final days, I had to put the book away for 3 weeks. I had to prepare myself for the tears I knew would come, because I knew I would be thinking about my Sadie. Thanks, John, for "normalizing" all of us crazy dog lovers and the intensity of our devotion to our four legged family members!
I just put down your book Marley and Me and love it. However after learning about your experience with Grace from the Dog Whisper show and now read about your issues with Woodson, I cannot help but urge you to get some help for your dogs. You need to be a pack leader and set up a structural environment the moment your new dog arrives. Without such preparations, it is entirely predictable that your dog will be on its way to become the "world's worst dog." In truth however, the owener is to be blamed for all the problems that the dog will encounter. Don't be amused and enjoy watching your dog's bad behaviors and think that he is cute. He is acting like a computer without a functional operating system and may get himself hurt.
Response to doglover's post. I agree with you in some respects, but also know that a dog can be messed up no matter what the owner does because of breeding issues, etc. I also think that with all other terrible things happening with animals out there, that John is not doing anything terrible. At least he loves his dogs. I have had 4 beagles (3 at one time) and all were adopted from my local shelter. Two were aggressive when I got them, so whose fault is that? One was bad, at first, but got better with time and the companionship of another dog. This companion dog happened to be the greatest dog in the world. There is a post in here of Digger. I spoiled all of them and treated them all the same. So, to make a point, it isn't always the owner's fault.
John, I commend you on the love you have for your dogs. I believe they are a part of the family, and if you feel the same, I understand how there may be an issue with alpha. I had this issue with some of my dogs, but not others. If loving them is a sin, well I guess we are both sinners.
As for "Marley and Me", I read the book twice and so did my 8 year old daughter. She also saw the movie. I volunteer at her school library and have recommended the book as part of the library material. I have also recommended it to everyone I talk to, when on the topic of books. "Marley and Me is now being read in my daughter's grade 2/3 class as part of the curriculum. Thanks for a wonderful book.
I wish you well with Grace and Woodson. I know you must love them, and I agree, that sometimes when they do bad things, it may look funny when looking back on it. I know with my dogs, now deceased, that the things they did or chewed, etc seems funny now, since I do miss them so much.
All the best in the New Year and best wishes to you and your family.
Cindy Crerar
Welland, Ontario Canada
I just read somewhere that you hired Ceaser Millan to train Gracie! Please, I urge to to hire a REAL dog trainer! He doesn't know anything about dogs and is just in it for the $$$$$. Please, hire "Victoria Stilwell" (www.victoriastilwell.com), she has a TV show too, but is a REAL dog tainer. Best wishes to you and good luck!