Hi ya’ll, I’m back! Have you missed The Woofs and The WooTwoo?
Now that my free time is my free time once again, I can finally tell you all what we’ve been doing and why we’ve been MIA. I know you’ve been holding your collective breath ;-)
One of my dogs is going to be a movie star!!
A movie star?? She must be talking about me! After all, I have acting experience!
I pose beautifully for the camera.
Action … intrigue … I have it all baby!
So …how much are they paying me?
Sorry Woo, it’s not you. You had your 15 seconds of fame when you did the Kohl’s commercial. You’re all washed up now.
Well that sucks.
OUTTA MY WAY WOO, SHE’S TALKING ABOUT ME! HERE I COME! DON’T START FILMING WITHOUT ME!
Sorry Tweed, it’s not you either.
Pourquoi?
Because they chose Piper, that’s why!
That’s right! My little Faux Bulldog landed herself a small part in a movie called “Marley and Me: The Puppy Years.” She does a short agility course and then some sproingy, tugging celebratory action after our “successful” run.
Even Tweed got a tiny role in the film – I don’t know much about movies, or camera angles, but as near as I can tell, they filmed quite a lot of his ass-end. Which is a blessing, as the front end was barking it’s damn head off!
Does this movie make my ass look big?
I never saw the original “Marley and Me” because I read the book and didn’t ever understand why the owner found the dog so challenging in the first place – as near as I could tell, the real life Marley was a typical, log-brained Labrador, not a monster. But I am familiar with the story, and I assume the movie begins with Marley as an 8 week old pup, so I’m really not sure how they are making a whole movie about his adventures during his first 60 days on earth – but hey, that’s the movie business for you! I haven’t read the script … I was too busy eating the copious amounts of food they ply the cast and crew with so they don’t lose their minds and wander off. For 90% of the folks working on a movie, near as I can tell, it’s not exactly *exciting* work.
I wasn’t allowed to take any photos of the set, or the dogs working, so I can’t show you anything interesting … I guess you’ll just have to rent it when it comes out (it’s going straight to DVD, as I understand) next year. But first you must promise not to make fun of me, because I am ALSO in the movie. I handle Piper on the “agility course,” and I do “dock diving” with another border collie and then, to my surprise and real, tangible horror, I had to be in another scene WITHOUT my dogs … and I had to ACT. Ack! Well, I had to REact, actually, to a short scene at what I think is the end. Oh the horror!! It must be a very low budget film, as no blockbuster would cast me. I’m possibly the world’s worst actress.
There *might* be a photo of me forthcoming, in full costume and make-up, with a couple of other handler-slash-kinda-actors, but in the meantime, it’s just not in me to possess this photo of my friend Mark, who is also in the movie, and not blog it. Forgive me Mark. Or don’t.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
My parts wrapped last night, so I do believe we are done now. I don’t know how real movie dog people do it – there’s a whole lot of “sit around and wait.” I did one 13 hour day where I sat around in costume and make up and didn’t do a single thing for the camera! But now I’m home and catching up on things around the house.
I’m not thinking about the chickens.
My poor chickens are totally traumatized by their encounter with the Poultry Murderer. They don’t want to come out of their hen house at all, even when I entice them with oatmeal scattered around their coop.
We’re not going out there. It’s scary out there.
I know it hasn’t even been a week, but I was hoping they would learn to feel safe in their home again soonish like. I guess not :( I am thinking about adding a couple more chickens from somewhere else; I am hoping that fresh-slate chickens will encourage the other scaredy-hens to behave more normally once again.
I am also kind of obsessed with building another little coop and getting myself some bantam hens … specifically, I am enamored with these White Crested Polish Frizzles!
“They develop a great mop top which makes them less skittish than most chickens because they can’t really see you coming.”
Best. Chicken description. Ever.
In the meantime, I have satiated my small critter acquisition lust by adding a new member to the family.
Hello.
This is my new rattie girl. I got her to practice my clicker training with. NOT to feed her to Donut.
Rattie?
Gimme rattie!
Where’s it? Where’d it go?
Actually, Donut is not all that interested in the rat. She is much more interested in the rat snack, which is boiled and mashed yams.
Yes, my cat eats yams.
Seriously?
Rattie has no name yet. I unfortunately got her right before I started working on the movie, and I’ve had very little time to interact with her. I’ll let you guys name her. What do you think she should be called?
jackie says
I think you should call her snack, cause that’s what she’s gonna be with TWooie in the house! Just kidding. I HOPE.
Speaking of my favorite pup, are you on speaking terms yet?
The rat/mouse is adorable! Ever see the movie Mouse Hunt? I always root for the mouse in that.
So, there’s a role for a gay cowboy dog handler in the movie? LOL LOL LOL.
Ann says
Rattie? Looks like a WooTwoo snack to me.
Your hens will forget. Before I had a run and was letting mine roam the pasture I had periodic hawk attacks, and for weeks after the hens would hug the fence. If they had to go out in the middle of the pasture they were like commandos under fire: Go! Go! Go! Eventually they’d forget until someone else became a hawk meal.
Jen says
Petunia Picklebottom… lol
Congrats on the film. I can’t wait to watch it ;) aaaaa
katie bristow says
Love the new addition, think she should be called Radar with such GORGEOUS ears :))))))
alegria says
I also like the idea of calling the rattie Snack. At least you don’t have a jack russell terrier in the house who is a confirmed genius at rat finds – she had 9 in five minutes at her first try ever!
If Snack won’t do, why not Marley?
Piper says
Congrats on all the success! Many “woots” for all the dogs. I think you should name her Fiona, or Pickles. :)
kristy says
I think Jackie put out a good name choice in her last sentence….HOPE!
Congrats on the stardom hope there is more to come!
chrissy says
Hi! I read your blog weekly but never commented. However I have the perfect name for your rat! You had 3 woofs, and the wootwos… so I think the rat should be called Uno!
Lynn says
Woo was in a Kohl’s commercial? Is there a blog entry you could link back to about this?! I’m intrigued! :)
Alice says
Congrats on your film debut! Can’t wait to have a look-see at the agility course and you and Miss Piper.
As for the rat, I’d name her Figs. Not sure why. Or Finnegan, after the Joyce novel.
pam says
Will Piper remember all us little people (dogs?) on her rise to the top?
As far as rattie girl I’m goin with Countess Ratcula. (it’s Halloween dood!)
Rossie says
Smoot
Brianna says
Wow, you being in that movie will be the only reason I’d watch it.
Steph J says
I had 2 pet rats in college that I named Boo and Ty. Short for Bubonic and Typhus, of course!
They are great pets, and I hope you have fun with her. Just make sure evil Twoo keeps his hungry sights off of the poor (tasty morsel) girl :)
Fay says
“my new rattie girl. I got her to practice my clicker training…”
Click, or better yet, Treat–as in “Click and Treat”?
fostermum says
I have zero imagination, so I confess I googled ‘rat names’….who’d have thought there would be a plethora of sites covering just that.
Anyhoo, being of the ‘cough’ older generation – the name that caught my attention was “RATS DOMINO”.
The Food Lady says
“Just make sure evil Twoo keeps his hungry sights off of the poor (tasty morsel) girl :)”
Oh no worries there! The rat cage lives on a high shelf. TWoo is crated before she comes out, always :)
Michelle says
I like “Ratty.” I have an audio tape of “Wind in the Willows,” and the mole calls his friend the rat “Ratty” in the most charming of accents. Endearing!
Life in Vet School says
I think you should name her Penelope. She looks like a Penelope.
Do you have Woo’s Kohl’s commercial?!?!?! Will you post it? Or do you know if it’s on YouTube (I ACTUALLY TYPED WooTube and had to go back and fix it! You’ve brainwashed me!) anywhere? I really want to see it!
Ruth Hansell says
Pearl. Her name is Pearl.
I’ll rent the movie, too – it’s the closest I’ll ever come to stardom.
Amanda says
I think your rattie girl needs a dainty name. Holly, Molly or Harriet (or Harrirat)
As a self admitted mouse-a-phobe, even I have to admit she’s gorgeous. I don’t even feel like jumping on my chair and squealing when I look at her photos. A HUGE achievement for me, trust me.
skeeter says
I’m not much of a rat lover either but she is cute. I like Marley or Snack as well. Hmmm, she kinda looks like a Willamina to me. When you’re that small you need a big name to get noticed. Anyone else think the bantam hen looks like the back end of a skunk? Not that I’m that familiar with the back end of a skunk but I’m just saying….
Vicky says
Way to go you movie stars. I loved the Kohl’s commercial. Woo looked so cute. And, I can’t wait to see Piper and Tweed’s hind end.
As to the rattie girl’s name: How about Miss Kitty? (LOL)
Deb says
Oh, you are so brave to bring anything smaller than a goat into your house with Twooie around. That chicken story was so sad! As much as I love the Twoo, I was very upset with him (on behalf of the chickens) after that incident and don’t blame you for the “RAGE” at all!!
Can’t wait to see all you movie stars!! How exciting!
Laura says
I think she looks like a Regina.
Are you getting her a rattie buddy?
willow says
Me? I would tempt fate and call the rat Pot Pie. You? You should call her Rat Bait.
Heather says
Carat?
Ratsa
Ratsella
Mensa
Google
Vicki says
congrats on the movie! I’ll be sure to rent it just to watch Piper, You, and Tweed. The rat is adorable! Didn’t know you could clicker train them!
Other Becky says
How about Mrs. Frisby?
Carol says
I’m all for Treat! Maybe Pearl Wilhelmina Petunia Treat. Ms. Treat for short!
nickelsmum says
I had a nine year old foster Aussie who killed THREE goats while recovering from kennel cough so bad he was hospitalized for 9 days on an IV. And it’s much easier to keep a rat on a high shelf.
RachelB says
Either Croissant (Chrissy for short) or Mrs. Tittlemouse. And congrats to you, Tweed, and Piper.
Katharine Swan says
I like the name Penelope! I was thinking Priscilla, so I think it’s funny that 2 or 3 other people suggested P names, too. Penelope is the best, in my opinion, but I might be biased because I love that name. :)
As for the chickens, talk to someone who is experienced with chickens before you add more hens. I’ve heard chickens are very territorial and will kill one another if introduced too quickly — you have to keep the new chickens on the other side of a fence for a little while, so that the old chickens can see and smell and get to know them.
Alaska says
I can never pass a Kohl’s without remembering “Hey Mabel, ain’t that Ricky there on the teevee?” If there is a blog record of the episode, you owe it to your newer readers to dig it up for them.
That first rat picture is stunning. I keep scrolling back up to study it again. Focus, DoF, composition…it’s perfect. And those teeny little ratty hands!
riosmom says
Emily – don’t ask me why but your ratty looks like an Emily.
Congratulations on the movie – will definitely watch it when it comes out. Loved the opening photos of Woo, my number one squeeze.
p.s. If Twoo eats Emily, please don’t tell us.
nickelsmum says
Everytime you post an especially bulldoggy picture of Piper, I get queasy. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it, because now you’ll do it on purpose just to taunt me.
Jennifer says
Great post, although the jury’s still out in this house, regarding your new family member…..! That may be something to do with some of her relatives “possibly” visiting our roof space. We have only caught mice but have been here for 14 years and never heard such a din as we experienced, around two weeks ago. (I think they were tap dancing, wearing steel toe capped boots). We are still hoping it was only mice but haven’t ruled out something larger.
I have no real ideas for a name, as most of the ones addressed to our attic space are unrepeatable. (As your blog is probably read by some younger people “Little F*cker”, may not be the most suitable suggestion!)
Hope you don’t turn into a “Lovey” and disappear up your own bottom, now you’re mixing with the movie crowd! Can’t wait to see the film. You’ll have to let us know when the DVD is released. (I’m sure Piper did great, can we expect any Doggy Oscars?)
Can’t believe how wee Woo is, in the film clip. He’s not much bigger that our Tess.
Sorry to hear about the chicken incident. I had two crested bantams when I was around 10. Unfortunately, stray ferret visited during the night and killed them both. To make matters worse, it then snuck in beside my rabbit and rabbit died of a heart attack (not a single bite mark on it). Wishing you better luck with your bantams.
Just had a thought of a possible name, “Rolanda”. Roland Rat was a character from children’s TV 20 (?) years ago.
Have a great weekend.
LaVonne says
A cute little pet like Rattie should have a simple one syllable name. How about Stitch or Sass or Snap?
Ailsa says
Keeping with the food theme, how about either Oreo or, better yet, Dessert.
As for the movie, congrats! Even though I can’t stand the whole Marley phenomenon, I would be enticed to see this just for Piper and you. And the gay cowboy. ;c)
Nita says
Our cats eat broccoli. Seriously.
And for the frizzles not seeing you coming? They also don’t see predators coming, so they don’t try to run away, so they get eaten even faster. . .
fuzzy says
As long as they are all the same size, you can throw chickens in together…but if you mail-order chicks to raise, they will need a warm place til spring and then have to be at least 6 months old to go in with the extant hens. Easier to try to find some grown ones…..I can’t think what the WooTwoo would do with chicks in the bathroom (and they stink.) Ask me how I know this……
Sage says
Wow!! I now know a celebrity! That’s so exciting–I’m going to tell my Mom to get that DVD so I can watch it!!!
Bev says
I vote for Fi for cute rats name..
You’re just raking in the money now with all that work on film soon you’ll be rolling in dough..!! Have fun with it Shee..
Amy says
I read this when you posted it the other day but haven’t commented because I couldn’t think of a name for your newest edition. I like Petunia, Penelope (Penny for short?), Minerva (Minny for short?)… still thinking.
Has anyone ever told you that Mark looks just like Crocodile Dundee? Is that the look he was going for there? If so, he nailed it!
I will make it a point to rent the movie when it comes out just so I can see you guys in it. I guess I need to watch the first one now, huh? lol
I’m glad to see some pics of Woo. I’ve missed him and his Flamboyance. :)
Quinn says
Rats! 8D
About a month ago we got two rats – that’s a pretty standard rat recommendation, to get them in pairs. They’re very, very social, and it’s just really recommended for all the times when you’re not there. A lot of breeders won’t even sell unless the rats are bought in pairs or trios, etc – a rat can survive just fine by itself, but for the happiness of the rat it’s just best. And it’s really not more work/much more money, so it’s worth it.
We have Cheesecake (an albino) and Moonpie (all brown, white tummy) here. Unfortunately no breeders were around us so we got them from a pet store…handling them has been an ongoing learning and trust process from day one, seeing as they were never really touched or handled in the store. They’re beginning to warm up now, though, and realize being pet and held gets them treats and nice things. :3
Caitlin says
:-D LOVE your new rattie!
I second Quinn’s recommendation to get a 2nd rat…*very* social creatures. But you don’t need to go to a breeder or a pet store, there are actually rat rescues! That’s where 3 of mine came from! :-)
And oh my goodness are they smart! All mine were trained to come when I called them and scamper up my leg all the way to my shoulder, and one would ride on my shoulder when I rode my bike around campus. This was before I knew about clicker training, but if (WHEN!) I get more rats…I’d love to train them that way.
I had 4 total, 2 when I was in college, and then one passed away, and I got two more, but they have all since gone to the bridge. They were all named after moons: Luna, Phobos, Deimos, and Puck. I don’t have a name recommendation for you though…although she does look exactly like my Puck. I miss those little critters.
Rat happy noises are simply the best.
Susan says
Rat-a-twooie
Paula says
I kinda like Pearl.
Congrats on the moviestardom.
Paula says
I meant the name Pearl. I LOVE the rat.
lena says
haha donut is not that weird of a kitty…mine literally begs for red peppers, and will protest loudly until given some :)