'Marley and Me'

"Marley and Me," a film based on John Grogan's life with his lovable but unruly Labrador retriever, is an example of the depth of the human-animal bond. However, much of Marley's "bad" behavior was unknowingly created by his well-meaning but poorly prepared owners and some of it was an anxiety disorder called storm phobia.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior makes the following recommendations.

-- Puppies require time, attention and training. Prospective owners should be well-educated and prepared to begin teaching good manners from the minute they get the puppy. Waiting until the puppy is so large that he is uncontrollable will make the process much more difficult.

-- Owners should enroll puppies in puppy classes as soon as possible. This is important for the owner's education and for socialization of the puppy. This should be arranged before the puppy comes home.

-- Unruly behaviors such as jumping, pulling on the leash, and chewing household items can be prevented in the adult dog by teaching and rewarding mannerly and appropriate behavior in growing puppies.

-- At no point was Marley trying to be the "alpha male of the pack," as claimed by the film's dog trainer. Training does not require "dominance" and harsh corrections. Being a good leader by training and reinforcing desired behavior using positive reinforcement is the safest and most effective way to train puppies.

-- Many dogs suffer from behavior problems that are unrelated to training. For example, destruction and vocalization during storms often occurs because of storm phobia. This condition is treatable by veterinarians with a special interest or certification in animal behavior. "Treatment at an early age can alleviate stress experienced by the family and improves the quality of life for the dog itself," said Dr. John Ciribassi, the society's immediate past president.

-- Viewers should resist the temptation to adopt a puppy or dog based on a movie. What is on the screen is entertainment, not reality, even if it is based on a true story. Shelters were filled with Dalmatians purchased after people saw the Disney film "101 Dalmatians" several years ago. Once the puppies grew into rambunctious and destructive adults, many owners dumped them.