Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Dogs
Likes: Dogs
Dislikes: Being thought of as a dummy
Hates: Cats
The Show
With years of experience, experience that's shown through a montage of photos, Dr. Jenny Taylor knows a lot about animals, and on this DVD, she shares what she knows about dogs, especially when it comes to puppies. Using plenty of natural and adorable illustrative video clips, Taylor delivers a very good starter lesson on dog ownership. Her style is very friendly and conversational, but the production could use a bit more polish. Whoever thought it was a good idea to shoot on windy days shouldn't be trusted again.
Among the topics covered by Taylor are choosing the perfect dog, preparing for getting a new puppy, housetraining, obedience training and dog healthcare. The advice she provides is straight-forward and no-nonsense, while positives and negatives are laid out clearly and without any kind of glossing-over of the downsides. As any dog owner will tell you, raising a puppy isn't all sunshine and lollipops, and Taylor doesn't try to fool anyone into thinking otherwise.
The presentation follows the Dummies signature black-and-yellow style, with plenty of on-screen text notes, and icons that indicate different types of information. "Summing it up" is a nice touch, as the end of each chapter features an on-screen text list of the sections' major points. The disc manages to strike a good balance between information and entertainment, but never loses sight of its purpose as an educational guide.
Not surprisingly, the book Dogs for Dummies is recommended as a companion to the DVD. But that's not the only product suggested on this disc. The disc points out frequently the many products available for purchase for your potential new pet. But despite the capitalistic feel, the recommendations made are, for the most part, quite sound, like a suggestion on dog houses.
Though the DVD is quite good overall, the disc doesn't seem very up-to-date in terms of the newer mixed breeds, like Schnoodles. Case in point, Taylor claims that there are no non-shedding or hypoallergenic dogs. From personal experience, I can say that I haven't found a single Schnoodle hair in my house, and my wife, who is allergic to dander, hasn't had any trouble with our pup.
The DVD
Razor & Tie has packaged this one-disc feature in a standard keepcase with an insert that lists the chapter stops and bonuses. The lightly-animated full-frame main menu lists the chapter stops and a menu choice to view the bonus features. There are no audio or subtitle options and no closed captioning.
The Quality
The full-frame video looks very good, with nice color and detail, and nothing in terms of dirt or damage. Pixilation is evident along hard edges and thin lines, but nothing that will distract from the feature. This is a well-done video presentation that in impressively clean and sharp, with some heartbreakingly cute images.
The audio, presented in a Dolby Digital 2.0 mix is what one would expect from an educational DVD, without much pop, but at the same time, there's nothing to complain about. The sound is as clear as the picture and very well recorded, even if it occasionally picks up wind and the scraping of a puppy's paw on the microphone.
The Extras
The extras aren't very extensive here. Though it could have easily been a part of the main feature, "Sizing up a Puppy's Personality" is included as a bonus feature instead. This 1:35 featurette focuses on how to tell what kind of dog you might be getting when picking out a new puppy.
"Must-See Doggie Web Sites" is a text list of helpful spots online, while "Understanding Breed Types" (which runs 5:30), is a mix of text screens and very, very short video clips, that break down the various kinds of dogs available and what kinds of owners they are best suited for. The Dummies DVDs aren't known for extensive extras, and this disc lives down to the rep.
The Bottom Line
As a primer for non-dog owners, this disc is great, as it helps lay out the truth about puppies and older dogs for those who haven't experienced the joy and pain. For those who already have a hound in the house, the disc is less educational, though you may find a reminder or two during the 70-minute presentation. The quality level is good, but not overwhelming, and there's not much to the disc beyond the main feature. This disc is a recommended rental for anyone thinking about getting a dog, but outside of that, there's nothing inspiring multiple viewings.
Francis Rizzo III is a native Long Islander, where he works in academia. In his spare time, he enjoys watching hockey, writing and spending time with his wife, daughter and puppy.Follow him on Twitter
*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
