I read an article once about the guy who trains most of the dogs in Broadway shows -- at the time the article was written, there was the chihuahua in Legally Blonde and he'd just finished with Sandy in the umpteenth revival of Annie, and there were a few others -- and he said that he gets the dogs from shelters, not breeders. To find them, he goes to the shelters and tries to find the dogs who, in the midst of all the other dogs and the noise and the people and everything, are just chilling out and minding their own business. He says that, if they can be calm in that situation, then he can train them to handle the lights and orchestra and applause without freaking out.

I love dogs, but I have a lingering issue with poodles. I think it stems from the time I was visiting a friend when I was around 10 years old, and her family's standard poodle barfed on my leg. Yuck.

Also, I still get a bit freaked out by Dolberman Pinschers. I think I watched too much 1970s tv, in which they were the go-to breed for ferocious guard dogs.

As much as I love all the dogs, I too have a lingering issue with 'pointy-nosed' dogs. I can't remember where that aversion comes from, and I'm working on it, but it is definitely something I notice.

I used to think I hated poodles until my mom pointed out that my grandma's dog Holly was a poodle. One of the best dogs ever, just never groomed all fancy. I love that part in Travels With Charley where the wife takes him to the groomers and the author feels like he's not even the same dog.

The biggest doberman I have met is also the sweetest. Freaking huge but she just wants to climb up in your lap while managing to look fierce and intimidating. I think it's the pointy ears and the sleek lines of their coat patterns. Also they're among the smartest dogs and when one of them looks me in the eyes I can't help feeling like she knows something. Like how fast I can run or something.

Dobermans don't really have pointy ears.

::grump::

Also, I still get a bit freaked out by Dolberman Pinschers. I think I watched too much 1970s tv, in which they were the go-to breed for ferocious guard dogs.

I'm not sure I can accurately describe this without photographic evidence, but I almost went ass over teakettle the other day when I was standing in the park and this enormous doberman came up behind me and just stuck his head and shoulders between my legs so he was peering out the other side.

Once I recovered my recovered my balance I just lifted one leg over to the other side and spent the next few minutes giving him the headscratching he was actually after.

Seriously ridic. I was amost riding him like a pony for a second there.

Dobermans don't really have pointy ears.

Yes and know that if my friends had gotten her as a puppy she wouldn't have pointy ears either.

A former neighbor had a doberman. Named Simba, seemingly with some attack training. Sweetest dog ever (to me at least) - he'd see me and come over and dance around on my feet to express his joy at seeing me, then sit down and try to weld himself to my leg.

And the image of someone pulling up in a car full of dogs and handing a chihuahua out the window has me snorfling.

But did you guys not see Bradley Cooper en Francais? Ooh la la.

le pant! le sigh.

D00d. He's 36? There is an excellent chance he was studying in Aix when I was studying in Montpellier, not too far away. Funny.