Christmas inspiration from the dog
By: Shamontiel L. Vaughn
Tags: Dogs, Happy Holidays, Grinch, Christmas, Pets

Christmas inspiration from the dog

‘Raise the Woof’ and other pup entertainment

Photo credit: Adriana Puente/Unsplash

Never have I ever been less interested in decorating for the holidays. But I have yet to miss a year for holiday decorations at home — and I’ve had 10 different mailing addresses. Where I go, the decorations follow. Even in a dreadful 2020 year, I dragged out my Halloween decorations so clearly I was going to fight with Christmas lights. If you’re still in a Grinch-like mood (and not the Jim Carrey fun version), dogs may be just what you need to get you into the spirit. You want to test out my theory? Here’s your chance.

Dogs get a Christmas song: “Raise the Woof!”

I won’t even bother lying to you. The first-ever dog Christmas song is mildly annoying, but it’s somehow catchy. The lady saying “Would you like to go on …?” makes me want to listen to an Ace of Base “The Sign” cassette tape for the millionth time since my childhood. The squeaky toy sound will undoubtedly become irritating — not as much as the lady constantly saying “sit” or the guy yelling “squirrel” though. And it’s too cold to eat watermelon, but these dogs could possibly send you to the nearest grocery store anyway. You deserve “treats” too.

Christmas card inspiration — in your robe

I never paid much attention to Tyler, the Creator until the 2018 “Grinch” film came out, and my WERQ dance fitness instructor kept showing the class dance choreography to it. But it’s this spot in the music video at 00:36 of Max sliding around on the back of the Grench’s robe that is so very, very 2020. If you’re looking for Christmas card photo ideas, what could possibly be better than getting your dog to do that long enough to snap the photo and mail?

Snoopy, music lessons be damned

Every time I watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” I wonder why I bothered trying to master the piano in elementary school or lugging an alto saxophone for months when I could’ve just picked up an instrument and spun it around in a circle. Don’t tell me it doesn’t work. That’s what Snoopy did with the guitar.

Two dogs are better than one

Danny DeVito saying, “Your mom knew your cousin a little too well” will never not be funny to me. Savagery at its finest. Rocks in “Look Who’s Talking Now” was something else, but Diane Keaton as the poodle Daphne didn’t short-stop either. If you’re an ’80s baby, chances are this 1993 film was part of your childhood. If you weren’t in the Baby Boomer, Generation X or Millennial crowd who enjoyed this film in theaters, find it on a streaming site (or DVD bin) near you. All three films are good, but this one may be the best yet.

And if these four fail you, just browse through your photo albums looking at years’ past. A dog owner hasn’t lived until (s)he has had to yell at a pup to not knock down the Christmas tree, stop ripping at the gift wrapping paper, yank away a Christmas ball that he decided was a chew toy, excessively hide any perfectly wrapped dog toys or treats underneath that your hound dog has sniffed out or stayed glued to your side in case any amount of Christmas dinner fell on the floor. Happy (upcoming) Howl-o-days!