ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
November 13, 2009
Dug the Dog Speaks!
TFK chats with the loyal canine from the animated tale Up
Last summer, moviegoers joined a 78-year-old grouch and a cheerful boy scout on a high-flying adventure in Disney/Pixar's Up. This week, audiences can relive the amazing journey all over again with the release of the hit animated tale on DVD.
 |  DISNEY/PIXAR Dug the dog gets to know his new friends Kevin, Russell and Carl. |
Up tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman who has dreamed of adventure since he was a young boy. To fulfill his lifelong dream, Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats away to South America. But the grumpy senior is not alone. A young stowaway named Russell has accidentally climbed on for the ride. Together, the two embark on a wild adventure through the rugged jungles of Venezuela.
Carl and Russell meet some interesting characters along the way including a giant bird, a crazed explorer and a talking dog named Dug. The lovable canine steals the show with his simple observations and unwavering joy. He remains in good spirits even when the other dogs in his pack, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, bark at him.
It's Dug who has the last yap, though, as we see in Dug's Special Mission. The short film is one of many extras included on the DVD. It gives audiences a peek at what Dug was doing before he met his future master, Carl. TFK spoke to the chatty pooch about his new starring role and his fascination with squirrels.
TFK:What is your new short film, Dug's Special Mission, about?
DUG:I am in a short film? What is a short film? Oh, my Special Mission! It is about my happiest day and my hardest day being on the same day. Alpha falls down a lot. I hope it wasn't because of me!
TFK:What's it like being the star of your own movie?
DUG:Do you mean a star like the small white tennis balls over my head in the nighttime? I would like being one of those if I could be just me after that. If there is a different kind of "being a star," I hope it means that I get a scratch behind my left ear many times!
TFK:What do you think Up fans will enjoy about your special mission?
DUG:Many happy masters out there who like to watch me and my friends, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, will wag their tails because many times they will laugh. Wait, you do not have tails! Too bad. I like to have a tail.
TFK:What were you up to before you encountered Carl and Russell?
DUG:I was out on my Special Mission, looking for the bird for my master. He made me a collar so that I may talk - SQUIRREL!
TFK:It seemed like Alpha and the other dogs were big bullies. How did you deal with that from day to day?
DUG:Oh, no. They are nice. If I finish my Special Mission, then Alpha will be nice to me even more. Sometimes when the dogs bark at me, I pretend in my brain that I go to chase a butterfly in a field of tennis balls.
TFK:Now that you live in California with Carl, do you ever miss running around the jungle?
DUG:Oh, no. I went on a bridge that was Golden, and saw many tall, tall trees. I like trees. I am a dog. Trees are good.
TFK:In the closing credits of Up, we learned that you had a litter of your own. How are your pups doing? Do you have any fatherly advice to share?
DUG:Puppies!!! My puppies are dogs, and they are puppies! I have just met my puppies and I love each one of my puppies. My puppies are great, and again, I love them! My advice to the fathers of puppies is to be patient when they are chewing on your ears. They are puppies, and puppies chew on things like ears and oven mitts.
TFK:How many languages are programmed into your collar? Do you like to change it up from time to time?
DUG:There are many ways that I can talk with the collar that my old master made! I only change my talking when I know a human will understand my collar talk. Why do humans talk in so many different ways? I was asking my master that the other - SQUIRREL!
TFK:Speaking of squirrels, why do dogs like to chase them so much?
DUG:Why must you ask me a thing about these squirrels? You must chase the squirrels too, do you not? Who does not bark and run and chase the squirrels? Haw! A silly question.
TFK:Aside from chasing squirrels, what's your favorite pastime?
DUG:I like to curl up and take a nap in the light of the large yellow tennis ball and dream about taking an even longer nap!
