This latest “Madison’s Mad Facts” has been one of my favorites to date. Full disclosure, I’ve been a professional dog obedience trainer for over two decades, having also worked in dog rescue. So, yes, I am a huge dog person. I was actually first turned on to the history of dogs of the Klondike Gold Rush years before I even started doing “Madison on the Air,” and certainly long before we took on “The Challenge of the Yukon.” One of my obedience students lent me her copy of “Gold Rush Dogs” which is not only full of amazing stories, but incredible photography of the era. If you want to see “White Fang” or “Call of the Wild” in true stories and photos, check out this book: LINK TO AMAZON
It was absolutely a ton of fun to put the Wonder Dog, King, into “Madison on the Air.” The original series certainly does focus on King, and, as in our second story, “A Pack of Bacon,” there is a great deal of narration that puts us into King’s thoughts. However, they do not have King “talk” and respond to the characters in the way I’ve adapted him. But how could I not? Huskies and Malamutes are very vocally diverse. They make a wide range of sounds outside of simply barking. In fact, I found a recording made of real sled dogs preparing to start a race, but they howled so much, I was afraid it would sound to the audience like a pack of wolves. But, nope! That is legitimately how Huskies vocalize! I did utilize a few pieces I found from people who’d recorded their Huskies making a variety of goofy howls and whines. It really sounds like you’re having a two sided conversation with them. So whether it is King or the pesky Buttercup that Madison is dealing with, having them talk back to her was a blast. Especially since in these exchanges, Madison usually lost to the dog!
Overall, however, I realize as these episodes continue (we’re up to 20 now! Woo!) Madison is coming off as a cat person. She definitely loves animals, no doubt. But her affinity for her beloved cat, Mr. Peanut, has emerged through her antidotal flashbacks. There is a point she talks about the Portuguese soccer team trashing her parent’s house and shaving the family dog. Or the “emotional support dog” she got for her cat, which Madison delights in the cat scratching the dog for the cat’s “therapy.” She did a good job of taking care of Dr. Watson’s dogs last episode, or did she? Mostly she used them as a weapon to give the narrator a hard time for her own amusement. And now with King, I think we can safely say, Madison is more of a cat person than a dog person. Which is the complete opposite of me! I adore my three kitties, but dogs are a vital part of my life.
And since I am an avid participant in animal rescue, I highly recommend adoption. In Los Angeles county, the top three breeds surrendered to shelters are Pit Bulls, Chihuahuas, and, yes, Huskies. They are a breed that need a lot of early training, but, of course, will become amazing and loyal family members with the right amount of attention. So please, if you want a Husky in your life, purebreds can be found at the shelters. You can search any breed or mix on PET FINDER.
