Social Media Hound Elmo at the Yappy Christmas Raffle

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

Everyone who meets Elmo loves him.  He's super cute, super friendly and very photogenic.  He is our Social Media Hound cos every time I post his photo, we always get lots of likes!

Pup Reporter Alexia, with Social Media Hound Elmo, at the Yappy Christmas Raffle

I've had Elmo for a year and a half, and it seems like the longer I have him, the more quirks he develops.  Not sure if that's from living with me, or whether he's always had these funny habits, but I reckon a lot of them came from his life before I adopted him.  The RSPCA didn't have any history on him, but I strongly believe he came from a puppy farm.

Someone told me once that some dogs like to jump onto other dogs as a form of dominance.  Well, it seems like Elmo like to jump on female dogs, and when I say jump on them, I mean mount them from behind.  Yep, I suspect he's had quite a few fluffy white offspring from his time at the puppy farm.  But over a year after his desexing surgery I didn't think he'd still be in the habit of trying to hump the lady dogs!

Elmo is grumpy because he didn't want to wear the Santa hat!

Look at him, he's so cute!  Yes he is and I love him to bits, but his past life keeps intruding into the present.  I can't walk him past wheelie bins without him freezing and pulling away with fear.  And he has the same reaction to running water and outdoor taps. 

And did I mention he is a peeing machine?  No bush, no post, no tree trunk, is immune to Elmo's piddle.  At our recent Christmas raffle he spotted him cocking his leg against the Executive Producer's handbag, a water bowl, a few table legs, some random Christmas decorations left lying on the ground, and every tree trunk in close proximity.  I've been told that for Elmo, marking is a natural behaviour for him and to try and change this would just confuse and stress him. 

So I am resigned to having to watch him like a hawk every time he's around other dogs, in case I have to run in to stop him from humping a lady dog or weeing against someone's property.

Elmo is popular with the ladies, both two and four-legged, as seen here with Intan Lay

No you can't tell just by looking at him that Elmo has these quirks.  But I would never give him up just because he tried to have his way with three female Cavaliers in one afternoon.  Just because Elmo can't have puppies anymore, that doesn't stop him from trying!  Honestly, I think he doesn't know his boy bits are gone for good.

Who's Your Doggy?

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

Making a TV show when you don't have a lot of money does present some challenges. But we've been lucky to have a very motivated team of volunteers who are really good sports when it comes to dealing with the public when filming.

Our usual guy Vas couldn't make it to filming this time, so I called up an acquaintance, Peter, to fill in as Yappy while we patrolled St Kilda for dog owners to interview.

On that day I found myself acting as costume assistant, roadie, social media person, production assistant, driver, dog wrangler and promoter.  All in the space of two hours.  A limited budget calls for maximum flexibility of duties, but still it's a lot of fun and you just have to muck in if you wanna get some great TV content in the can.

Yappy playing with some children in St Kilda

Standing outside Luna Park, that was a trip!  All the kids and families kept coming up to Yappy, wanting photos and hugs.  A couple of young men even came up to hug Yappy!  Liza was handing out business cards to anyone who'd take them while I kept shouting out "Yappy Hour TV!  Channel 31!  7th November!  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter!"  Hopefully I didn't ruin the audio....

Maybe filming on a Thursday afternoon wasn't the best idea.  We just couldn't find any dogs around to film!  Tony had lined up a young woman to interview about her dog, someone he'd met in a bar the night before.  He didn't manage to get her phone number though.

On St Kilda beach we found a young couple who were happy to be filmed talking about their female Jack Russell.  Mid-way through the interview Elmo started circling her, sniffed her hindquarters, then jumped on her.  I blurted "Elmo, don't hump the little dog!" and pulled him off.  

Maybe we should be making a reality TV show instead.

Yappy and Elmo, with Tony Bolton and Roger Qureitem in background

Our recent additions to the Yappy team

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

The show has started broadcasting and we're getting more and more people joining the Yappy Team.

Now we have Julia Drost, our resident dog breed expert.

Laura Densley - Rover Reporter

Naomi Fryers, mother of 14 month old Ted, and our Yappy blogger

Intan Lay who will issue media and press releases

And Tony Knight, fresh from the UK, the world renown Dog Listener!

Preview of Episode 3

Posted by Naomi - Yappy Blogger

Welcome to our ‘dog blog’!

A quick heads (and tails) up to all our pawsome Melbourne furfriends: Yappy Hour TV (YHTV) Episode 3 screens tonight at 6pm on Channel 31!!

Get your tails and tongues wagging folks because the hottest new show in town will be racing across your screens again tonight!  Our Rover Reporters present an action-packed episode on all things canine, while meeting a range of owners and discussing their beloved furbabies.

Former Sale of the Century star Celeste Billinge introduces us to her rescue pup “Rosie” ex RSPCA and fills us in on what the pair have been up to, including some retraining and other such tricks.  And our resident doggy nutritionist offers some useful advice on using natural ingredients in doggy diets to overcome ailments.

We gain an insight into the tattoo industry by visiting Joy Antonie at 'Joy of Ink' and find out how common it is for owners to get inked in honour of ‘(wo)man’s best friend,’ and that owners often get tattoos in memoriam.  Thank you to Les Toth for a great interview!  Southern Cross Pet Services also give us an insight into humans’ grieving processes for pets that have been lost, or crossed the ‘rainbow bridge’ into doggy heaven.

Tonight’s show will also give viewers inside access to tips on avoiding becoming ‘barking mad’. For all you pet owners (current and prospective) YHTV meets Mark Glazenbrook who invented a distraction toy that keeps dogs occupied when they would otherwise be barking. There is also ongoing discussion throughout the show on dogs as pet therapy or companion animals.

                                                                                                           

Arguably a highlight of this episode is the tale of ‘Story Dogs’, who have created an incredible network and are helping children with literacy in local Melburnian schools. 

Pup Reporter Alexia at Sandringham East Primary School

Find out all this by watching the show TONIGHT!  Like all YHTV episodes there’s something for every dog lover, so don’t forget to tune in.

And don't forget to come back to our Yappy dog blog for a post-show review, including more information on any of the products, specialists and guests we discuss on Yappy Hour TV.

From all the team at Yappy Hour TV we wish you a lovely day.  See you tonight!

NAOMI FRYERS

The Dogs Behind Yappy Hour TV

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

We thought it was time we dedicated an entire blog post to our own furry four-legged darlings...As we wouldn't be making our doggy show if it wasn't for them!

So here's Tyson, a Staffy cross belonging to our animator Kathy Constantin.

Barlie, our blogger Naomi Fryer's dog, a Shihtzu Poodle.
 

A handsome Great Dane called Charlie, beloved by Lorinska Anderson, Rover Reporter.

Chanel, Dior and Gucci, a Maltese, Papillion and Chihuahua, who are cared by Libby Petrella, Rover Reporter.

Tiny 14 month old Zoe, a chihuahua, owned by Executive Producer, Liza Robinson.

Liza's 10 year dog Zac, a Jack Russell chihuahua mix.

And here is Taco, another Chihuahua also belonging to Liza. 

This is Social Media Hound Elmo, who is a Bichon Frise crossbreed sharing his life with Belinda Chong, digital media manager.

 And last but not least...here's Yappy!  Beloved by children and everyone in the Yappy team.

What breed is Elmo?

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

My dog Elmo is a male Bichon Frise cross.  When I adopted him from RSPCA VIC they identified his breed as that.

He definitely had a Bichon face, but he's smaller than typical Bichons.  Plus his coat is less dense and he has clear nails instead of black ones.

Random dog lovers I encounter on the street like to play 'Guess the breed' with my dog.  Most of the time they think he is Maltese, poodle, or shihtzu.  On rare occasions people guess correctly because they have their own Bichon at home.

Elmo, aka YHTV's Social Media Hound, at Mentone Beach

I was having a meal in St Kilda with Elmo once, and the French waitress knew he was a Bichon cross because her own dog in France was one.  And she was telling me how much she missed her dog too.

Random strangers who normally wouldn't have anything to do with me will come up to me and Elmo just to start conversations about Elmo or to talk about their own dogs.  It doesn't matter what age or background they are, kids and adults alike will just come up to us and tell me what a cute dog I have.

One of these days I will get the dog breed DNA test to find out exactly what mix of breeds he is, just cos I'm curious.  But in the end it doesn't matter, cos I love him just the way he is.

BELINDA CHONG

Filming at the Royal Melbourne Show

Posted by Belinda - Social Media Manager

It's not that hot today but muggy and a little windy at the Melbourne Showgrounds.  Liza is ill so Libby has kindly taken her place for the day.

Filming at the Advance Dog Pavilion

The Showgrounds are so big it takes forever to walk from the Advance Dog Pavilion with our filming equipment to the showbags building where we hope to find the 3AW booth.  Liza had heard that 3AW were interviewing kids at the Show, and asked us to see if they would agree to interview Alexia so we could film it for Yappy Hour TV.  And to promote the show to 3AW listeners.

Well okay, Liza, hopefully Roger won't mind staying back an extra 30 minutes.  We find the booth with a couple of young women out the front handing out pamphlets.  It's Magic 1278 broadcasting today, not 3AW.  Hmm, not sure who we should ask about interviewing Alexia.

Roger tells me to ask the young woman out the front, since she's wearing a Magic 1278 shirt.  I tell her about 3AW's interviews with kids and ask her if we could arrange something like that with Magic instead.

She tells me Magic have a programme which is preplanned and she's not sure if they include interviews with kids.  Ok then.  Roger looks at me and says "Well maybe not then...?"  Alexia looks worried.

"Is there a producer that maybe we can talk to?"  I ask the young lady.  She doesn't really respond and gives me a look which is not encouraging for us. 

"Oh well thanks anyway, we'll just wait here for our colleagues to catch up with us," I say to her.  I guess it's a bit much for us to just turn up and ask for a live on-air interview there and then.

Yappy and Libby

We see Yappy and Libby in the distance, who are stopping frequently to pose for photos and hugs with children.  Yappy is amazingly, astoundingly popular here at the Show.  Then I see the young woman talking to the announcer inside the Magic 1278 booth, and she is glancing at us.

I bring Alexia inside the booth, give Libby's business card to the announcer and introduce Alexia to him.  He agrees to interview her, and they agree to let us to film them talking, with Yappy next to them inside the booth.

OMGOMGOMGOMG!

I am blown away by the friendliness and generosity of the Magic 1278 announcers for being such good sports.  Libby and I watch the interview from outside and every time Ric Ditchburn mentions Yappy Hour TV we squeal and jump up and down with excitement.  The other male announcer Kevin John comes out and tells us "But it's only radio!"  to which we reply "But we don't care!!!"

Alexia is very natural and quick thinking when interviewed, and even thanks the announcer at the end.  She is a true professional at age 10!  When filming has finished we thank the Magic 1278 team and pack up our things.  Alexia is fooling around with the Yappy costume and Roger is taking smartphone pics of her like any proud Dad.

Libby has sore feet and I'm knackered, but I'm really proud we got to film Alexia being interviewed today.  Yappy Hour TV is Liza's dream, and sometimes all you have to do is go out and ask someone to make your dreams come true.

Alexia being interviewed live on Magic 1278, with Ric Ditchburn and Yappy.

Special thanks to Jane Holmes, Kevin John and Ric Ditchburn from Magic 1278