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Does your pet have a ‘theme song’?
By Gina Spadafori
July 30, 2009
The heat broke here yesterday, the ocean finally able to push a strong, cool wind through the Delta funnel and into the hot valleys inland.
We valley folk live for such summer evenings, and I am no exception. The dogs and I sat out on the deck while the cats plastered themselves against the screens in the window behind my chair. Not even the mosquitoes could drive me inside, and they seemed to give up after a while, tired of fighting the crisp breeze as they tried to land on the warm-bloods.
I sat in the twilight, slowly enjoying a glass of red wine — and singing to the pets.
Crazy? Maybe. But I bet I’m not the only one whose pets have “theme songs.” I know regular reader and wildlife artist Susan Fox does, because she and I have talked about it. (By the way, Susan’s jut back from Mongolia. Check out her pictures and writing on her blog.)
Heather and Drew are the oldest pets here, so their songs are the ones I’ve sung most over the years. Puppy Faith, the youngest, doesn’t have a theme song yet — these things take time to develop.
Here’s Heather’s, sung to the Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek”:
Heather! I love Heather!
And it’s only fair that everyone should see
I am happy when my Heather is with me.
I am happy when my Heather is with me.
Drew’s is relatively more modern in origin, sung to the tune of “Julie, Do You Love Me?” as sung by my first Tiger Beat crush, Bobby Sherman:
Drewbie Drewbie Drewbie do you love me?
Drewbie Drewbie Drewbie do you care?
Drewbie Drewbie are you thinking of me?
Drewbie Drewbie will you still be there?
Silly, I know. But I also know Susan and I aren’t the only people out there who sing to our pets with their own theme songs. So give ‘em up folks!
Image: Drew, suggesting a tryout for “American Idol” should never be in my future.
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All of my guys have songs. Pickle the puppy has the “Pickle Song”, Mae had the “Hey Hey” song (to the tune of the Ren and Stimpy theme song from the Simpsons), Ellie’s was ‘Oh my darling, daffy dog’, done to “Clementine”. Tessa has had several, but currently her song is “Little stinky doggy, lying on my sofa, snoring til the floor shakes, dreaming she’s still tough” - done to Bunny Foo Foo.
Wow, it feels cathartic to share this… maybe we need a 12 step program. “My name is Carol, and I write songs for my pets”.
Comment by FrogDogz — July 30, 2009 @ 7:23 am
A friend I whose name I will not share had a song to let her poodle know it was time to potty.
:)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 7:28 am
Moe’s theme song is “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson
Some lyrics:
“Upside Down”
Who’s to say
What’s impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There’s no stopping curiosity
I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away
Who’s to say
I can’t do everything
Well I can try
And as I roll along I begin to find
Things aren’t always just what they seem
Comment by Meryl — July 30, 2009 @ 7:38 am
No, but now I want him to have one. ;o)
I do have a sort of chant about his wonky ears. Because one of his flips down like a a lab and the other is more folded like a BC. But I make up the words as I go along…guess that’s not the same thing ::ahem:: ::blush::
Comment by Original Lori — July 30, 2009 @ 7:42 am
I have a long tradition of singing to my pets, initially inspired by a friend who would sing to my cat Tim. The song he sang was the Rod McKuen chestnut “Jean” (“Jean, Jean, roses are red…”), with Tim in place of Jean. Tim had many theme songs, including “The Most Beautiful Cat in the World”:
Hey, did you happen to see
The most beautiful cat in the world?
And if you did, was he meowing, meowing?
And my Keeshond got “My Funny Puppydog” sung to the tune of “My Funny Valentine.”
Of my current pets, only one has a theme song, or actually two: Jasper the cat gets “Jasperman Vibration” (which started life as a Bob Marley song, “Rastaman Vibration”) and if I’m feeling ambitious, “Jasper” as sung to the tune of Blondie’s “Rapture.”
Comment by Amy — July 30, 2009 @ 7:46 am
My heart cat Itsy crossed the Bridge last October, but before she became ill, we had a daily ritual. When I would get out of the shower and come back to the bedroom to get ready, she would roll on her back and wait for belly rubs and lovin’ while I sang to her.
(To the tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)
My Itsy Bitsy Kitty, Oh how I love you so.
My Itsy Bitsy Kitty, I’ll never let you go.
Purr and mow-mow, my soft and pretty girl.
My Itsy Bitsy Kitty, you are my whole wide world.
She used to purr and eat up every second of it. We’d make it probably through one or two rounds of the song before I REALLY had to get ready.
And, my Frenchie boy Sonic got his theme song from a co-worker when I used to bring him in.
(To the theme of “Batman:)
Na na na na na na na na Batdog! Batdog! Batdog!
(and repeat)
Sonic gets all excited and does a butt wiggle and everything. ;-)
Comment by RHz — July 30, 2009 @ 7:52 am
Love it!
Each of our cats has his or her own song!
Comment by Roberta Beach Jacobson — July 30, 2009 @ 7:57 am
I actually had to have a tough discussion with my mom when i sat her down and told her i didn’t think she was singing enough to her dog.
Comment by Sarah — July 30, 2009 @ 8:00 am
My husband used to sing “Dancing with Mr D” (Rolling Stones) to our first golden, Teddy. Dancing with Mr DOG of course!
Besides BTR, Marcie gets serenaded with Get Back, and called Loretta. This is due to her in-your-face-standing-on-your-chest behavior. Not that we’ve ever allowed that or anything.
Comment by Janet Boss — July 30, 2009 @ 8:02 am
When the Queen of the Universe was with us, I used to sing the chorus of “Nothing Compares To You” by Sinead O’Conner to her.
BTW, “pet” writers/editors — what’s with nothing about goldfish care in the Pet Connection archives?
Cleaned out the pond yesterday and found out I have seven, rather than six goldfish which is too many and the folks that I’m trying to give them away to want good Internet articles.
Plus, one article said that goldfish like fresh peas (heck, I wouldn’t share my peas with Pepper — fresh snap peas are mine, all mine for working through heat, humidity and blood-sucking bugs) and “greens.” For a gardener, “greens” is an awfully broad term — since I’ve managed to keep these fish healthy in spite of “too many for the square footage” I’d hate to have them all croak becuase I gave them “toxic to them” plant material.
Comment by Dorene — July 30, 2009 @ 8:35 am
Wow … what a coincidence. UC Davis just sent us a note about their new fish doc, and I sent Christie an e saying we ought to do some fish articles. So … we’re on it. Stay tuned. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 8:41 am
Oooh goody, the 3 Betta Fish in their globes in my office (Alpha the Betta, Fried Fish, and Marmalade) will be waiting.
Comment by Original Lori — July 30, 2009 @ 8:43 am
Oh this is a great post.
I don’t have songs, which is weird considering how much I talk to all of them.
The closest is a Frank Sinatra riff I walk around yelling. Rabbits have a big roll of skin under their chins called a “dewlap.” The females pull fur from it to line the nests.
So I sing to them, “Dewlap-a-dee! Dewlap-a-dee, baybee!”
Comment by Mary Mary — July 30, 2009 @ 8:44 am
Oh this is sooo embarrassing!
Ida’s theme song is “Ida Star” sung to the tune of Edelweiss. First part: Ida Star, Ida Star you’re the kitty I dreamed of, Ida Star, Ida Star you’re the kitty I love.
Teddy’s theme song is an original tune (do you think I need to copywrite it, LOL). Basic lyric: Who’s the good kitty, who’s the good kitty ,who’s the kitty Teddy Boo. Yes a classic in the making.
And just to complete the humiliation, we have a song for when we’re going to sleep (OK, I’m going to sleep and I’d like them to chill). Its the “Good Kitty Bedtime” song.
Excuse me, I have to go hide under my desk now.
Comment by 2CatMom — July 30, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Dooley Dooley Give me your answer True
I’m half crazy all for the love of you…
Comment by Verde — July 30, 2009 @ 9:03 am
For SBT Mr Peabody, to the tune of “Here’s my little teapot” — a dance:
Here’s my little peapot, short and stout
Here is his handle [pulling on tail]
Here is his snout
When I put the kettle on
Hear him spout
Tip him over [picking him up on the back end)
Pour him out”
Comment by EmilyS — July 30, 2009 @ 9:07 am
I have a version of the “Banana Boat Song” for our lazy red husky Prince: Day-o, da-ay-ay-o, morning come and the wolf won’t move! Also a jingle adapted for our young and energetic Aussie: The worst part of waking up is Folger’s in your pup! And I used to sing to the goats while milking, including a version of “Gather Your Rosebuds” for anyone being obnoxious: “Eat your alfalfa while ye may, For time it is a flying, And this old goat we milk today, Tomorrow may be frying.
Comment by Maria Shanley — July 30, 2009 @ 9:18 am
I knew it! I knew you all had theme songs for your pets!
:)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 9:19 am
Faith has a song! It just came to me!
To the tune of The Beatle’s O-Bla-dee:
Faith-o-lee
Faith-o-lah
Faith-o-nah-HA!
Faith-y, Faith-y Faith goes on.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Oh my, am I the only one that sings AND waltzes with one of my cats in my arms?
Although my singing solely consists of a lot of pet’s name repeats and lalala’s and the real music playing in the background.
Favorite tunes La traviata drinking song and La Gioconda dance of the hours.
BTW, I only do this when no other humans are in the house.
Retreating red cheeked and awaiting men in white jackets who are coming to take me away..
Comment by serijna — July 30, 2009 @ 9:41 am
Great topic :)
The only beings that hear me sing are my dogs, and they say I’m fantastic LOL The horse likes it too…
Comment by Wendy — July 30, 2009 @ 9:46 am
When I was raising the puppies, I sang to them, too:
The wheels on the pups go round and round
round and round
round and round
The wheels on the pups go round and round
‘cuz their mommy loves them.
Obviously, these things don’t need to make any sense!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Dog o’ my heart, Sparky: Shining Star by Earth Wind and Fire.
Used to jam to EWT on the way to agility and that’s the first track on their Greatest Hits CD. Spark would always wait until the music started and then she’d just bark, bark, bark for joy all the way to agility class.
“Your a shinin’ star, no matter who you are…shinin’ bright to see, who you can truly be”.
Coincidentally, her pound name was Sparkle…just like the Shinin’ Star that she is. At the fat-n-sassy age of 13, her star isn’t even close to fading. You go, girl!
Comment by Melinda — July 30, 2009 @ 10:53 am
And so many people think I’m ‘off’ because all my dogs have special voices that we use to talk out loud for them, and they all have special songs, too. It’s so nice to know that those people are just dull.
I also sing a ‘Batman’ version, but really it’s “Na,na,na,na, na,na,na,na, Batgirl” to my black female greyhound when her ears are sticking straight up and out. Then there’s the “Duh, duh, duh, hold on, I’m comin’” song for my old guy as he jogs back to me.
My lab mix has many songs adapted to her belonging to the ‘Piggles Scouts’ (a long, bizarrely funny story), one of which is from the great band, Seven nations song, All You People.
“Na, na, na, na, na, na,
Play with Piggles”
Comment by KateH — July 30, 2009 @ 11:01 am
Stella has one- “Ghetto Superstar” by Pras- just the refrain, with just one word changed.
STELLA superstar, that is what you are
Comin’ from afar, reachin’ for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh-huh
From one corner, to another, uh-huh!
(sung to the tune of Islands in the Stream)
I’ll usually sing it to her when we’re walking, so sometimes I’ll say a couple of the rap lines like:
“I find myself, walkin the streets
Tryin to find what’s really goin on in the streets”
-OR-
“Now every dog got his day, needless to say
When the chief away that’s when them cats want to play”
-OR-
“But it’s all good as long as it’s understood
It’s all together now, in the hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood”
Between the refrains. People look at me like I’m crazy but she loooves it and knows it’s her song.
Comment by Baltimoregal — July 30, 2009 @ 11:22 am
but no one uses “Who Let the Dogs Out”????
Comment by EmilyS — July 30, 2009 @ 11:28 am
So Max’s theme song is to I’m a little teapot as well!
I’m a little scottie, short and stout.
Here is my front paw, here is my snout.
When you feed me dinner, hear me yum.
Fill my bowl! Give me some!
(He really loves to eat.)
Comment by Patti and Max — July 30, 2009 @ 11:38 am
i sang, once.
the donkey brayed, the dogs howled, and the cat ran and hid.
eli
Comment by eli — July 30, 2009 @ 11:51 am
I just remember. Years ago when I had a wonderful siberian husky, I used to sing to/with her. She would howl along, either approval or disapproval, do not know. Although probably the latter.
She was the only dog though I ever had that would sing along(out of tune). So cute.
I did have a friend though with birds. Now, they really do sing along (in tune), forgot what kind of birds.
Comment by serijna — July 30, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
I have a song for my former roommate’s dog sung to the tune of “Davey Crockett”: Cosmo, Cosmorific, Dog of the Wild Frontier.
I’m a professional petsitter, and a few of my favorites have their own songs:
Hollybell’s my Favorite Dog
Who doesn’t live at my house
Meemers, Meemers, she’s my favorite little pal
Meemers, Meemers, she’s my favorite little pal
and, to the tune of “Taps”,
Petiethelab, Petiethelab, Petiethelabpetiethelabpetiethelab
Petiethelab, Petiethelab, Petiethelabpetiethelabpetiethelab
Comment by Kristen — July 30, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
Oh, and back in my horse days, they all had songs too, very often sung to the tune of “Copa Cabana” (“His name was Alphie, he was a show horse…”)
Comment by Kristen — July 30, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
My hat off to baltimoregal. I would not have the nerves to sing in public like that. Only behind closed doors. My neighbors think I am nuts already anyway.
One neighbor asked my teenage son why his mum is screaming weird language late at night outside in the yard.
I feed my fixed ferals wet food late at night( on account of the flies) and all have names. One is named Peckerhead and he really listens to it. No more weird names though for future feral cats.
Comment by serijna — July 30, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
My senior pug, Rhoda, has the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” theme song as her special song, altered just slightly to say, “Well, it’s you, pug, and you should know it.” It also has a chorus that begins, “Pug Is All Around.”
Comment by Dee Dee — July 30, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
I usually do “Hello Dottee” for the Dot. She thinks it’s a riot for some reason . . .
When I adopted kitten Yankee, I was all about baseball and named him Yankee Smudgeface Smith and his Big Mitts (Hemingway kitty who looked like he had done a head first slide) and he was going to be my baseball buddy and represent the Bombers ‘round the house. Within hours of bringing him home I found myself singing Yankee Doodle Dandy to him. I was mortified!! I really don’t know where that came from . . .
Comment by straybaby — July 30, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I should point out that I don’t do this loudly!!
Comment by Baltimoregal — July 30, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
My deaf cat, who has passed away, had title to the Beatles song “Blackbird” which my husband plays in his memory.
“Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise”
The parrots share a few, but their favourites are Habonera and Queen of the Night.
Molson, our deceased retriever, had the theme song to Spiderman, but replaced some lyrics, including the name, “Cybermutt” which was the title of the movie he starred in. I can’t go into detail without becoming a puddle of teary goo, but you get the idea.
Fable is still young and so has many nicknames, but no official theme song just yet.
Lexus, my dear sweet Lexus… is “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim. Which also happens to be one the parrot’s fave’s. :O)
Comment by Kim — July 30, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
Oh yes, we have many… here’s the morning ritual, though (not the most original, really, but Yoda loves it):
Yo is my sunshine, my only sunshine
Yo makes me happy everyday
You’ll never know, Yo
How much I love Yo
Please don’t take my Yoda away.
Comment by Jennifer Fearing — July 30, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
“You Are My Sunshine” was the theme song of my dog Andy, who died in 2001.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 30, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
My deerhound Lillie had a poem:
Silly Lillie Billy Goat
In her silly Lillie coat
Went swimming in her Lillie moat
But soon found out she didn’t float
So she had to get a Lillie boat
Silly Lillie Billy Goat!
I also used to sing my chow mix, Colleen, the following song to the tune of “Jean,” AKA the them from “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”:
Colleen, Colleen
You’re my little dog
You’re the prettiest dog in the world
I love you the best, more than all of the rest
You’re my red dog, Colleen
Colleen, Colleen
You’re my little dog
You’re the prettiest dog in the world
So come when I call
Because I love you, that’s all
You’re my red dog, Colleen
Comment by Christie Keith — July 30, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
Pet theme songs must be in the air! Just did a blog entry this month about the theme song for a game we play with one of our Frenchie girls. Complete with photos and a link to listen to the song.
Da da da da da da…Da CAT TOY!
http://ebullientfrenchbulldogs.....a-cat-toy/
Comment by Frenchie Maintenance Supervisor — July 30, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Well, if you want a sour note, here it is:
“You always hurt the one you love” is the song I think of when I went and done something awful to my pet my mistake!
Comment by Colorado Transplant — July 31, 2009 @ 7:22 am
in a quick side track to respond to Dorene -
They don’t have to be fresh peas, they can be frozen - just thaw them (and shell them) before feeding. They’re excellent for swim bladder problems. Otherwise lettuce is a good green you can feed.
I usually make up songs for my dogs - but Dig by Incubus is a dog favorite for me.
Comment by Sarah — July 31, 2009 @ 7:28 am
While I’m looking forward to posts about fish, I’d also like to request more parrot-related articles… pretty please!!
And I don’t sing to my birds… I really can’t sing at all. But I do dance for them. They do a dance as well; it’s called the “stop flopping around already and come pick me up” dance.
Comment by Stewie & Mika — July 31, 2009 @ 7:43 am
I was thinking a bit of George Michael….Faith!
Sam’s theme song is either “Feel like makin’ Love” or “looking for love in all the wrong places” Depending on the day. :)
Bogey’s would be….I want it all and I want it NOW!
Comment by Verde — July 31, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Giiiiiiiina: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1017851
Comment by Original Lori — July 31, 2009 @ 8:21 am
My dogs all have poems that they earn. The latest one was earned during an unfortunate game of catch:
Ki-Ki,
while catching a fly
got hit in the eye.
Then we went to the Vet.
Okay that’s dumb but I am no poet.
Comment by Mikey — July 31, 2009 @ 11:53 am
It is great to find out that so many others sing to their dogs also. My Shadow and Squirt both shared the old song “That’s How Much I love You” — lots of verses, but I concentrated on the “If I had a nickel, I know what I would do, I’d spend it all on dog treats and give them all to you, ‘cause that’s how much I love you …, but also the “If you were a horsefly, and I an old gray mare, I’d stand and let you bite me and never move a hair — ‘cause that’s how much I love you, Shadow (or Squirt), that’s how much I love you.
Comment by shadepuppy — July 31, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
With me there are six of us. Use to be five but Freckles let us stay here at our home when she arrived. WE sing we sing alot we need to video taped.
Bear (remember the Birds of the 60’s). (Bird Bird Bird is the word).
Bear Bear Bear Bear is the word everyone’s talking about bear.
and
Went to the dance looking for romance and all I found was bear bear bear bear.
And Yoshi, Pebbles, and Pepper (we add Freckles here too),
Oh Yoshi baby I love you
Oh Pebbles baby I need you
Let me love you Pepper let me love you.
Enough said we don’t want to ruin our surprises for our coming out when the right talent scout discovers us.
Comment by J and gang — August 1, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Oh, any of the Pink (with or without Linda Perry compositions) about having to much energy and wanting attention and out of control scrappiness like “So What” and “Missundaztood” are the soundtrack for my reactive dog. Becaues she’s a rock star.
Comment by Ed — August 1, 2009 @ 8:12 pm