Introduction
Dog With a Blog was a Disney Channel television series that aired from 2012 to 2015. The show centered around a blended family whose newly adopted dog could talk and write a blog. While the parents and younger brother in the family were unaware of the dog’s abilities, the three kids – Avery, Chloe, and Tyler – were in on the secret. Dog With a Blog became one of the Disney Channel’s most popular shows during its run, known for its humorous take on a talking pet.
Premise of the Show
Dog With a Blog centered around a blended family, the James-Jennings, and their talking dog named Stan. One of the unique premises of the show was that the family’s dog Stan secretly had the ability to talk and maintained a blog. He communicated by talking to the family’s three kids – Tyler, Chloe, and Avery. The kids were the only ones aware that Stan could talk, and they helped keep his talents hidden from their parents Bennett and Ellen. This comedic, light-hearted Disney Channel show revolved around the family’s everyday adventures and mishaps, with Stan’s talking and blogging abilities occasionally helping the kids get out of trouble.
According to the Dog With a Blog Fandom Wiki, Stan had a special talent that no other dogs possessed – the ability to talk. This was a secret only shared between Stan, Tyler, Chloe, and Avery. Stan also maintained a blog that he wrote in at night when the family was asleep. His unique talking and blogging abilities were central to the show’s premise and added a fun, fantasy element to an otherwise fairly typical domestic family sitcom.
The Talking Dog Character
The main talking dog character on the show was Stan, a 4-year old Border Collie mix. According to the Dog With a Blog Wiki, Stan had “a funny sense of humour, and has the ability to talk.” Stan had white fur, brown eyes, and black spots. The spots were actually makeup applied by trainers during filming.
Stan was voiced by Stephen Full. However, for on-screen appearances and photos, the real-life dog named Mick portrayed Stan. Mick’s owners run his official social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter where they confirm he played the role of Stan and that the spots were makeup.
As a talking dog, Stan provided witty commentary on the events happening in the show. He often acted as the wise voice of reason for the human characters. His ability to speak allowed him to be a confidante and guide for the family.
Production of the Dog’s Voice
The voice of Stan was created through a combination of special effects and clever editing. According to the Dog With a Blog Fandom Wiki, “they use a computer to edit the video and make Stan’s mouth move. They make it look like he is pronouncing the right words, then they add in the dog’s voiceover after.”
The show used CGI animation to match the dog’s mouth movements to the dialogue. The actor voicing Stan, Stephen Full, would record his lines which were then synced to the dog’s mouth movements in post-production. This allowed Stan to appear to realistically talk, while keeping the live-action and conversational nature of the show.
As the Dog With a Blog Fandom Wiki explains, “Unlike other dogs, Stan has the ability to talk, a secret only shared with Avery, Tyler, and Chloe.” The innovative production techniques made this fictional talking dog seem like a reality on the show.
Reception and Ratings
Dog with a Blog premiered on Disney Channel on October 12, 2012 to an audience of 4.05 million viewers, making it the most-watched series premiere on the network since 2011 [1]. The series, featuring a family with a talking dog, resonated with viewers and received generally positive reviews. Common Sense Media noted that while the premise was silly, the show “celebrates families” and “raises discussion points” for kids and parents [2].
The first season averaged 3.5 million viewers per episode, making it one of Disney Channel’s top-rated series that year [3]. The talking dog, voiced by Stephen Full, proved popular with kids. Ratings remained strong through the second and third seasons, consistently ranking among the top scripted cable TV series for ages 6-11 and 9-14 [1]. While some critics found the show formulaic, its family-friendly themes and relatable characters connected with its core tween and teen audience.
Impact and Legacy
Dog with a Blog had a lasting influence as one of Disney Channel’s most popular shows in the early 2010s. Despite only running for 3 seasons from 2012-2015, Dog with a Blog developed a cult following and pop culture recognition. The talking dog premise was considered groundbreaking for a Disney show aimed at kids and families.
Many critics highlighted Dog with a Blog’s ability to blend an outlandish concept with relatable stories about modern family life. According to a review on FilmInquiry, the show used the talking dog device to thoughtfully explore the impact of digital and technological culture. The show connected with millions of viewers during its run.
Dog with a Blog also influenced later shows such as Disney’s Jessie, which incorporated more absurd humor and high concept devices. Overall, Dog with a Blog demonstrated creative storytelling combining a high concept premise with down-to-earth family situations and life lessons.
Similar Shows
Dog With a Blog shares similarities with other shows that feature unnatural talking characters. These include classic shows like Mister Ed, which centered around a talking horse, as well as more recent programs like Yo Gabba Gabba!, which featured talking animals and creatures.
Some other shows with unnatural talking characters that are comparable to Dog With a Blog include:
- Clifford the Big Red Dog – This PBS animated series featured a giant talking dog.
- Arthur – The popular PBS show includes talking animals like dogs, cats, rabbits and more.
- Martha Speaks – This animated series revolves around a dog who gains the ability to talk after eating alphabet soup.
- BoJack Horseman – An adult animated Netflix series starring a talking horse.
While less common today, the concept of unnaturally talking animals has a long history in television, allowing shows to explore anthropomorphic stories and themes. Dog With a Blog continued this tradition for a new generation of viewers.
Behind the Scenes
Dog With a Blog was created by Michael B. Kaplan, who got the idea for a talking dog character after adopting a shelter dog named Stan. Kaplan said in interviews that he imagined what Stan would say if he could speak. The show filmed on studio sets with green screen backgrounds to allow for the special effects that enabled the dog to talk.
The voice actor for the talking dog character, Stan, was Stephen Full. In behind-the-scenes footage, Full can be seen in a sound booth reading Stan’s lines. The actor said he imagined what his own dog would sound like if it could speak when doing the voiceover work.
The human cast members revealed that working with the animated dog could be challenging because they had to imagine Stan was there when filming scenes. The younger actors especially enjoyed getting to act opposite a CGI character. The dog who played the physical Stan needed training to hit marks and perform cues on set.
The visual effects team added a lot of personality to Stan’s animated face to make him appear more expressive. Small touches like moving the dog’s ears or widening his eyes helped make Stan seem more alive and realistic. The VFX artists said matching the animation to the voiceover was an entertaining process.
Reviews from critics at the time noted the innovative use of CGI and praised the believability of the talking dog effect. The cast and crew took pride in bringing the unique character of Stan to life and advancing special effects technology for live-action TV.
Response to Criticism
Despite its popularity, Dog with a Blog faced criticism for its unrealistic premise of a talking dog. Many reviewers found the concept too silly and far-fetched. As Brian Lowry of Variety wrote, “The show’s talking dog concept feels so contrived as to preclude buying into any of it.”
The show’s creators were aware that a talking dog was an outlandish idea. However, they wanted to use the comedic premise to tell heartwarming stories about family, friendship, and growing up. As executive producer Michael B. Kaplan said, “We did know going in that we were doing a show with a gimmick, with a talking dog. But it was really about the family.”
While the central conceit required suspension of disbelief, fans responded to the themes and found Stan’s sarcastic one-liners funny. The show gently poked fun at its own absurdity at times. The outlandish premise ultimately served as a vehicle for telling grounded stories about relatable family dynamics.
Conclusion
Overall, Dog With a Blog was a unique Disney Channel show that featured a talking dog named Stan as one of the main characters. The family-friendly sitcom followed the blended James-Jennings family, who adopt Stan as their pet without initially realizing he can talk and blog. His ability to speak is revealed early in the first season, leading to hilarious predicaments as the family tries to keep his secret. While the show was silly, it also dealt with relatable family issues and life lessons.
Stan’s talking was believable thanks to CGI animation and voiced by Stephen Full. Viewers reported fully buying into the conceit and finding the show imaginative and fun, especially for a Disney Channel program. The series ran for three seasons before ending in 2015. While it was not as huge a ratings success as some Disney shows, Dog With a Blog developed a loyal following and fanbase during its run. It also paved the way for more fantastical high-concept stories on Disney Channel. The show’s unique premise of a communicative canine provided a creative twist on the classic coming-of-age family sitcom.
In the end, many fans were disappointed that Dog With a Blog was cancelled after just three seasons. The final episode leaves things open-ended, with the family going public about Stan’s abilities. Viewers were left wanting more adventures and stories with the James-Jennings family and their extraordinary talking dog. While short-lived, Dog With a Blog made a memorable impact thanks to its original concept and appeal to kids and families.
