Introducing Dog With a Blog
Dog with a Blog is a Disney Channel sitcom that aired from October 2012 to September 2015. The show centers around a blended family who adopts a talking dog named Stan. Stan is able to talk and blog thanks to an experimental collar he wears that allows him to speak. The show follows the adventures and relationships between the members of the newly blended James-Jennings family, told from the perspective of Stan the dog.
The main characters include:
– Avery Jennings (G. Hannelius) – the passionate step-sister and aspiring singer
– Tyler James (Blake Michael) – the athletic and popular step-brother
– Chloe James (Francesca Capaldi) – the adorable little sister who is the only one that can hear Stan talk at first
– Bennett James (Regan Burns) – the quirky veterinarian dad
– Ellen Jennings (Beth Littleford) – the career-driven mom and Bennett’s new wife
The premise centers around Bennett and Ellen blending their families after getting married. The couple adopts Stan from the animal clinic in hopes that he will help bring their three kids together. Only Chloe can understand Stan at first, leading to humorous miscommunications. Overall, the show highlights the adventures, relationships, and growing pains of a modern blended family, all told from the witty perspective of their pet dog Stan.
Meet the James-Jennings Family
The James-Jennings family is the central family in the Disney Channel series Dog With a Blog. The family consists of parents Bennett James and Ellen Jennings, and their children Chloe, Tyler, and Avery.
The parents Bennett and Ellen met in college and have been married for over 16 years. Bennett James (https://dogwithablog.fandom.com/wiki/James_Family) works as a child psychologist. He is sometimes overly analytical but cares deeply about his family. Ellen Jennings is a nurse and is portrayed as more laidback and relaxed than Bennett.
The James-Jennings couple have three children together. Their oldest is 16-year-old daughter Chloe, an aspiring fashion designer and online blogger. Next is 13-year-old son Tyler, an athletic and popular teenager. The youngest is 8-year-old daughter Avery, a cute but mischievous child.
Together, Bennett, Ellen, Chloe, Tyler, and Avery make up the loving James-Jennings family at the heart of Dog With a Blog. Despite their differences, they share a tight family bond.
Chloe’s Parents
Chloe’s biological father is Bennett James. According to the Dog With a Blog Fandom Wiki, Bennett is described as “Chloe and Tyler’s father. He recently married Ellen and moved in with Avery and her.”
Chloe’s mother is Ellen Jennings. The Dog With a Blog Wiki notes that Ellen married Bennett James and became Chloe’s stepmother. She bonded quickly with Chloe and Tyler, welcoming them into her home with open arms. Though not Chloe’s biological parent, Ellen embraced the role of mother figure in Chloe’s life.
Bennett and Ellen created a blended family, providing love, support and guidance to all their children. Though coming from different backgrounds, they worked together to build a warm, caring home environment.
Bennett James
Bennett James (https://dogwithablog.fandom.com/wiki/Bennett_James) is Chloe’s father. He works as a child psychologist, which suits his fun-loving and occasionally immature personality. Despite sometimes acting more like a kid than a parent, Bennett cares deeply for Chloe and shares a close bond with her.
As a child psychologist, Bennett understands the importance of communication and connection. He has an open and playful relationship with Chloe, encouraging her creativity and self-expression. Though he can be protective, Bennett respects Chloe’s independence and gives her space to make her own decisions. Their bond is built on mutual love and trust.
Bennett’s youthful spirit sometimes leads to conflict with Chloe, like when he embarrasses her in front of her friends. But his intentions are good-hearted, and he tries to learn from his mistakes. Overall, Bennett and Chloe share a warm father-daughter relationship full of laughter, support, and memorable adventures together.
Ellen Jennings
Ellen Jennings is Chloe’s mother and one of the main characters on Dog With a Blog. She works as a nurse at the local hospital and is portrayed as a very naive and overly trusting parent (Source). Despite her flaws, Ellen deeply cares for her three children.
Ellen has a close and loving relationship with her daughter Chloe. The two often talk about school, friends, and the ups and downs of growing up. Ellen wants Chloe to be able to come to her about anything. She does her best to give Chloe advice while also allowing her the freedom to make her own choices. Their relationship faces challenges when Chloe starts becoming more independent, forcing Ellen to reevaluate her role as a mother (Source). However, their bond remains strong throughout the show.
Chloe’s Bond with Her Parents
Chloe has a close relationship with both her biological father, Bennett James, and her stepmother, Ellen Jennings. As an only child for many years, Chloe enjoyed having her dad’s undivided attention until he started dating Ellen. Initially, Chloe was resistant to Ellen joining the family, worried she’d have to share her dad’s affection. Over time though, Ellen proved to be a caring and supportive parental figure for Chloe. Now, Chloe sees Ellen as a second mom.
Bennett has always been protective of Chloe and aims to build up her confidence. He encourages her various interests like songwriting and cheerleading. As a child psychologist, he sometimes analyzes Chloe’s behavior much to her annoyance. But it comes from a place of love and wanting to understand his daughter better. Ellen also nurtures Chloe’s passions, though she can be more pragmatic when Chloe’s imagination runs wild. Ellen and Bennett offer Chloe guidance while allowing her to make mistakes and learn for herself.
Like any parents, Bennett and Ellen have clashed with Chloe at times. Chloe didn’t appreciate their strict monitoring of her online activity. She also felt they were too overbearing when Stan’s abilities were revealed. But even when disagreements occur, the love between Chloe and her parental figures remains strong. They continue to be there for each other through life’s ups and downs.
Noteworthy Parenting Moments
Bennett and Ellen demonstrate their parenting skills through many meaningful interactions and lessons with their kids. Some noteworthy examples include:
In the episode “Stan Stops Talking,” Ellen has a heartfelt talk with Chloe after finding out she lied. She emphasizes the importance of trust and being truthful, while also reassuring Chloe of her unconditional love. Ellen handles the situation calmly and turns it into a learning moment.
When Tyler feels insecure about his height in “Short Of Statue,” Bennett shares his own experiences of being teased when he was younger. He advises Tyler to have confidence in himself and not let others determine his self-worth. Their conversation highlights Bennett’s compassion and ability to relate to his kids.
In “Dog Loses Girl,” Ellen and Bennett comfort Chloe after she experiences her first heartbreak. They let her express her feelings, provide perspective on relationships, and assure her that the pain will pass. Their emotional support exemplifies their strong bond with Chloe.
When Bennett sees Avery being teased in “Avery’s First Crush,” he immediately intervenes and stands up for him. This demonstrates Bennett’s protectiveness and intolerance for bullying. It’s a small but powerful example of his thoughtful parenting.
These moments and many others show how dedicated Bennett and Ellen are to guiding their kids through life lessons with patience, wisdom and love.
Reactions to Learning About Stan
In the season 3 episode “Stan’s Secret Is Out”, Bennett and Ellen finally discover that their family dog Stan is able to talk. This revelation occurs when Stan accidentally speaks in front of Ellen’s boss, Colonel Fink. Shocked and confused, Ellen and Bennett demand an explanation from their kids as to how long they’ve known about Stan’s ability to talk.
Understandably, both parents have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that their dog can communicate with them. As Bennett says, “This whole time we thought he was just a normal dog, but it turns out he’s been listening to us and forming opinions!” It’s a major adjustment for the family to accept Stan as more than just a pet.
However, Ellen and Bennett eventually embrace Stan as part of the family. Despite the strangeness of the situation, they realize that Stan truly cares about them and has become an important part of their lives. With time, having a talking dog just becomes the new normal for the James-Jennings household.
Bennett and Ellen’s Lasting Legacy
As Chloe’s parents, Bennett and Ellen had a profound impact on her understanding of family. Even though Chloe was adopted, Bennett and Ellen treated her no differently than their biological children Avery and Tyler. They embraced Chloe as one of their own and showed her the meaning of unconditional love.
According to the Ellen Jennings wiki page, Ellen and Bennett taught Chloe that family means being there for each other through thick and thin. They supported Chloe’s interests, helped her through tough times, and celebrated her accomplishments. Their acceptance allowed Chloe to feel secure and confident in who she was.
On the show, Bennett and Ellen demonstrated the ups and downs of married life. They didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but they worked through their issues with honesty, empathy and humor. This modeled for Chloe how to communicate in a relationship built on mutual understanding and respect.
Though Bennett passed away before the events of the show, his spirit was always felt through Ellen and Chloe’s memories of him. His lasting impact on Chloe was her strength, intelligence and sense of adventure. Ellen kept his memory alive by sharing stories and life lessons. This taught Chloe to cherish those we love even when they are gone.
As parents, Bennett and Ellen left an incredible legacy through the family they built. Their love created a home where Chloe felt like she belonged. That’s the true meaning of family.
The Importance of Family
Throughout the series, the close-knit James-Jennings family demonstrate the importance of supporting and loving each other even during challenging times. Despite being a blended family, Bennett, Ellen, Avery, Tyler, and Chloe grow to embrace their new normal. According to the Wikipedia page, the family bands together when they discover Stan’s ability to talk and blog. This revelation strengthens their bond as they navigate keeping Stan’s talents a secret. The James-Jennings prioritize family above all else and showcase the power of unconditional love.