Latest news with #TheDogfather
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
How Singalong Starmer got his deal … and a bit part in Trump, the Musical
A huge day in import-export yesterday, as even Rome's billion-per-cent tariff on American popes was lifted. The much bigger news, though, concerned the partial easing of recently imposed import taxes on British goods in the form of a starter UK-US trade deal, leaving the biggest little country in the world basking in the glow of an achievement our own prime minister seemed to hint had something of VE Day to it. In Britain, we have an old saying about dejection – 'you look like you've lost a pound and found a sixpence' – but this was an entirely new spin on that scenario, given we were mostly celebrating being back to paying 10% more tariffs than we were subject to a few weeks ago. Yessss! A sixpence! Good times. Before we get to the specifics of the deal, the theatre. I do find myself increasingly mesmerised by Trump's Oval Office tableaux, which typically feature him surrounded by a cluster of sniggering mooks (eg the vice-president). Trump is like the boss in a cartoon about a crew of gangster dogs. Like Fat Sam from Bugsy Malone – but a bloodhound-chinese crested cross. Call him The Dogfather. So yes: the big dog was seated at his desk, while the henchdogs stood awkwardly round ready to laugh obsequiously on cue. And, bless them, they hit every single one. On this occasion, the boss dog was basking in their oleaginously indulgent chuckles, but you get the feeling that on a bad day it could go quite the opposite way. 'Shaddup, Vance, you idiot. Did I say you could snigger?' 'No, boss. Sorry, boss.' Anyway, to each mook his day. Surgically removing his own dignity live on TV with no anaesthetic was Howard Lutnick, the former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO turned commerce secretary, who at one point burbled: 'I want to make this clear. This was the president's deal. People think, 'Oh, that's not the way it works.' If you got to sit next to him – I have the BEST dealmaker to my left. And if you don't think that we take advantage of him calling the prime minister and getting that deal done, you don't understand who's the president. He's the closer. He gets deals done that we could never get done, because he understands business, he understands deals. And that's why we're here today.' Watching this speech, I was seized by the powerful apprehension that this was the buildup to a musical number. It had all the hallmarks – Lutnick becoming suddenly more animated and mannered, his delivery even slowing slightly, until the only thing missing was the striking up of the band for the debut of your new ear-worm song, He's the Closer! Lutnick: Well, here's a poser … Vance: Just who's the closer? Lutnik: Could it be …? Vance: Yes, it could! Lutnick: He's our orange bulldozer! (Keir Starmer joining in over speakerphone for the second chorus.) Anyway: the deal, which was either 'maxed out' or 'the end of the beginning', depending on whether you were listening to the boss dog or the British ambassador, Peter Mandelson. It was understandably received very well in the car factories of the West Midlands, but less so in the outrage-manufacturing plant presided over by the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch. 'Keir Starmer called this 'historic',' she posted. 'It's not historic, we've just been shafted!' Ooooooh! I think it's better when party leaders don't talk like this – it's certainly less of an excruciating cringe for everyone else. But my working theory is that Kemi Badenoch has decided to spend her tenure as Tory leader either calling for things she could have done but didn't when her party was in power, or explaining why you'd never catch her doing anything anyone might regard as an achievement by her rivals. I'd give her six months, tops – potentially in dog years. 'The US and UK have been working for years to try and make a deal and it never quite got there,' declared Trump as Starmer joined the announcement remotely. 'It did with this prime minister, so I want to just congratulate you.' Most compliments from Trump have the potential to be a stab in the back, and this one may yet turn out to be a lesson in being careful what you wish for. The UK-US trade deal has been an El Dorado-just-around-the-next-corner for so long that notions of its capabilities and value have grown outsized in the public imagination. To have heard all the prime ministers who couldn't close it talk, it could save us from decline, it could sweep away all the losses incurred by severing ties with all our nearest geographical neighbours, it could make us the rich global buccaneers we once were. Time after time over the past few years, politicians keen to get us to live on the never-never have suggested that just as soon as they landed it, it might be the answer to everything. As the prime minister who did land it, Keir Starmer now has to return the public imagination to the realms of reality by November, when the budget will surely bring both tax rises and spending cuts, which have somehow not been headed off by ensuring the price of a Range Rover Evoque is only quite a bit higher instead of quite a lot higher. It's probably best he starts managing expectations on that front sooner rather than later. To the victor go the spoilers. Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
The Guardian
27-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Which dog should I get? How to choose the best pet for families, city living or people with allergies
At the risk of pleasing a handful of the dog owning population and annoying the vast majority, we asked Graeme Hall, AKA The Dogfather, a dog trainer, presenter of TV's Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly and author of Does My Dog Love Me? to suggest the best breeds for different contexts. 'It would be really funny if for every category I said labrador,' laughs Hall. However, his recommendations do come with a caveat: 'Dogs are individuals. All Yorkshiremen are smashing, but every now and again you might meet one who's not. Dogs are a bit like that.' FamiliesA labrador is a good bet for a first family dog. They are pretty calm around children. But also, and this might raise a few eyebrows, Staffordshire bull terriers have always been known as the 'nanny dog'. Normally they are very good with families. Urban livingSmaller dogs are best, so: companion breeds (a dog whose purpose is to provide companionship for humans, unlike a working dog). If you've got time to groom, pomeranians are quite cute. Or pugs, but you've got to be thinking about health issues, because some of the dogs with very short noses can struggle to breathe. Country livingWorking breeds, generally speaking – if you've got a lot of room to let them run and time to exercise them, go for spaniels and border collies. Older peopleSmaller dogs, typically, because you don't want a lot of weight on the lead, and not too energetic. So one of the terriers. We often think of a yorkshire terrier as an old person's dog. Or the right kind of jack russell can be a really sweet dog. People with allergiesThere is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, despite what some breeders have been saying for years. But some breeds shed less, such as curly coated breeds. As much as I love boxers and rottweilers, they are more slobbery, and some people are affected by the saliva. The officeIf you work in an office in the city and you are travelling by public transport, something smaller is better. I have seen big dogs on the London Underground, but they take up a lot of space. You also want a dog who is happy to sit around for long periods while you are sat in meetings, and is not too barky. A poodle cross or a cockapoo is a safe bet. Emotional supportYou want a really calm, steady dog, so that tends to be a bigger dog. Labradors are a good option in general and of course they've been used around the world as assistance dogs. Or try a St Bernard. SecurityThe obvious choice is a German shepherd, as used by police and the military. If you don't like the barking and hair shedding that comes with those, a rottweiler can be a much calmer companion. But I think there needs to be a bit of a caveat, which is if you want to train a dog to be a guard dog, have a word with yourself. A swimming companionPoodles, which were bred to retrieve game across water, or a Spanish or Portuguese water dog. A running buddyBorder collies – they will run for ever.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Video of Dog Pulling Unexpected Move With Dental Stick Goes Viral
Dogs often surprise us with their quirky antics, but sometimes, they outdo themselves in the most amusing ways. A viral video featuring a dog named Charlie is the latest example of canine unpredictability, as he turns what should be a routine moment with a dental stick into a scene-stealing performance. Charlie — a Golden Retriever with an apparent flair for the dramatic — has captivated social media users with his amusing approach to handling a dental stick. These treats typically promote healthy teeth and gums in dogs. However, Charlie seems more interested in style points than dental hygiene. The video, which has been making rounds on Instagram, features several clips of Charlie casually sauntering around with the dental stick in his mouth, resembling a cigarette more than a treat. One user joked, 'He's a distinguished gentleman waiting for his fine single malt whisky and cigar to be lit.' Another quipped, 'He's like, 'You gonna light this or what?'' Some even dubbed Charlie 'The Dogfather' and 'Charlock Holmes.' Another user added, 'Charlie must've had a long day at the office.' While the humorous aspect of the video is undeniable, it also brings to light the importance of dental sticks in a dog's health routine. Dental sticks help maintain a dog's oral hygiene by reducing plaque and tartar buildup. It is essential to introduce these chews into a dog's diet after meals, as they can help in cleaning teeth when used regularly. However, as Charlie humorously demonstrates, not every dog might use them as intended immediately. Some dogs might take to their dental chews with gusto, but others may need a bit more encouragement to get the benefits of the chew. Engaging your pet in a playful manner, like hiding the stick or turning it into a game, might entice them to chew on it. You will also want to monitor your pup during their dental stick sessions to ensure they're using the treat effectively. The post Video of Dog Pulling Unexpected Move With Dental Stick Goes Viral appeared first on DogTime.
