Reese Witherspoon visited Ellen DeGeneres yesterday to promote Morning Show, her Apple TV+ project she’s producing with Jennifer Aniston. Just to get the superficial stuff out of the way: first, Reese looked amazing. Her cornflower blue silky shirt and matching slacks will be my next copycat outfit purchase. Second, I am going to watch the hell out of her show. I get more into each blurb I see.
But now for the important part of the interview. After all, it’s Friday and you know what that means: DOGGOS! It turns out, Reese has a dog addiction just like Dog CB (that’s like Dog Twitter, but cooler, because it’s Celebitchy). Reese told Ellen a story about teaching her 16-year-old son, Deacon, to drive. After everyone took a moment to recover from the fact that Deacon is old enough to drive (!!), Reese explained we had nothing to worry about with him on the motorways because he’s a good driver, better than her, in fact. And the reason is because he watches the road while Reese watches out for bulldogs. Once she spots one, she pulls over to get a closer look. The dog discussion starts the 4:00 mark:
The dog related content is:
You’re teaching (Deacon) how to drive?
Yes, he’s starting to drive, God help us all. But he’s a good driver, he’s actually a better driver than I am. I get distracted a lot, because I see cute dogs. I literally will pull over the car and get out of the car. If it’s a bulldog, only a bulldog. I’m very preferential of certain breeds.
If someone’s walking a dog, or just if it’s loose you mean?
Oh no, if it’s being walked by somebody and it’s really cute… You don’t do that?
Could you imagine? You’re out walking your bulldog, Churchill, when all of a sudden, an expensive SUV whips across three lanes of traffic and stops in front of you. Out leaps Reese Witherspoon squealing and running up to your pup. Churchill’s thinking, “back off, lady.” And Reese is all, “do you know my name?!” And that’s when Churchill realizes none of you are making it back for naptime if he doesn’t accommodate this daffy blonde, so he sits down and allows cuddles to commence. You’d have the best story at dinner, for sure. But I guess us non-bulldog dog parents won’t ever get to tell it. I don’t actually fault Reese for her breed-specific reactions. My husband, who is generally a normal-passing adult in public, loses it over Pomeranians. The other day, he face-timed me holding one he’d met at Einsteins’ Bagels. I won’t track you down in my car but if you are walking towards me your pup smiles at me, I will carry on a full conversation with them, be warned. Doesn’t matter the breed or what language they speak, we’re having a discussion that probably will involve an embarrassing amount of baby talk.
Dogs aren’t Reese’s only weakness, last week, she lost it over a baby goat. Again, I don’t fault her, I just think this is her default for animals. I wonder if her co-stars sneak bulldogs and baby farm animals on to set to see if they can get her to flub her lines? More specifically, do they bring her bulldogs on set to distract her, because Pepper (her French bulldog) and Louis Armstrong (her 16-week-old English bulldog) are the cutest. Reese said of Louis, “he’s eaten the majority of the cabinets in my kitchen, but it’s okay, I don’t care. I’ll get a new kitchen.” Perfectly logical answer, in my opinion.
What’s that? What do Louis and Pepper look like? Well, I’m glad you asked:
Photo credit: Instagram, EllenTube and WENN Photos
I don’t drive because I live in New York, but I stop immediately when I see a Corgi.
She pulls over and yells “Don’t you know who I am?!”
Lol well she IS an American standing on American soil so let her live. She has every right to get out of the car and if the bulldog stops her, it’s face will be all over the news the next day. Y’all.
I love French Bulldogs…they look like little Ewoks. So peculiarly cute!
I keep walking when I pass a dog, but I always make eye contact and speak to the dog. Something along the lines of “Who’s a precious angel?” Or “Hello, beautiful.”
I generally don’t even make eye contact with their humans- way too busy admiring the dogs.
I thought I was the only one who babbles baby talk at dogs I pass on the street. I try to do it under my breath but sometimes it comes out louder.
I love this. I’ve only pulled over when I think a dog has got out of their house and is out loose. I nearly grabbed a dog off the street, not realising it’s owner was about 10 metres down the road. Thankfully I didn’t take him.
I always eye dogs walking towards me, and on two occasions have carried on over the dogs, not realising I knew the humans and had completely ignored them. Clearly I see dog before human. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!
And yes I can’t wait for this show. Looks amazing and really intense.
The dog in the pool float is awesome!
Yes it’s just so cute!!
There is a corgi-pitbull mix in my neighborhood and I’m completely mad for that crazy looking little dog. I’m lucky he likes my Boston terrier so much, I get plenty of opportunities to gush over him
How do you all approach or gush over other people’s dogs in an appropriate manner? I feel like my first instinct–to squeal or go something along those lines–is not appropriate, and so I really kind of keep it all in, because I don’t know how to approach the situation. I just want to maybe pet it, but for sure get a closer look! I have such fear of awkward social interactions.
When I saw the headline, I thought she kept her eye out to scold bulldog owners for perpetuating the breed or something, which I have heard is a thing. Those poor babies can’t breathe well, but I’m not hoping for them to go extinct. I think bullies are super cute too, but I would never get anything but a poodle mix (I cannot abide shedding)
I have a pug mix that gets a fair bit of attention and I’m never upset over it. I love my dog so other people fawning over him just makes me smile bc other people think he as cute as I think he is. I do always ask if I can pet the dog just in case that dog isn’t super friendly.
I take my dog to the dog park and then if cute dogs are there, I gush all over them and nobody thinks I’m a weirdo. And if they do, oh well. P.S. there has been an adorable 4 month old Frenchie at the park this week. SO CUTE!!
I think a pet owner would take it as a compliment actually, because by squealing or gushing over their dog you are acknowledging their excellent taste. If it were me and you approached like that, I would smile and simply think you were an affectionate person who loved dogs. No offense would be taken (unless a person is in a hurry to get somewhere). So… appropriateness be gone. Express your feelings with abandon!
The etiquette is to ask if you may approach, and then ask if you may pet the dog.
Many people have dogs which are scared, learning, or just not friendly, and the stress of having someone approach without asking can cause a bad reaction in the dog.
Look for a yellow ribbon or yellow lead, which is an indication of “do not approach.” It’s great that you’re asking such questions!
Reese said of Louis, “he’s eaten the majority of the cabinets in my kitchen, but it’s okay, I don’t care. I’ll get a new kitchen.” Perfectly logical answer, in my opinion.
I whole heartily agree! One of our rescue cats had anxiety when he first arrived and chewed cabinets and door frames – who cares they can be replaced/fixed. He is happy chap now and doesn’t chew, we have yet to fix it hahaha. My default is animals too, they need protecting and loving too.
Aww! I’m glad your cat has settled in.
I’ve had a dog pretty consistently since I was six-years-old (a million years ago), so didn’t realize that I’m apparently even more of a cat person by nature until we took in a cat and her litter last year after finding them on our porch and somehow ended up keeping three of them (because we’re not very bright).
They have utterly destroyed a chair in our living room, but we just said ‘oh, well’ and got a slipcover. Of course, they just shimmy underneath the hem and attack the chair even more, but ‘oh, well’ covers that, too. 😉
awww cats do have a way of grabbing you by the heart. That’s lovely you took them in! Things can be covered/fixed/replaced, little animals cannot 🙂
We say “oh well” about all sorts in house. Our other one loooves to use his claws and scoot along under the bed or sofa. I can only imagine how it looks under there hahahaha “oh well”.
Her dogs are SO cute!!!
I pulled over for a lost golden retriever the other day. She was so sweet I briefly entertained the idea of adding a third dog to our family but we found her owner.
Im a cat person but there are certain breeds of dogs I lose it over as well: specifically Shiba Inus. And Welsh Corgis. An old friend of mine and myself once literally ran down the street towards a woman walking TWO Corgi PUPS. Corgi puppies! They were so cute!
And Shiba Inus?! Don’t even get me started. If I were to get a dog it would be a Shiba Inu. I once stopped a woman on the street who was walking hers and asked her what their temperament was like. And she said they were like cats! Sold!
Same here, cat person, but I love dogs too. I get very excited if a client brings a dog in during their meeting (we’re a casual office, LOL).
Bulldogs are adorable, I love the French ones, but the big ol’ English ones are my favorite. Reese’s are both super cute.
I’m also a cat person, VV, but my best friend has two glorious standard poodles. They are PRECIOUS and so smart. When my husband and I stay over at my friend’s, his poodles will come snuggle with us in the morning. They’re so sweet, calm, affectionate, and they don’t shed!
Um no. Deacon is permanently 4 years old with beautiful blonde hair and adorable cheeks. DO NOT RUIN THIS.
I did this to a lady walking three Jack Russells the other day! She thanked me for being so excited about them. I normally walk with my three shelter dogs, one who is a Jack Russell, but that evening I was walking for me and didn’t want to stop at every blade of grass. Mine distract me so much with their cuteness. They’re my in-house therapists.
I think this is actually normal behavior for owners of certain breeds lol! I have a Shiba Inu and I do the same thing if I see someone walking one.
My favorite is when I look over at a dog and it starts wiggling and trying to come over to me — I always tell the person their dog invited me over for a pat, so I had to say “hi.” It’s the only polite thing to do with friendly doggos. 😉
Loved this article, Hecate! I have a 5 month old Cockapoo, and every time I see another Cockapoo on the streets I will say hello and smile really big. The owners must think I’m a crazy person, but I can’t control myself! Lol
Reese’s dogs are super cute, that’s all I got.
I oohed and aahed over these two dogs! What great little faces!