Claire Danes travels with and talks about new dog, Ouija

A couple weeks ago we shared an interesting interview with Claire Danes where she spoke about her new pooch and said, "I understand why people have dogs. Better to have a dog than a baby." (Before any parents get up in arms, she was talking about the difficulties and loneliness of traveling and doing press junkets and how her dog provides companionship--her comment was sweet, honest, and self-aware.)

Since then, Claire has been talking about her dog to different interviewers. In fact, the subject of her pooch arises so often, it seems to be a way for Claire to deflect discussion away from those portions of her personal life she'd prefer not reveal in the press. She and Billy Crudup, her co-star in last year's Stage Beauty, are doing quite well, but that's about all she'll say on the matter.

But about her pooch, she's a motor mouth; well, almost a motor mouth--we don't really learn much about her dog and Billy's dog except:

• She told Newsweek that her dog is named Ouija, but not after the spiritual board. He's named after the photographer Weegee, who named himself after the board game. So, he's Ouija named after Weegee who's named after Ouija--got it? And Billy's dog is Zoe, who likes to lick Claire during interviews.
• Ouija made Claire late for an interview in USA Today, and then Claire discussed her dog's stint in canine boot camp; at least the interviewer tells us she did, but she doesn't reveal any details. Come on--Claire sent her adorable 7-month-old schnauzer-poodle to a boot camp? We want details! All we learn is that the boot camp resulted in a "behavioral turnaround" for Ouija.
• And Ouija is apparently still adjusting to his lifestyle as the jet-setting companion of a beautiful actress. Claire tells the Denver Post that the press junket to Toronto is , "better for me than it is for him. I didn't know much about dogs, and I'm happy to learn about them."
• You can almost see Claire walking her dog in photos online, but she obviously was not happy about paparazzi shooting her picking up dog poop, so she covered her face with her hair. The dog, however, looks cute as can be (but was wearing a cone back in August at the time the shots were taken.)

Here's hoping Claire's new film Shopgirl does well and that she, Billy, Ouija, and Zoe can enjoy the sort of privacy they want. Of course, we at Hollywood & Celebrity Pet News will still want to share any good pet tidbits Claire cares to share, but we won't be picking through her trash or following her with a camera or anything.

Image: CAROLYN KASTER / Associated Press