Dog Actors How To Get Started

Simply mention the name Lassie and it will conjure up images of a Rough Collie running around alerting his owner that someone was in trouble. Some dog actors have become as famous as human celebrities. The likes of Lassie, Benji, Air Bud, Rin Tin Tin, Toto, Wishbone, and Beethoven have all cemented their place in Hollywood history all thanks to those memorable dog actors.

Now you may think to yourself I own the cutest dog, one look from him could melt your heart he should become a dog actor. Well yes and no. Looks are very important when agents are looking to cast dog actors. Dog casting isn’t that much different than human casting in television and movies. Directors and casting agents obviously like the dog to be cute and if they are trying to represent a certain breed, than your dog should embody all the standards of that breed.

However, much more important than looks is training and obedience. Good training can be the difference between becoming dog actors becoming successful or not. It is vital that your dog know the minimum basic commands such as sit, stay, down, speak, and go to. These commands are important because you usually cannot be onscreen as a handler with the dog and he must be able to hit his mark simply by hearing your verbal command. Of course, if you can train your dog to learn some additional tricks such as paw on head, play dead, roll over, shake, and high five this can really set you apart from all the other dog actors auditioning. Good training will also ensure that your dog is not easily distracted. You have to remember that there will be tons of props and other people, perhaps even other animals on set and this cannot affect your dog’s acting.

In addition to obedience, a good temperament is a must have. Acting is definitely not the place for a possessive or aggressive dog. Your dog will be working with different people and maybe even children and all other actors on set must feel safe working with your dog. The American Kennel Club, AKC, offers a course called the Canine Good Citizen Program. This program focuses on all the obedience and training a dog should have in order to be a great pet. Once you and your dog have completed the program there is a test that follows. The test consists of obedience situations, distractions, meeting new people, etc all the necessary requirements for getting your dog starting in acting.

Just like their human counterparts dogs need to come to auditions with a resume. Dog actors that have a certificate from the AKC Good Citizen Program will definitely be looked upon in a higher regard than those without. A dog resume should also have a list of any accomplishments such as agility competition or dog shows. A dog actors resume should also come with references from people such as his veterinarian, trainer, or previous acting jobs.

If you are worried about making sure your dog is well taken care of while acting there is an organization called The American Humane Association Film And Television Unit. Just like child actors this organization will make sure that your dog is working under humane conditions, is safe, and is not working too many hours.

If you are looking for an agent there are plenty of dog acting agencies out there that you can join. The agencies are rather inexpensive so I would recommend joining one in order to get your dog out there. Make sure if any organization is asking for a large sum of money to take on your dog then it is a scam and walk away as fast as you can. About $25-50 a year is a pretty fair sum.

Dog can start acting at about 8-9 weeks old so if you are thinking your dog can be one of the great dog actors I’d advise starting training as soon as possible. It is always important to have patience and understanding with your dog during training and acting. Give it a try and who knows your dog could be the next Lassie!