My Journey Into Film, Television, and Animal Modeling

My journey into training dogs for set work began on a whim in 1988, when I was 26 years old. At the time, I was working full time at the local cable company. I was also training dogs and teaching Obedience classes. I loved working with dogs and dreamed of being able to do that full time. I had no idea that a grocery store magazine would open up a whole new world.

One afternoon, a friend and I had finished working our dogs and we were hanging out, flipping through a dog magazine I had picked up at the newsstand. There was an article about dogs in the acting business and the name of a NYC agent. On a whim, I sent that agent a resume for my German Shepherd Dog, V1 Aiko Von Fuerstenburg CD BH SchI, Zane. About a month later, much to my surprise, I got a call from that agent. I was invited to bring Zane for an audition for a part in a new television series that was filming in New York City. My dad drove me and Zane to the audition (this country girl had never driven in the city before! (Now it is second nature). I was so excited when Zane got the part!

That opportunity set a whole new course. I quit my cable company job and headed to New York City with Zane. The show was True Blue, which premiered on NBC in Dec 1989 and ran one season. Zane played the part of police dog named Bird. I had discovered a whole dog-training industry that I had not known of or thought about before.

After True Blue, I continued down a path of self-employment, having no desire to go back to a 9 to 5 job that did not involve dogs. I opened a boarding kennel and grooming shop, taught classes, trained dogs, and started handling professionally at dog shows. Those jobs kept me very busy, but I maintained a strong interest in trick training and animal performance. I continued to dabble in set work whenever I could.

In 2005, I added my first Beagle to the family, and in 2007, started training one of my first bred-by Beagles for set work and dog sports. Dog sports and dog shows would become an integral part of raising and prepping dogs for set work. I continued my interest in film and modeling work; I contacted a new agent and started submitting my Beagle, GCH Nicholas CD BN RE, for jobs. Nicholas went on to work regularly doing modeling work.

In 2013, my Beagle girl, GCH PACH RACH Halo CD BN RAE, was born and at just six months old her career in set work took off. Halo was talented and eager to learn. She learned a wide assortment of tricks and behaviors and was a favorite with productions that worked with her. Working on set regularly with Halo fueled my desire to do set work full time. Over the next few years, Halo, my German Shepherd Dog CH Ivan CD BN RE, and my other Beagles and GSD worked regularly on set while I continued to work at my kennel/grooming shop and show dogs professionally. I loved training the skills needed for a variety of modeling, movie, and television work.

By 2020, I knew I wanted to make dog training for set work my full-time career and started implementing a “five year plan.” I began thinking seriously about transitioning from my current work to full-time set work. I knew that my “five year plan” would require downsizing my other work, giving me more time to train and make my schedule more flexible for set jobs, as jobs usually come together with little notice.

In 2023, CH Wilbur BN RA SWME SWA was born. He became my next set work project, and from the beginning, he was a natural. Wilbur’s personality, trainability, and enthusiasm made me excited for his future, and mine, in set work. In March of 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a weeklong training workshop taught by Hollywood Animal Trainer Joel Silverman. That workshop confirmed my decision to do set work full time. Wilbur went on to land a major Netflix movie roll that summer in The Rip and I let my show-handling clients know that I would be retiring from handling at the end of 2025 to make my schedule more flexible for set work jobs. I still run a small boarding kennel and groom part time at my grooming shop, but much of my time is devoted to training for and working my dogs in the entertainment industry.

Currently, I submit my dogs through six different agents. Though my dogs often work for a living, they are, of course, my housepets first and foremost. I compete regularly in a variety of dog sports, which helps prep my dogs for set work. I love working with my dogs every day to build great relationships and working on set to see their skills shine.

My current troupe of set dogs includes Beagles Wilbur and London, GSD Quest, Fire the Whippet. Young Beagles Bliss and Mira and retired show dogs Long Coat Chihuahuas Gemma and Vinni are in training for set work. Halo and CH Ivan CD BN RE (who appeared in major movies, advertising, and Saturday Night Live) are now retired and living life on my couch. In 2027, I plan to add a Kooikerhondje and a Dalmatian puppy to my troupe. Each breed brings its own look, personality, and possibilities.

Anyone interested in pursuing set work should understand that a dog requires a solid basic Obedience foundation, great social skills, confidence, and the ability to work in new, unfamiliar, and chaotic environments along with a variety of set-specific skills and tricks. Dogs need to be able to perform a behavior for a length of time or repeatedly on set, and be able to focus on the desired action and/or the handler while working on a busy set with lights, cameras, and other equipment.

You can list your dogs with reputable agents who will ask you for a resume of your dog. After an agent adds your resume to their file, they will contact you with casting calls to see if you want your dog submitted. Submissions usually include pictures and video showing the dog’s “look” and whether the dog can perform the desired behaviors. Occasionally, we are asked to do live auditions for a part.

Be prepared to be flexible in schedule when it comes to set work. You will usually not know if you got a submitted job until a few days before, and frequently won’t know your call time (when you need to be on set) until a day or so before the shoot. Depending on the shoot, the dates may also change after you book a shoot based on weather, shoot schedules being behind, and other factors. On the East Coast, many of our shoots take place in New York City, New Jersey, Boston, and Philadelphia. We have flown twice to Los Angeles for shoots. You may be asked to travel to entertainment hubs like Atlanta and Tennessee (or anywhere else in the country).

Of course, our dog’s well-being on set is always the first priority. We travel with all of the supplies you would typically take to a dog show: fans, shade screens, cool coats, coolers, grooming supplies, etc.

It amazes me when I think back to that day in 1988, and that magazine, not knowing the journey it would start and the opportunities I would have training my dogs for set work.

Talent & Versatility

Halo (Beagle)

GCH PACH RACH Angelwick Heaven Can Wait At Lightfall CD BN RM4 RAE2 MXP4 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX CA BCAT SWN CGC TKA

Wilbur (Beagle)

CH Lightfall N StoneMeadow Wild Blue Yonder At Argyle BN RA DCAT SWNE SWA SEE CGCA TKP ATT FTI (NACSW) NW3 Elite Elite 1 L1V L1I L2C

Ivan (German Shepherd Dog)

GCH Millertime's I've Made My Decision CD BN RA CGCA TKI

Nicholas (Beagle)

GCH Chrisette And StoneMeadow Christmas Spirit CD RE NAP NJP CGCA