Hollywoof royalty! How one owner groomed FIVE doggy divas for stardom
THEY have shared sets with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, and are not afraid to steal the limelight now and again.
But these five stars of the screen are not your average A-listers – they are paid in treats, and love nothing more than a nap between takes.
The doggy divas – Gizmo, Tori, Paddy, Dodger and Yogi – have clocked up an impressive list of roles between them, including Hollywood turns in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them and 2017’s Beauty And The Beast.
Landing these parts is not easy, and the animals have to undergo rigorous auditions just like their human co-stars.
However, they are all prepared for the task by one of the industry’s most prolific dog trainers, Gill Raddings, from Banbury. She has worked in the business for 25 years, and has trained her performers to do everything from cocking their legs to barking on demand.
Miss Raddings remains tight-lipped on how much her pets earn for their roles, but dogs have been known to earn a few hundred pounds just for appearing in a short advert, so the fee for blockbuster films is likely to be considerably greater.
Here are the star credentials of these talented pooches:
Gizmo, 9, Terrier cross
Credits: Beauty And The Beast, Sky sitcom Hunderby
Background: Having been a background, or ‘street’, dog, Gizmo has landed his biggest role to date on 2017’s Beauty And The Beast – as the ‘footstool’. He even appears in the video game of the film. He had to cock his leg on the clock – played by Ian McKellen.
Yogi, 2, Mastiff cross
Film credits: To Walk Invisible, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Background: Despite ‘not being the brains of Britain’, Yogi was cast for his youthful exuberance as one of the Bronte’s family dogs in last week’s BBC drama To Walk Invisible.
Tori, 10, King Charles Spaniel
Credits: Young Victoria, Victoria, To Walk Invisible, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Background: Tori was trained in just six weeks, before her first role as Dash in Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt. Now ten years old, she sleeps on the bed at home and relies solely on hand signals on set, as she has gone partially deaf. Her favourite treat is a bit of frankfurter. She is currently filming the second series of ITV’s Victoria.
Paddy, 2, Jack Russell cross
Credits: Midsomer Murders, To Walk Invisible, Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them
Background: A rescue dog from Ireland, next year Paddy will seek to fill the void left by Sykes, the terrier on Midsomer Murders who retired this year, when he takes on the role as DCI Barnaby’s companion.
Dodger, 10, Terrier cross
Credits: Doc Martin Background: Dodger was rescued by the Dog’s Trust. His part in Doc Martin which he has played since series four, involves annoying the doctor, played by Martin Clunes. His scene-stealing moments include running into the surgery to eat a liver and hiding in a car.
They love a nap between takes