I get asked about this all the time (in real life, on here and other places..) This is just MY experience, there are different ways to go about it. It will help if you live near where these things happen. (with pics so its not just a big block of text 
)
Start with you. Do you want to wrangle your own dog? This is what I do. I work with the director directly. If so are you a calm and confident person? Film sets are high stress places. You are also working with non animal people for the most who may or may not 'get' issues that affect your pet.
IMO the most important role you have on set is to look after your pet's welfare. More important than the money or your reputation is your relationship with your pet and their welfare. And yes this can be an issue. You have to be able to stand up to a stressed out director who is worrying about all the money going down the drain with every setback... and say your animal can't do the scene, or needs a break, or needs to get warmer...
You can end up working in some crazy places (like on the ice of Georgian Bay in Febuary, see above) You also have to speak up if someone is in danger of your animal. The very first film I worked on was with my horses. I had to keep telling them they couldnt' do things as the horses wouldn't be keen on it, and horses hurt if they kick you. Well Peak got startled and kicked me with both back legs and sent me flying. After that the crew were a lot better about listening.
So you say you are calm and collected and know how to be assertive. GREAT! Now to your dog.
Your dog has to be stable!!! And resilient. First thing Dekka had to do was be held by a stranger with me out of site. The stranger then backed into a fridge whilst holding her. The fridge was then closed and dark (camera was filming through a hole cut in the back) the actor light his lighter and then had to loose it...screaming like he was dying. All while holding my dog. ANd no the director didn't tell me that was how that scene would be shot... many things the director thinks of will be spur of the moment, or they might not think anything of it. Your dog has to be able to take these sorts of things and bounce back. Your dog has to be willing to repeat the same thing many many many times and not get discouraged.
Get your dog is as used to commotion and crowds as possible. Movie sets are busy and at times VERY crowded places. You have stressed out people and strange equipment. Some of the sets I have worked on its so crowded its almost impossible to move. Yesterday Dekka was in her down stay and crew were stepping over her and moving lights around her etc. You need a stable calm dog. You also need to know your dog's limits. Sport grabbed the director when he went to grab his collar (before I could get a word out) They did make up but it upset me that I didn't protect Sport from that, and that he grabbed the Director by the arm.
They made up though lol
You need a dog who can work off leash in highly distracting environments. This is an example of one of the sets from Sport's first and only film
notice the road, and the lack of containment.
Would you be comfortable working in such an environment?
You then need to train your dog to ignore other people giving cues, and other fun things. See this fluffy thing on the end of the boom?
That is called a dead cat. I am serious... Now even if your dog loves fluffy toys they have to ignore this thing as it moves around and hovers over them.
Training, train your dog a rock solid and relaxed stay. Pretty much everything I have worked on requires a lot of stationary stuff.
Stay on moving objects...lol like the director moving the dog bed your dog is on, or as part of the shot.
Train your dog to do all sorts of things, but be prepared for it to be the little things that count. Can you train your dog to lie there, put their head down, and then pick their head up? Or not to look interested in food even when the actor has to try to get them to eat? Train anything you can think of. Use non verbal cues as well as verbal ones.
Ok so you have got this far and are still good lol?
When talking to directors be confident. Dont' lie, but don't depreciate. If you think your animal will be able to perform say so. Now is not the time to be modest. This is not a modest industry. I got some awesome advice from a long time man in the industry, bluff when you have too. If you think you can do it say you can. If its your first time, say so but be confident. Get as much experience performing as you can. Trial, join demo groups. Then once you and your dog are used to 'performing' in front of people, or for competition advertise. Or if there is a film school nearby call them up. Say that you are willing to work with student film makers, and that because you want to break into the field you are willing to work for 'cheap'. (cheap is anywhere from 100-200 dollars a day IME plus expenses) Mandy's Film and TV Production Directory - television - video - broadcast is an excellent resource. Toss up a website, with good pics of your pet and a bio.
Some chazzers have interesting other pets. I think it would be awesome to see more ferts in film These advice goes along with the dog stuff, except you likely don't need off leash ability. If you have a horse, make sure they are not spooky. The reflectors they use can be large and 'scary'
If anyone has questions I would love to answer them. It would be fun to see more critters I know in film.
)Start with you. Do you want to wrangle your own dog? This is what I do. I work with the director directly. If so are you a calm and confident person? Film sets are high stress places. You are also working with non animal people for the most who may or may not 'get' issues that affect your pet.
IMO the most important role you have on set is to look after your pet's welfare. More important than the money or your reputation is your relationship with your pet and their welfare. And yes this can be an issue. You have to be able to stand up to a stressed out director who is worrying about all the money going down the drain with every setback... and say your animal can't do the scene, or needs a break, or needs to get warmer...
You can end up working in some crazy places (like on the ice of Georgian Bay in Febuary, see above) You also have to speak up if someone is in danger of your animal. The very first film I worked on was with my horses. I had to keep telling them they couldnt' do things as the horses wouldn't be keen on it, and horses hurt if they kick you. Well Peak got startled and kicked me with both back legs and sent me flying. After that the crew were a lot better about listening.
So you say you are calm and collected and know how to be assertive. GREAT! Now to your dog.
Your dog has to be stable!!! And resilient. First thing Dekka had to do was be held by a stranger with me out of site. The stranger then backed into a fridge whilst holding her. The fridge was then closed and dark (camera was filming through a hole cut in the back) the actor light his lighter and then had to loose it...screaming like he was dying. All while holding my dog. ANd no the director didn't tell me that was how that scene would be shot... many things the director thinks of will be spur of the moment, or they might not think anything of it. Your dog has to be able to take these sorts of things and bounce back. Your dog has to be willing to repeat the same thing many many many times and not get discouraged.
Get your dog is as used to commotion and crowds as possible. Movie sets are busy and at times VERY crowded places. You have stressed out people and strange equipment. Some of the sets I have worked on its so crowded its almost impossible to move. Yesterday Dekka was in her down stay and crew were stepping over her and moving lights around her etc. You need a stable calm dog. You also need to know your dog's limits. Sport grabbed the director when he went to grab his collar (before I could get a word out) They did make up but it upset me that I didn't protect Sport from that, and that he grabbed the Director by the arm.
They made up though lol
You need a dog who can work off leash in highly distracting environments. This is an example of one of the sets from Sport's first and only film
notice the road, and the lack of containment.
Would you be comfortable working in such an environment?
You then need to train your dog to ignore other people giving cues, and other fun things. See this fluffy thing on the end of the boom?
That is called a dead cat. I am serious... Now even if your dog loves fluffy toys they have to ignore this thing as it moves around and hovers over them.
Training, train your dog a rock solid and relaxed stay. Pretty much everything I have worked on requires a lot of stationary stuff.
Stay on moving objects...lol like the director moving the dog bed your dog is on, or as part of the shot.
Train your dog to do all sorts of things, but be prepared for it to be the little things that count. Can you train your dog to lie there, put their head down, and then pick their head up? Or not to look interested in food even when the actor has to try to get them to eat? Train anything you can think of. Use non verbal cues as well as verbal ones.
Ok so you have got this far and are still good lol?
When talking to directors be confident. Dont' lie, but don't depreciate. If you think your animal will be able to perform say so. Now is not the time to be modest. This is not a modest industry. I got some awesome advice from a long time man in the industry, bluff when you have too. If you think you can do it say you can. If its your first time, say so but be confident. Get as much experience performing as you can. Trial, join demo groups. Then once you and your dog are used to 'performing' in front of people, or for competition advertise. Or if there is a film school nearby call them up. Say that you are willing to work with student film makers, and that because you want to break into the field you are willing to work for 'cheap'. (cheap is anywhere from 100-200 dollars a day IME plus expenses) Mandy's Film and TV Production Directory - television - video - broadcast is an excellent resource. Toss up a website, with good pics of your pet and a bio.
Some chazzers have interesting other pets. I think it would be awesome to see more ferts in film
These advice goes along with the dog stuff, except you likely don't need off leash ability. If you have a horse, make sure they are not spooky. The reflectors they use can be large and 'scary'
If anyone has questions I would love to answer them. It would be fun to see more critters I know in film.
