Interview with trainer Christine Mahaney, part 3

Christine & Border Collie, Toula

Christine Mahaney was working part-time as a paralegal when she and her rescued Border Collie, Toula, won Petco's America's Most Talented Pet contest. Since then, Christine has become one of the most sought-after on-set trainers in the Mid-west and Toula is currently featured alongside Johnny Depp in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies."

This is Part 3 of my interview

L: Any other advice for private pet owners who want to get their dogs out there?

C: You have to have the passion to do it and you have seek out various opportunities to get your dog noticed. And people need to realize that your dog is not going to work 365 days a year. And the primary motivation for you wanting to have your dog become an actor should be for the bond and not for the money. If they’re working with their dog, that means they’re spending time with their dog and they’re bonding with their dog and they’re passionate about making this happen, they need to look at what opportunities are out there. Start out local and then do national – anything to get their dogs noticed. Toula’s a really great example.

But going and meeting with someone who says “I can make your dog a star” – make sure you know what you’re getting in to. And be prepared to hand your dog off to a trainer. If it’s a movie, you, as the owner, will not be on that set. A lot of people don’t realize that. Know what your getting your dog into before you get your dog into that situation.

L: Is it easier to work with a company dog or a private party animal?

C: That’s an interesting question. Toula would be a company dog – and she’s also my dog. Now, I know my dogs very well: I know their motivators. I can generalize how long a behavior will take to train them. When working with a private party dog, such as this bulldog I’m working with, my first priority is to build a bond with that dog. So he’s at my house for sometimes 10 days. Last time it was eight days. And when you train a private party dog, you’re not just dealing with a dog, taking it from its environment into the training environment, and building that bond and finding those motivators, and teaching it how to work on cue, – you’re also working with the owners. So you have to work with them and know that this their pet.

L: On many of the calls Tiger’s done, I’ve acted as the handler. But as an owner, I’m sometimes conflicted between wanting my dog out there and wanting to please the director and the desire to protect my dog. Do I stop and say, ‘excuse me, my dog needs a break?’

C: Absolutely you should! I do it with any dog I work with. Yesterday we were on the set and this bulldog got tired and I wasn’t getting the performance. That dog comes first. The shot comes second. It should always be that way. Any good trainer will tell you that. Whether it’s my dog or a private party dog. I’m that dog’s advocate. That dog’s safety and happiness is the priority. The shot comes second.

L: That’s great advice. People new to this business might not realize that.

C: And they might be intimidated to say, ‘My dog needs a break.’ On “Public Enemies” I realized at one point that Toula needed some water. I wanted to keep her fresh. You learn how to read dogs: where’s the tongue? Is it flat? how far out is it? Are their eyes dilated – you’re looking for different things -- to make sure that dog is still alert. When I see a dog start to shut down, one of the first things I’ll ask them to do is SPEAK. SPEAK is a really great thing for the dog to do. That gets them revved up again.

Christine iterates that it’s important to always be alert and advocate for your dog, even when it come to the smallest things.

C: On the “Public Enemies” set, when I asked for water for Toula, they asked me if he wanted bottled water or regular. I said ‘bottled.” And I’m NOT saying that to be snobby, but you have to into factors like: I’m traveling and I want to make sure my dog doesn’t get diarrhea on the set!

L: Because if it’s different water than they’re used to…

C: Exactly! Never hesitate. Take a break. Take a walk outside. Directors – when they’re working with animals, they expect that. Now, granted, when you get back onto the set, that dog’s going to do what I trained him to do because he didn’t shut down.

One more thing I wanted to add. Toula was a rescue dog. For me, whatever role she plays, she is also an ambassador for rescue dogs. Being born in a shelter – you can get a dog from a shelter or rescue group and it can turn into a wonderful dog.