As part of our monthly Everyday Heroes feature, and gaining inspiration from the upcoming Oscars and Golden Collar awards, we sat down recently with Gill Raddings, a professional stunt dog trainer, to talk with her about her talented dogs and the great work they do.
Her dogs have starred in Sherlock Holmes 2, Sweeny Todd, Prince of Persia and Pirates of the Caribbean 4, as well as the popular British TV shows Midsomer Murders, Doc Martin, Downton Abbey and Friday Night Dinner. Gill also trained both Ripley from the Pedigree Adoption Drive virtual walk and Dodger from our Jumbone Christmas Cracker Pull Facebook competition last year.
Hi Gill! Can you tell us a little bit about what life is like as an acting dog trainer?
It’s having lots of dogs around your house that aren’t your own! The dogs don’t stay in kennels, they live with me in the house while I’m training them. I’ve got eight dogs at the moment that I’m training for various shoots, from Westies to an Old English, and in that mix are four dogs of my own. Wellard from Eastenders is one of them, she is now 15, and her grandson has starred in Mad Dogs and was Wilson in Friday Night Dinner.
How did you get started?
I went on the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers course and became the head trainer at my club. Someone I knew from the club asked me if I could train a pack of wolves for the film The Company of Wolves and then I carried on with the serialisations. The people who worked on the film suggested I start my own company: that was back in 1984 and I then started working on All Creatures Great and Small. The rest, as they say, is history! I now have 2 people who work with me fulltime and 3 people who work part-time.
Who’s your most famous dog?
My most famous dog would have to be Wellard: she won the Most Famous Animal in Britain Award for a couple of years. Then my next famous dog would be Sykes from Midsomer Murders.
How do you approach training?
It requires a lot of patience and hard work. People often say to me “I wish my dog behaved like that” but it takes work to get them to that stage. I get many dogs from Battersea and I also train other people’s dogs for film work too. They’ve all got pet passports to work abroad, which I’ve done quite a lot.
When you’re training a dog, it’s on a one-to-one basis in a training room or out in the garden. You’re concentrating on that dog: so they’re getting fuss and they like to have motivation and some thing to do. But they always get their dog time: a couple of walks each day, running across fields, sniffing about and having fun.
How are the dogs on set?
They love it! On a big film there 300 people around them to give them attention. When they’re working on set they shouldn’t be distracted but when they’re standing by they get lots of fuss.
I have a heated and air-conditioned van for them, and all the dogs have their own food and water bowls and beds. The van is always parked right next to set or location so they can have a sleep and relax in there between takes or when they’re waiting. I take a bag with a blanket, toys and water bowl onto set so they always have everything they need close by. I ask to keep the studio cool so the dogs are comfortable I make sure they have regular breaks.
What advice would you give to someone interested in an acting career for their dog?
They need to have a certain look that will be popular and have the right temperament: they can’t be shy or timid. If a dog is outgoing then they’ll enjoy filming. The owner of the dog doesn’t go on set: when they’re training or working, the dogs always stay with me so usually I have them Monday to Friday.
Where can we see your dogs next?
Friday Night Dinner is coming again in March and my boy is going to have a bigger part because everyone loved him! There are also some commercials, Doc Martin and Midsomer Murders: the feedback that Sykes got from Midsomer Murders has been fantastic. I am so lucky to do what I do: the animals are fantastic and many of their owners have become good friends.
Thank you, Gill, for taking the time to speak to us. More information on Gill and her amazing animals can be found at Stuntdogs.net.