Violetta Hessing, owner and head trainer at V’s Talented Animal Performers, finds immense satisfaction in training dogs to deliver emotions on set, just like their human counterparts. Her recent work as the animal wrangler on the CW drama “In the Dark,” featuring a blind protagonist dependent on a guide dog, highlights this skill. Instead of using a certified guide dog, Hessing trained a retriever named Levi to convincingly act as one.
The decision to cast a trained actor dog instead of a real guide dog for the show “In the Dark” raises the question: Is Pretzel A Real Guide Dog? Let’s delve into the reasons behind this choice and explore the unique training involved in preparing an animal for such a role.
Why Not a Real Guide Dog?
Lorri Bernson, the show’s consultant, explained that using a certified guide dog would mean removing it from its vital service to a person in need. Guide dog training also differs significantly from training canine performers.
Image alt: Perry Mattfeld, actress, with Levi the dog actor on the set of “In The Dark” show, portraying the bond between them.
Bernson, who works with her guide dog Captain, notes that repetition is often a sign of error for a working guide dog. In contrast, actors, including canine ones, need to repeat actions multiple times for different takes. “A guide dog in acting wouldn’t know what he’s doing wrong and could start to lose other elements of his training as he tries to figure out what you want when you’re asking him to do it again,” she says. A trained animal performer, like Levi, responds to specific cues, such as “yes” or “good,” understanding they are performing correctly even with repeated takes.
Training a Dog to “Act” Like a Guide Dog
Hessing and Bernson emphasized the strict protocols that govern a guide dog’s behavior while harnessed. Therefore, Hessing had to train Levi (who plays Pretzel) to convincingly “act that part.” This included teaching him the concept of “intelligent disobedience.”
Image alt: Levi, dog actor, wearing a harness, demonstrating intelligent disobedience by stopping at an obstacle during a scene on set.
Intelligent disobedience is crucial for guide dogs. If a dog and its handler approach an unseen or unheard obstacle, the dog must stop, even if the handler commands “Forward.” The dog will refuse to proceed until the handler identifies the obstacle and repositions themselves safely. “Once I tap and find out what it is, and reposition so we can go around or wait if it’s a passing obstacle, then I’ll repeat the command, and he will go if it’s safe,” Bernson explains, highlighting the teamwork involved.
Beyond Guide Dog Behaviors: Emoting and Performing Tricks
Hessing’s training for Levi extended far beyond basic guide dog behaviors. She taught him to express specific moods required by the scenes and to perform various tricks, including jumping out of a window and limping.
Image alt: Violetta Hessing, animal trainer, working with Levi, the dog actor, to achieve a calm state of mind for a scene.
Positive reinforcement is key to Hessing’s training approach. “We use toys and food and praise. It depends on the energy of the scene. If we need high-energy, I’ll use some food; if we need low-energy, it will just be a pat or a kind word,” she explains.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding the Perfect Canine Actor
One of the significant challenges Hessing faced was calming Levi down for specific scenes, as the dog naturally “goes from zero to 60 in an instant.” She used time between scenes to work on “confidence builders” like barking on cue or backing up.
“This keeps their energy up and their happiness on set,” Hessing notes. “There’s so much crazy that goes on in this industry, and to find a dog that takes it all in stride and loves every minute of it, it’s like winning the lottery.”
The Verdict: Is Pretzel a Real Guide Dog?
While Levi, the actor playing Pretzel, isn’t a certified guide dog, he’s a highly trained performer capable of convincingly portraying one. The decision to use an actor dog was made to avoid disrupting the service of a working guide dog and to accommodate the unique demands of a film set. Hessing’s expertise and Levi’s talent combine to create a believable and compelling portrayal of a guide dog on screen.
