Charlie 777 puts spotlight on dog trainers

Rachana Ramesh | NT
Bengaluru

Charlie 777 has won the hearts of film aficionados across Karnataka, prompting many to get their very own furry friends. But many of them do not even know that training dogs is not an easy task. The task becomes tougher if the dogs have to be trained for movies.

Often the basic obedience and behavioural training would have already been provided to the dogs who are opted to act in movies, says Swami from K9 Gurukul, who trained the labrador retriever Simba for the movie Naanu Matthu Gunda.

“They are just like babies. They have their own level of intelligence and perks. There are two things that tend to drive them to listen – food or prey. We need to figure out which and then continue,” he said.

For the movie shoots, the trainers will be informed of the scenes involving the dogs at least a month in advance. All the important shots that require excessive training are usually left to the end, providing enough time for training.

The trainers are also given the freedom to explore and allow the personality of the dog to shine through. “We normally train them outdoors to get the dogs acclimatised to various environments. They are trained in Cubbon Park, on the sidelines of main roads. They are also taught how to sit in a two-wheelers.”

Swami believes the movie Charlie 777 turned out so well since the dog has grown up and genuinely bonded with the actor since the early stages. “He has grown up with Rakshith Shetty. As a trainer, when I look at the movie through the technical eyes, the bond they have is what stands out,” he said. “Usually they (directors) come to us in urgency and we also provide them with the freedom to pick the dogs. We only have minimal time. The longer the time, the better the training,” he said.

Swami has not had any accidents or faced any particular difficulties during shootings so far. “Many people around tend to aggravate the dog during shots by screaming or other such things which will divert the dog. We will then give the dog a break of 10 to 15 minutes and the people around are also sent away to form a calmer environment,” he said.

“All the dogs cannot act, they must be born with the ability. A few of them become weary of the crowd and tend to run, and many don’t even catch a glimpse of the camera,” Swami said. Simba and Rocky are actor dogs who Swami has trained, flawlessly listened to the directors and carried out their actions, he said.