Which breed is the best for a movie? Is there such a thing? I would say NO. If we think back and just follow the movie industry we can see that many dogs, of many different breeds, have successful careers in movies and television. It all depends on the dog.
We’re located in Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment industry… and I’ve met a lot of dog and cat owners dreaming of their pets working in show business. They train, groom and go to castings, pay a lot of money for agencies and trainers just to get their foot (paw?) in the door. Many are persistent and drag their dogs from one casting to another. Once I met a guy at the dog park who told me about his beautiful Doberman — and how he attends 4 castings or auditions a month to make his dog a famous movie star. He really wants his dog in showbiz – Good luck, buddy!
We know a famous yellow Labrador often used in ads and movies. He was trained at a very young age, lives with a forever foster family, and just like a human actor, is listed with an agency and is always waiting for the call. And where do these dogs in movies come from? Hhmm, that’s another topic we’re going to write about soon!
Let’s see if there is any specific dog bred for likely stardom. We took a look at the different breeds in the movies we know and can remember:
– The first dog in a movie I remember is loyal Lassie – a Collie – the star of the all-time classic dog movie Lassie Come Home (1943) and the beloved series of Lassie films.
– Rin Tin Tin (also Rin-tin-tin) was legendary in films of the 20’s and 30’s, with a successor going on to big success on television in the 50’s. The TV program lasted 166 episodes on ABC from 1954 until 1959, following the adventures of young Rusty and his German Shepherd.
– Old Yeller (1957) is an classic as well – the story of a boy who adopts a Mountain Cur Dog that wandered onto the family’s ranch.
– Benji (1974) is another one – the shaggy-haired mutt who becomes a canine hero by helping rescue two kidnapped 
children.
– When it comes to cop and dog movies I remember Turner and Hootch (1989) which is one of my favorites… our dog Samson was a Dogue de Bordeaux and I know that the breed got pretty popular after the movie.
– Another huge hit was Beethoven – the adventures of a big (and slobbery!) St. Bernard.
– Eight Below is a really entertaining movie as well – six Siberian Huskies and two Malamutes are unfortunately left behind at a research station by a sled dog trainer who was forced to evacuate because of a big storm.
– I’ve heard about My Dog Skip but haven’t had the chance to watch it. It’s the story about a boy who lives in Mississippi with his Fox Terrier puppy. It’s a sentimental movie which portrays the special relationship between dogs and humans.
– I liked Hercules in the Sandlot, about a huge English Mastiff, a fantastic giant dog. Actually… I just loved seeing this dog and 
didn’t care about the story so much:)
– Have you seen Buddy, the Golden Retriever in Air Bud? This dog is a multi-sport phenomenon.
– Milo and Otis is a very sweet movie as well – A red cat and his best friend, a Pug. Milo and Otis is like the most wonderful storybook read by an English man showing you the illustrations the entire time. It took 4 years to film.
– 101 Dalmatians. Guess which breed was involved? 🙂
– I also liked Babe, the pig with the two Border Collies
– The Awful Truth features Wire Fox Terrier – I haven’t seen this one. This is Rufino’s favorite [The dog’s adorable – and Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are superb in this marriage comedy – Hi everybody! – Rufino]
– A Komondor was the canine actor in Backdraft
– You can see a Brussels Griffon in As Good as it Gets
– In one of the Harry Potter films you can see a Neapolitan Mastiff named Fan
– Roly, a white/creme Standard Poodle was in the TV series Eastenders
– Jack Russell Terriers have given impressive performances this past year, in the recent films The Artist and Beginners
When it comes to animated movies, there are so many that I can’t list them all. Some I have watched are All Dogs Go To Heaven, 101 Dalmatians, The Fox and the Hound, Lady and the Tramp, All Dogs Christmas Carol, Garfield (I know this is not a dog, but his friend is one:), The Adventures of Tintin, the list goes on and on…
Which one is your personal favorite? I don’t know if I really have a favorite. I just love to see dogs on screen. So, bottom line: There is NO specific breed I could find which is in particular the best for movies.
All dogs are stars and I’m sure your own dog is always your personal super star!