Certified Animal Action Overview

No Animals Were Harmed™ was closely involved in monitoring the animal action throughout these scenes, with the dogs’ comfort, safety and well-being. The dog worked with his trainers and familiar young actors with carefully prepared sets, controlled surroundings and regular breaks for rest and water. The dog’s natural behavior was gently guided with simple cues, while special care was taken to prepare him for moments such as entering a dark closet, running on a wet street and working around the action. From neighborhood walks to the family’s final reunion, the animals were handled thoughtfully and given time to relax between takes, allowing their performances to feel natural and reassuringly safe.

Detailed Animal Action Report

In the scene with the two actresses standing on the street with the dog, and the dog barks at weird people, the little girl knelt on the ground hugging the dog as they dog barked. Prior to filming the trainer brought the dog to the street set, placed him on his mark in front of the little girl. The girl patted the dog to keep him calm. On action, the girl hugged the dog as the trainer cued the dog to bark.

In the scene where the actresses knock on their neighbor’s door, she answers and the girl walks inside and greets the dog, prior to filming the trainer positioned the dog on his mark inside the house, then stood off camera cuing the dog to stand still until the scene began. On action, the girl walked in the house and greeted the dog she was already acquainted with. In the subsequent moment with the dog when we see the girl lying on the ground watching television with the dog, like the prior scene, the trainer placed the dog on his mark in front of the television and the girl lied next to him.

In the scene where we see the dog sniff the dead woman’s body, the trainer rubbed food on the actress’ head to get the dog to lick her forehead. On action, the trainer released the dog, who immediately walked to actress who’s playing dead and licked her forehead.

In the scene where the little girl runs down the street holding a dog, the dog was prepped for the action. Prior to shooting, the girl’s shoes were checked for grip and stability on the wet road. Just before filming the trainer placed the dog in her arms and placed them on her mark.

When she runs inside of a house and hides inside a closet with dog, they prepped this scene so the dog wouldn’t be frightened of going into the dark space. When we see the dog hiding behind the washing machine, prior to filming the trainer cued the dog to hide on his mark, which the dog did. Once the dog was on its mark, they got several shots of the dog by having the trainer cued the dog to turn around and look at camera.

In the scene where two actors walk down a residential street and they say hi to their neighbor who’s walking with her dog on a leash, and the little girl bends down and pets the dog, prior to filming the trainer brought the dog to the set and handed him over to the actress. The street was closed off to the public and traffic. The young girl was confident with the dog since they’d already been introduced. After filming, the dog was returned to an area with his trainers for rest and water.

In this same scene when the monster walks up to closet and the dog barks at him, the trainer hid outside the laundry, holding the dog, ready to release him. The doors were controlled by the SFX team. On action, the trainer released the dog, who ran to a mark and barked repeatedly.

In the scene where the family reunites on the empty foundation of the house and the woman pets the dog, this scene was filmed in a studio with VFX green screens showing the residential street. On action, the actors run into each other’s arms and hug each other while dog follows them.