The Secret Life of Movie Dogs: An Interview with Trainer Mathilde De Cagny - Pt 1
This podcast features an interview with Mathilde DeCagny, a highly accomplished television and movie animal trainer who works for the company Birds and Animals Unlimited.
Mathilde's Background:
She moved to the US from France in 1983 and had a long-standing love for animals, having worked with hunting dogs and horses in her home country and often rescuing various creatures.
She initially considered becoming a horseback riding teacher. However, a cat food commercial showing a cat knocking things over sparked her revelation: "That's what I want to do."
Breaking into the Industry:
Inspired by movies with animals (like Lassie), she researched trainers, including Gary Gero.
After multiple rejections from Gero, she insisted on volunteering for his company. She first gained experience volunteering at Hubert Wells' Animal Actors of Hollywood, which focused on wildlife, but she quickly realized she preferred working with domesticated animals.
At 21 years old, she finally gained a foothold with Gary Gero’s company after making persistent efforts.
Notable Work and Credits:
Mathilde has too many credits to list, but highlights include the dog Eddie from the sitcom Frasier and the movies Hotel for Dogs, As Good as It Gets, Steel Magnolias, and most recently, the cast of dogs for Marley & Me.
Audition and Training Stories
Moose (Eddie from Frasier):
Producers initially wanted a background dog for the pilot. Mathilde and her team brought a variety of trained dogs, but also included Moose, a small, untrained dog rescued from Florida.
The producers, focused on the dog's "sophisticated" look for the set, instantly chose the untalented Moose. Mathilde then faced the challenge of training the difficult dog, who had previously been passed around and deemed "dangerous" by others. She credits Moose with teaching her everything she knows about training.
The Dogs of Marley & Me:
They used a total of 22 dogs (including 11 puppies and five young adults that Mathilde was in charge of) to portray the single dog, Marley, throughout his lifespan.
Mathilde loved this project because it allowed her to focus on "natural" behaviors, aiming for a dog that looked spontaneous and "out of control."
She emphasizes that even the seemingly crazy or destructive actions—like pulling, ripping up the couch, and the infamous humping scene—were all meticulously trained behaviors on cue. She details her intricate training process for the humping scene.
She created a "monster" by encouraging the dogs' obsessive and destructive tendencies while prepping for the role, particularly with the main dog, Clyde.
Post-Movie Life: All the Marley & Me dogs were adopted into good homes. Clyde, the main dog, lives with Mathilde. She notes that while he is well-behaved with control, she regrets creating the level of constant busyness and obsession he now has, admitting the difficulty of "undoing" that focused training.