“Ann’s brilliant,” said North Scottsdale resident Lynne Russell, whose English springer spaniel, Brandon, has taken Austin’s movie dog classes. “And it’s a lot of fun.” 

Brandon has learned to dance, go up and down stairs on command, bow, turn in circles both directions, put his head down to appear sad, walk the plank and even “bang bang” – roll over and play dead. He can “kush” or crawl on his belly, jump up on something, give kisses, pray and does tricks in sequences.

“I actually built him a little stage,” Russell said. “My husband thinks I’m nuts.”

Although Brandon has not yet signed with an agent, Russell says her dog, who has attended  classes for about a year and a half, shows real potential.

North Phoenix resident Lesa Storey has two shelties, Audrey and Bogey, who have also taken Austin’s classes and compete in American Kennel Club obedience competitions.

Recently, at a dog show, an agent approached Storey about signing her dogs. So far, one of her shelties has appeared in a catalog for PetSmart.

The animals love the movie dog classes.

“The dogs like it because they get treats and it opens up a whole new line of communication between the dog and its owner,” Storey said.

She related that her dogs watch her pick up things all the time at home and put them away. “They see you do it and then they get to help you,” referring to the pick‑up and put‑away trick they are taught.

In order to get into one of Austin’s movie dog classes, the animal must first have graduated from “novice” and “open” classes which meet American Kennel Club standards. These pre‑requisites teach basics such as how to pay attention to the owner or handler without getting distracted and to take directions. Movie sets can get “pretty crazy” with all the people, reflectors, and cameras moving around, she notes. “A dog has got to be able to take cues from the handler at that time.”

Positive retrieval skills are the basis of a number of important commands, she pointed out, and much of what you do in movie training is based on these skills.

Austin has been in the animal training business most of her life and says, over the years, animal acting has changed a great deal. “What you saw on films then really happened. Today, so many computer enhancements go into animal films.”

In Disney’s remake of “101 Dalmatians,” the filmmakers used a number of computer enhancements, she related. Still, the movie business has some very skilled animals and trainers, and Austin says she and her clients attend movies featuring animal actors to analyze handling techniques.

The movie “Firehouse Dog” stars an Irish terrier but the producers used four different dogs, as all Irish Terriers look alike. There is an advantage to using a “non‑descript”dog, Austin explained. “One Doberman looks like another Doberman, and one black Cocker Spaniel looks like another.”

“The dog has to fit the role,” she continued  “If the role calls for an all‑American dog, the dog has to be a mixed breed; most pure breeds can’t be used.”

Austin says the bulk of her business is obedience for rescued dogs, noting many of them need help with their behaviors in order to keep their homes.

Some rescued animals come with baggage because of their background and need help before they are given up again, she said. “Some get caught up in a downward spiral.” Such behavior problems include barking, food aggression, and being “human shy.”

Austin also teaches search and rescue. These animals are taught to find the closest human scent. Sometimes people who get lost become dehydrated and paranoid, she explained, and they can hide and not respond to calls from nearby searchers.

Snake proofing is another class Austin offers. Dogs learn not to approach poisonous snakes, which can save both the life of the dog and the owner.