By Ohana K9 Actors · Updated November 14, 2026
“The dog walks into the room, stops beside the actor and looks toward the door.” It sounds like a simple line in a script. Turning it into a usable shot requires several separate decisions: where the dog starts, what signals the stop, where the handler stands, what holds the dog’s attention and how the action resets for another take.
That is where a professional dog actor and an experienced animal wrangler become part of the production team. The goal is a performance that serves the scene, with a workable plan for the dog behind the camera.
Bringing a K9 actor onto a set involves casting a suitable dog, preparing the required behaviors, coordinating rehearsals and camera positions, arranging professional handling and planning for the animal’s welfare. Ohana K9 Actors, based in Plant City in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, provides canine talent, training and on-set handling for film, television, commercials and photography, working with productions in Florida, Georgia and the Southeast.
A dog’s appearance matters to casting. Its ability to perform the scene matters just as much. A production may need a particular size, coat or breed, but it also needs to know whether the individual dog can work comfortably with the action, people and environment.
Consider an entrance followed by a look toward an actor. Before booking, clarify the starting point, walking surface, stopping position, direction of the look and length of the moment. Is another performer touching the dog? Is dialogue continuing during the action? Will the scene be filmed from several angles? Those details help turn a broad casting request into a practical training and shot plan.
At Ohana, the useful first conversation is about the script, the desired look and the behavior. Browse the current canine roster, then ask which performer may suit the production rather than assuming every dog can perform every action.
An animal wrangler is the person responsible for handling and coordinating an animal’s work on a production. For dog scenes, that role connects the animal’s preparation with the director’s creative intent and the practical demands of the set.
Discuss the animal action before the shooting schedule is locked. The director, assistant director, camera department and wrangler can agree on the action, the handler’s position and the space needed for cues and resets. When actors will interact with the dog, include that interaction in the rehearsal plan.
Ohana’s trainer and animal wrangler Cassie Kennedy brings experience preparing dogs and handling them for screen work. Her production background includes working with Beck on R.A.D.A.R. Adventures of the Bionic Dog.
If a detail is undecided, say so. A preliminary conversation can identify the questions that need answers before a performer and training plan are confirmed.
A good working brief describes what the camera needs to capture. “Make the dog seem worried” is an interpretation. “The dog remains beside the chair, turns its head toward the hallway and holds that direction for the reaction shot” gives the team specific actions to discuss.
Example casting brief: We are filming an interior scene in Tampa. We need a medium-to-large dog to enter through an open doorway, stop beside the lead actor and look toward a second performer. Please advise on a suitable dog, preparation, rehearsal and the practical setup for this action.
Rehearsal gives the production and handler a chance to check the action in context. Camera position, the actor’s timing or the arrangement of a prop may need adjusting. Agree on the reset between takes, and communicate changes to the animal team before changing the action.
Arrange an appropriate holding and rest area, access to water, suitable transport and a clear route between holding and the working set. Discuss the location’s weather, surfaces and activity with the handler. Build breaks and resets into the schedule rather than assuming the dog will work continuously.
Keep the working area controlled. Crew should ask the handler before approaching, feeding or distracting a dog. A clear point of contact helps prevent several people giving competing directions. If the dog is uncomfortable or the setup changes, pause and reassess the shot with the animal team.
American Humane Society’s Dog Guidelines for Filmed Media recommend handlers with motion-picture experience and preparation for the production environment. Productions should review the current guidance alongside their project’s animal-safety plan.
Ohana K9 Actors’ work includes feature-film, television and commercial productions. Examples documented in our production portfolio include:
These are examples of completed work. Casting suitability, preparation and availability are discussed for each new production. Explore our film, television and commercial footage to see more of the dogs’ screen experience.
The animal’s welfare belongs in the conversation about how a scene will be achieved. Discuss unusual action, effects and other potential hazards during preparation, rather than introducing them when the dog arrives. Creative adjustments, separate shots or another approach may be needed.
For productions seeking No Animals Were Harmed® certification, American Humane Society requires project registration and monitoring by its Certified Animal Safety Representatives. Hiring a trained dog or an animal wrangler does not itself grant that certification. Review the organization’s current production certification process early in planning.
A familiar pet may be considered, but familiarity alone does not establish suitability for filming. Discuss its temperament, preparation, intended action and set conditions with an experienced animal professional. American Humane Society’s dog guidance also addresses animals supplied by cast, crew and private owners.
There is no single preparation period that fits every scene. Timing depends on the individual dog, the behaviors it already knows, the requested action and the filming conditions. Share the script and proposed dates before assuming a behavior can be prepared by the shoot.
Review Ohana’s published booking rates and travel information, then discuss the production’s scope, preparation and schedule with the team. Confirm the agreed services and costs for the particular shoot.
Yes. Ohana K9 Actors is based in Plant City, Florida, and works with productions in Florida, Georgia and the Southeast. Contact the team with the location and dates to discuss travel and availability.
Coordinate performance notes through the designated handler or wrangler and the production’s agreed point of contact. A single, clear chain of communication helps translate a creative note into an action the animal team can assess and prepare.
If your movie, television episode, commercial or photography project needs canine talent, start with the scene you want to create. We can discuss the appropriate performer, required behaviors, preparation and handling for that production.
Ohana K9 Actors
Plant City, Florida · Tampa Bay
Service area: Florida, Georgia and the Southeast
Production inquiries: 813-495-7199 · ericvkennedy@gmail.com
Send your dates, location and casting brief, or meet the current Ohana cast.
Planning a Florida shoot? Explore these city-specific blog posts for local production resources and canine-casting considerations.