Top Dog

Top Dog/For the canine star of "Frasier," life these days is just a bowl of puppy chow.

by Rick Sherwood



Not many actors in Hollywood will work for a biscuit and a pat on the tummy, but then Moose isn't just any ordinary actor.

He's one of the stars of "Frasier."

The 7-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, who portrays the bull-headed pet of Martin Crane, did not have the kind of background you might expect from a star. In addition to having a discipline problem and behavioral challenges, he had been turned away by two adoptive families and wasn't even potty trained when he came to the attention of the Birds and Animals agency, a firm that specializes in finding and representing animals to take part in Hollywood productions.

But the once incorrigible, now beloved Moose did a complete about face when he got involved with the right trainers, and before long won the hearts of "Frasier" fans with his irascible style, his unconventional look and his ability to stare down Dr. Frasier Crane time and time again.

Moose was first seen by producers when they put out a canine casting call to fill the role of Eddie. Mayilde de Cagny brought a little more than a half dozen dogs that were in the Birds and Animals stable, and producers took one look at Moose and gave him the job.

"They knew right away," says de Cagny, who has been in the business for 12 years and has credits that include "Back to the Future," "The Bodyguard" and "A Man Without a Face." "He had the perfect coloring for the set and was the right size, and he had the look about him that they liked."

By that point -- after rigorous training by Kathy Morrison in his native Florida and by de Cagny in Los Angeles -- he also had the talent.

"Before we got him, Moose was a troublemaker -- difficult to handle for people who don't know about this type of dog. He had a strong will, wanted a lot of attention and needed to keep busy -- and wasn't house-trained," says de Cagny. In fact, she adds, he was twice adopted and twice returned because he was "literally impossible" to live with and seemed a likely candidate for the pound.

"That's where he was going at the time," she says, "but we don't mind dogs who have lots of energy. Moose had a strong will and wanted to do a lot of things ... that means he is a very curious dog. Those are things we look for. We look for dogs that have a good energy, are very social, love people and love training. Those are good working dogs."

Moose proved to be just that.

De Cagny says Moose loves working and that the wag of his tail and the shine in his eyes -- as well as his ability to perform on cue and in front of people -- tell all. He is on the set four days a week, learning his pattern (yes, dogs have marks) and getting his timing down pat.

"He usually is watching me, waiting for his next command," de Cagny says. "He's trained to watch my fingers. Like all the actors, he has to do it without tape (marks) during filming."

Moose, who has picked up a few commercials since joining the cast of "Frasier" -- including two Super Bowl spots -- is a regular on the personal appearance and fund-raising circuits. According to de Cagny, he especially likes to help raise money for his pet charity, the ASPCA.

Splitting his time on the set between learning his part and playing with the cast and crew, Moose has no plans to move on. While there is a young pup in the wings waiting to follow in his four footsteps -- his look-alike son, Enzo -- Moose doesn't seem to be slowing down.

"Dogs don't like to retire," says de Cagny. "Compared to waiting for your owner to come home, this is a big thrill and I think he would love to keep doing it."

At least until they run out of biscuits.