Hotel for Dogs Movie & The Role of "Georgia"

In the Hotel for Dogs movie, a Boston Terrier was the breed chosen to play the part of "Georgia". Following is the story of how a Boston was chosen for the role, and about Deegan who was one of the dogs who played the part, as shared with us by Jona Kalayjian. Thanks, Jona!!!

It is Deegan who is one of the Bostons that play the part of Georgia in the Hotel for Dogs movie, along with a little female from Florida. I was contracted to go to the Dream Works Studios when they were picking the breed stars for the movie with one of my Bostons. They were looking to choose a breed for the last part that they hadn't picked a breed for yet.

The part was for Georgia, but I did not know that at the time, or what the dog needed to be like for the part.

I took "Baby", one of my girls, to represent the Boston Terrier Breed. There were all different breeds there like Schipperkes, Schnauzers, and many more, each representing their breeds. All were very stuffy and well-behaved. If you have a Boston, you know that is not really how they are .

So, instead of sitting there like a proper girl, Baby would run over to her bag of toys that I had brought with us, pull one out, race over to one of the "Big Wigs", shake it at them, get them to throw it, and then race over and pull out another toy to start over again. At one point, she stood there looking at everyone just as happy as she could be, with her lip stuck up over her tooth (sound like a boston you know?? ). Well, that did it, they wanted the Boston Terrier to play the role of Georgia.

The Animal Acting Co. already had a small 10 pound, little, shy female, but needed another dog to play the part as well. There are always 2 to 3 dogs playing one part. They needed to find one to match her. I had Deegan at home who matched up well, but told them "no" and thought they could find another Boston. They looked for about 2 months and finally convinced me that he was the one they needed to do the part.

Deegan did all the action scences, including the best scene in the movie where he flies through the air with his big bone and runs away from the other dogs. Since I had already started him in Fly Ball training, he was really good at it and liked it a lot.

Here is a quote from his Trainer about his work on the set:

"Deegan has been doing all of the publicity here and the McDonald's commercials. All three dogs were used in the movie...Deegan saved the day a few times when we couldn't get the girls to do the action."

Some of Deegan's scenes in the Hotel for Dogs movie include:

• kids walking the main dogs on leash
• in the dog catcher van
• all of the feeding scenes..the first feeding machine and the dining room table
• running with the big bone being chased by the dogs
• there are a lot more, but my mind went blank

His trainers called him "Nubbins". His AKC registered name is "Our Deegan is a Real Cassonova" and we just call him "Deegy". I got to meet Romeo, Friday and Shep at the auditions, as they were already cast for their parts. Friday is the descendent from the "Frasier" dog - I think that is how it went. I know his trainer had the "Frasier" dog when the series was on. I think this was a grandson.

So that is the story of how the Boston Terrier got to do the part of "Georgia" in the Hotel for Dogs movie!

More About Deegan:

"Deegan is a sweet and loving boy and we are trying to have a nice litter right now, as the Acting Co. wants a son to match him for TV and movie work. His mate should be showing very soon if she took. My last girl I bred to him had a false pregnancy, so I am hopeful "Betty" will give us some "star babies" You can see pics of him, and some scenes from the movie on my website. Deegan has gone to live with his trainer (who I love) and will come home to us when he is done with his acting career."

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