pamperedpuppy // luxury lifestyles for dogs

Dollars and Cents

Time to get down to the hard numbers, people. Just how many pet treats you can expect to buy with your dog's new income?

A working pet actor can expect to make anywhere between $50 to $350 per day, depending on the type and length of production. Most commercials shoot for 2-days whereas a movie may continue for months. A well-known pet star may end up with a more lucrative contract, but if your pet is an unknown, expect them to start at the bottom.

"One of our dogs, Mike the Shaggy, became a real hot item... he had to get his own 1099 form from tax people because he was making so much money," says Bash about one of the dogs that attended his workshop.

Kathry says landing a big sum of money isn't ordinary and pet parents shouldn't rely solely on their pet's career to make their living. "It's not very likely unless it's a Spuds Mckenzie or Gidget from Taco Bell, but you just never know."

Kathryn's own dog, a Border Terrier called Mouse, played backup to "Slammer" in the movie There's Something About Mary. Mouse went on to promote the movie.

Kathryn says her dog really enjoyed acting but that she's not in it for the money. "I'm sure there are people that are in it for the money but I don't believe in that." She says the people who choose to rely on their pets are usually professional trainers themselves and have more than one pet to their name.

In the end, it all comes back to the life you want your dog to lead. Like Bash says, "If you have fun training with your dog, that's a plus. You're also creating a family dog with star quality in your home. In then end, that's really what it's all about."