“Marley & Me” & 21 other dogs

Larry Madrid makes me feel like a slacker.

I can’t even get my two dogs to sit. He trained 22 dogs to take on the role of Marley in the movie “Marley & Me.” Of the pack, 14 are puppies and eight are adult dogs.

The trainer has handled all kinds of animals – from birds to bugs, cats to chickens. For “Marley & Me,” Madrid needed nearly two dozen dogs to perform tricks, be still and show off their personalities. The main star, Jonah, is a rescue dog. He’s the calmest, so he was used for most of the serious sceens.

I guess if the movie were about a misbehaving black lab, my dog Skye would have had a shot at stardom. She could have played that part to a T without 21 others.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernol

Thank you for joining our conversation on Pet Show Blog. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.