BEST IN SHOW: THE MOVIE

BEHIND THE SCENES

By Carol Garvin

‘Dogs In Canada’ magazine, November 2000

Acting as a consultant during the filming of Best in

Show ended up involving far more than the few meetings and
phone calls I had originally envisioned when I was
approached about the job.

My first clue was when I was asked if I would be able

to give the cast members a few lessons in show handling.
Then, could I find Westminster-quality dogs of at least 80
different AKC-recognized breeds to participate in the group
and Best in Show scenes that would be covered in the movie,
plus at least 50 more people, their dogs and all their
paraphernalia to populate a grooming area? And, later,
would I be able to “choreograph” the actual dog-show scene?

Bringing Earlene Luke on board as handling instructor

and technical advisor made my tasks infinitely easier.
Christopher Guest (director), Karen Murphy (producer) and
Gordon Mark (executive producer) were fanatics about
authenticity and credibility, and Earlene had the expertise
needed to pick up on subtle details that I might miss.

Finding appropriate dogs was my first challenge. Most

needed to be of group-winning quality and in show
condition, able to handle the stresses of a filming
environment and the long hours of shooting sequences. The
director had specific criteria for the main character dogs
in the story, who also had to be able to bond quickly and
work well with their new Hollywood “owners”. They required
a degree of specialized training, which was the
responsibility of Connie Rusgen and Mark Dumas of the
Creative Animal Talent Agency in Mission, B.C.

While there were lots of potential dogs in the

Vancouver area (where most of the movie was shot), many
were eliminated from consideration because their owners
either lacked interest, or were unwilling to take their
prime show dogs out of circulation for the duration of what
was an indefinite shooting schedule, or their professional
handlers could not be available. After six weeks of
Behind the Scenes – Garvin    2  

searching, we ended up with dogs from various areas of

British Columbia, Washington and California.

Before shooting began, several members of the cast and

crew made a day trip to visit the Lower Mainland Dog
Fanciers of B.C’s October show venue to immerse themselves
in the atmosphere of a large dog show. Most had never been
to a dog show before, so this was quite an enlightening
experience!

Christopher Guest had created the eccentric

personalities he wanted the cast members to develop, and
for many, handling lessons with Earlene were the most
challenging aspect of what they had to learn – show
handling was not as easy as it looked!

Using real dog-show exhibitors and officials reduced

the need to teach a large number of actors the fine points
of handling, stewarding and judging. I was told, however,
that the judges must look “old and/or distinguished” since
of course only the very elite were invited to judge at a
show as prestigious as Westminster, which was the model for
the fictitious Mayflower Kennel Club.

Among those who were willing to come on board as

various show officials were a number of familiar West Coast
faces: Joan Brazier, Don Emslie, Eileen Fraser, Cleo
Laxton, Marilynn Miney, Hal Pybus and Sheila Verhulst –
none particularly old (of course!), but suitably
distinguished, and all real-life CKC-licensed judges.
Earlene was also asked to be one of the judges, and on
occasion could be seen hitching up her glamorous gown to
display running shoes and jeans as she hurried across the
Coliseum floor between takes to critique a particular scene
on the monitors with me.

On the whole, the owners of the ‘hero’ dogs around

which the story unfolds were wonderfully patient, providing
transportation day after day; enduring costume fittings,
training sessions and innumerable shoots; even raiding
their own homes for memorabilia to be used as props and set
decorations. And the many who participated in group judging
and grooming area scenes were equally tolerant, accepting
with few complaints the many re-takes, sometimes far into
the nights. Only one owner decided to abandon ship
midstream, but thanks to professional handler Beth Hilborn,
not one but two substitute dogs were quickly located.
Behind the Scenes – Garvin    3  

Earlene and I found that working with the cast and

crew on this movie was the experience of a lifetime. We
were warmly included in all aspects of the filming and,
while recognizing the cast and crew’s considerable talents,
we were never left feeling intimidated by anyone.

We have fond memories of Catherine O’Hara

affectionately cuddling ‘Winky’ the Norwich Terrier during
a break in rehearsals… of Eugene Levy trying with great
concentration to get his “two left feet” in sync during a
move-to-music handling lesson… of Jane Lynch struggling
gamely to keep a sprayed and re-sprayed coat from tangling
in the lead of a very energetic Poodle… of John Michael
Higgins off in a quiet corner thoroughly engrossed in
listening Maureen Whitter explain how to use his hands when
showing her Shih Tzu… of trying to suppress our giggles
during the many hilariously improvised lines throughout the
movie.

Behind every scene (and in several of them) was the

awesome Christopher Guest, whose vision guided the process
of what we all hope has resulted in a zany comedy unfolding
against a credible backdrop of the world of show dogs.

Bio:
Carol Garvin of Mission, B.C., who lined up dogs, breeders and judges
for the hilarious ‘mockumentary’ Best in Show, has bred Shetland
Sheepdogs for 25 years under the Careann prefix, competing successfully
in both conformation and obedience. She has served on the executive and
show committees of numerous dog clubs, and worked as a professional dog
show secretary for twelve years. Now semi-retired, she is looking
forward to having more time for hobbies such as gardening, music,
writing and reading.

“Shot in Vancouver, Best In Show pokes gentle fun at the sport and the
characters who have no other life beyond dogs shows. (We all know them:
the people for whom winning a ribbon is everything, and losing is one
of life’s major tragedies.)” - Mike Macbeth