ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997 TAG: 9704240010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CORAL GABLES, FLA.
SOURCE: HEATHER MCKINNON KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
Duke is the perfect leading man. Women fawn over him. Men want to be his friend. He's big and rugged, as handsome as Liam Neeson and as affable as Tom Hanks. And he's such a gentleman on the set that he's been called ``the Cary Grant of dog actors.''
``He's the best,'' trainer Joel Silverman says, scanning the manicured lawns of Coral Gables, first stop on an 11-city tour, for that indispensable training aide - the plastic bag.
``I thought he might be mean at first. He has those yellow eyes,'' Silverman recalls. ``But I tossed him a toy and he came right back and dropped it in my hand. I knew he was OK.''
A friend had called Silverman, then working on ``Empty Nest,'' to an animal shelter to see a possible double for that series' canine star, Dreyfuss.
``Every dog was barking its head off. Duke was the only one who was just sitting there being mellow.'' The 10-month-old Saint Bernard/shepherd mix didn't look at all like Dreyfuss, but he won Silverman over, becoming his star pupil and only pet.
That was four years ago. Now, with three films and nine commercials to his credit, Duke is one hot dog. In his latest effort, Duke employs mind control to comandeer the family's Nissan truck and whisk eight of his buddies off on a midnight joy ride. In another spot - a favorite with non-cat people - a falsely accused Duke uses a Polaroid camera to capture a bad kitty's crimes on film.
In Hollywood, whether casting humans or canines, directors are usually after a specific look, and purebreds get the most calls. But Duke's ``regular guy'' face and sweet nature made him popular from the start.
``I brought him to the set of `Mad About You' a couple weeks after I got him,'' Silverman recalls with pride. Duke stood in for Murray (real name, Maui) for lighting, fell asleep on the couch and crashed to the floor in the middle of a take. Paul Reiser, the series' star and creator, became an instant fan. ``Reiser says Duke is the dog he wanted Murray to be.''
Harsh words for TV favorite Murray. ``Maui's skittish,'' Silverman explains. ``For training, you look for a dog who is relaxed, who can pay attention long enough for a take, without looking off.''
Duke is a dog's dog. He likes his food dry, his drinks wet and his women hairy. And though he works for his supper a little harder than your average schnauzer, he's not exactly herding cattle under the blazing sun either.
``He loves to work,'' Silverman says. ``He works about four hours at a time, then rests in his SkyKennel, then works some more.'' Duke responds to about 30 hand gestures and softly spoken commands. A trainer can't scream, `Down!' or blow a whistle when it's quiet on the set. Silverman uses praise, consistency and food to get the most out of his pet. ``This is the real reward,'' he says as Duke rolls over for a belly scratch.
There are other perks. Travel for one. Duke's next project - a TV pilot - will take him to Berlin for six weeks. And when he travels, it's no doghouse for this boy. He sleeps in the bed.
``The hotel doesn't know,'' Silverman confesses.
And then, of course, Duke has his people; fans, public relations folks, Duke wannabes. Silverman gets a lot of inquiries from stage mothers.
``That's just what they're like,'' he laughs. ``Everyone thinks their pet can make it in the movies.''
It's tough to say who has a better deal in this partnership.
``I get to take my dog to work every day,'' Silverman says, ``He travels with me, he sleeps with me. What more could you want?''
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Trainer Joel Silverman describes Duke,by CNBa Saint Bernard/shepherd mix, as both mellow and a hard worker.