celebrity dogs

From hanging with Brad Pitt and Reese Witherspoon to folding socks, it seemed there was no feat too big (or small) for celebrity canine Gidget. The multitalented Chihuahua and star of the popular Taco Bell commercials spent her time living the life most dream of: traveling (by way of private jet), walking the red carpet, and mingling with celebs. This is in no small part due to her trainer, Sue Chipperton, who (along with co-author and People staff writer, Rennie Dyball) divulges her insider information in the book A Famous Dog’s Life. We caught up with Sue, who discussed everything from choosing a breed to “mad dogging.” Read on for our Q&A with Sue!

PetSugar: When searching for a standout star, like Gidget, an outgoing personality is one of the qualities you look for, but do you have recommendations when searching for an off-camera pooch?

Sue Chipperton: Well, it depends what you are looking for in a pet.  Every breed has something to offer and so do mixed breed dogs found in shelters. You start by looking at the breed you are interested in and determining what that dog was bred to do.  If you want a dog that can go running with you twice a day for several miles, then any of the hunting breeds, or a Dalmatian, a Husky, etc., are all good choices. You can narrow it down even more: say you want a short-haired dog, then the husky breeds are removed from your list. The biggest mistake people make is getting a dog based on their looks and ignoring what the dog was bred to do. Leaving a Husky in your backyard and hoping he will stay there is a ridiculous notion, he needs to run to burn off all that excess energy.

PS: The tricks you teach your studio dogs differ from typical pet training — for example, sitting is the last thing you teach them — what are some that work well for both?

Keep reading for Sue's answer and more tips for training your own pet!