Sue Chipperton - A Famous Dogs Life: The Story of Gidget, Americas Most Beloved Chihuahua

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This book is more than just a fascinating look at the tale behind a twelve-pound pop-culture icon. Rather, this heartwarming story celebrates the bond between people and their canine best friends. A Famous Dogs Life is a must read for any dog lover.

New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster

This wonderful book tells the charming story of Gidget, a special little dog. Itll make you pant with pleasure.

New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown

As an animal-safety rep for the American Humane Associations Film and Television Unitthe only organization in the world authorized to protect the welfare of animals in the entertainment industry and sanctioned to award the famous No Animals Were Harmed end creditI act as the voice and the advocate for all the animals on set. In this book, Sue has given a voice to Gidget as well as all the animals she has had the opportunity to train and bring through her doors. What a great tribute to Gidget, who was a star among animal actors. And Sue is a star among Hollywood animal trainers.

Netta Bank, senior certified animal safety representative, American Humane Association, Film & TV Unit

This is my favorite kind of story: one that proves that with hard work, a great attitude, a lovable personality and large glorious ears, you can accomplish anything.

Bret Witter, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dewey and Deweys Nine Lives

Jack Handey

When someone walks up to you with a dog, the whole energy of your encounter changes. Immediately, everyone smiles. And everyone draws closer to one another in relating to the dog. I feel blessed to have had many wonderful animals in my lifeand some of the most extraordinary ones Ive met through my job.

I remember when I first read the script for Legally Blonde, I thought, Oh, my gosh, my costar is a canine. I hope hes awesome! I had worked with Rhodesian ridgebacks on a movie I did in Africa, and it was a really positive experience. But the dog in this script had character. He had action scenes, visual jokes, and the two of us practically had dialogue. For the movie to work, we had to have an incredible animal trainer and an amazing dog.

When I heard that our trainer on the movie, Sue Chipperton, had also trained the Chihuahua in the Taco Bell commercials, I got really excited. My family and I loved those commercials. They were just so clever and hysterical. And when Sue introduced me to Moonie, who played Bruiser, I knew we were going to have a blast. He was this very, very tiny, very high-energy boy who was incredibly smart, well trained, and ready to go.

Certain dogs just love to work. Theyre natural performers. Theyre focused, and they love the attention and the focus thats on them. Moonie was that kind of dog.

And so was Gidget, the Taco Bell Chihuahua herself, who also worked on Legally Blonde. She was bigger than Moonie and all earsshe literally had gigantic satellites for ears! She was also gentler than Moonie, and incredibly special. Whenever she came on set, everyone would end up gathered around her. Gidget was just magical.

All of my experiences with animals on movies have been uniquely rewarding. In 2010, I shot a movie called Water for Elephants, and I got to work with an elephant named Ty. There was so much fascinating, nonverbal communication that went on between him and his trainer. It really reminded me of the way Sue works.

Every animal trainer Ive encountered has a lot of respect for Sue because shes so loving and she manages to bring out the best in her animals through praise and positive reinforcement. She has a beautiful, intuitive communication with her dogs, and a huge respect and care for them. Its a pleasure to work with her, because she lets other people love her animals too. She encourages you to connect with them.

Anyone who chooses to work with animals for a living is doing something really special, in my opinion. Its a big commitment to train an animal every day of your life, almost like raising a child. And animal trainers in Hollywood have to be in constant communication with the filmmakers to make sure they get what they need to tell the story, while at the same time respecting the needs of the animals and bringing out their best performances. Were talking about a degree of patience that supersedes the normal persons capacity!

Sue would spend hours working with and encouraging Moonie, and as a result he had tons of trickswhich we were really able to take advantage of in Legally Blonde 2. He was given a big character arc, and the audience even finds out that hes gay! In developing the script, I sometimes wondered whether that moment would be hysterically funny or ridiculously absurd. But in the end, it worked, because Moonie had enough personality to support an entire story line that revolved around him.

Before Gidget or Moonie or any dog hits the big time, they have to be discovered, so to speak. Thats where animal trainers like Sue come in. She has a knack for picking extraordinary animals. She can go through a group of dogs and sense immediately which ones will be the best workers and performers.

The dogs who make it in the business are driven. And theyre charismatic. When I watch the Westminster dog show, I always think you can tell which dogs have that extra sparkle. Theyre little stars. Hollywood dogs are the same way. Theyre such special spirits, its been my huge privilege to work with them, and with Sue.

Reese Witherspoon

Studio dogs know that they can do amazing things. They have this air about themthey carry themselves in a certain way. Theyre attentive and theyre very open to learning. Gidget was all of that and more. In fact, she was a celebrity. When she was on set, there was a ripple effect amongst the cast and crew. She would sit up on a chair and hold court for the day because she was the Taco Bell dog. As for Sue, well, Sue is like Dr. Doolittle. From ducks to cats to dogs, she makes them do impossible things. She just has a way with animals and talks to them in a language that perhaps you and I dont understand. Her animals only have eyes for her. A Hollywood soundstage is a large and noisy placeIve seen dogs fall apart in that environment. But with Sues animals, theres this intense focus on her. Shes the only thing that exists in the room, and thats a fascinating bond that they have. Its a very stealthy process, watching a trainer and an animal work together. Theres a lot of whispering and signaling that goes on. I was expecting Sit! Down! and shouting, but its not like that. Its a very intimate little exchange that they do, and Ive watched Sue guard the space she has between the animal and herself. Its a very hallowed space.