When Zowie leaps at Gus and the two battle it out, spinning and tumbling until Gus arms himself with a grave marker cross and swings it at the dog. Zowie becomes more vicious and goes for Gus's throat, which he rips open, and Gus dies. This scene was shot in cuts with the trainer as photo double for the actor for the majority of the scenes. For the snarling close-ups, the dog wore a mouth device similar to what boxers wear in the ring, which gives the appearance that the dog is snarling. Snarling sounds were added in post production. What appeared to be a heavy cross was actually made out of foam rubber. The dog had been trained to play with this with his trainer. The trainer would playfully swing at the dog with the foam rubber cross so as not to scare the dog during filming. The dog had been trained to jump from a platform to another platform and into his trainer's arms to simulate the leap attack. This was done as part of a play/training technique and the dog actually enjoyed it as he played and wrestled with his trainer. When the dog sinks his teeth into Gus's throat, a prosthetic neck containing some purchased meat was used.

Film

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