Roll over Beethoven, there’s a new dog in town.
Okotoks canine Songan, a seven-year-old St. Bernard, has skyrocketed into television fame over the past couple of years.
He stars on the CBC show Heartland as Max and he has most recently traveled to British Columbia to film a Coors Light commercial.
Songan’s owner Catherine Pampiglione is a veterinarian who operates the canine aqua fitness center at the Elizabeth Street Pet Hospital.
“I used to treat dogs who did the Super Dogs show and people there knew I had a St. Bernard and they asked me if they could use him (Songan) for an audition,” said Pampiglione. “I said ‘Sure why not?’ so they took him and he got the part.”
After strutting his stuff on Heartland for two years, other trainers approached Pampiglione to have Songan in the Coors Light commercial.
Pampiglione said she allowed Songan be on the show because of his very relaxed temperament.
“He is such an easygoing dog, so he is never stressed and has no problem following the trainer, then when he comes home and he’s alright,” she said.
As a very large dog, Songan suffers from hip dysplasia and has undergone surgeries for the ACL on his hind legs, which means he should not perform physically demanding tasks on set.
“Some of my conditions for him being on the show was that he couldn’t stand on his hind legs, he couldn’t jump from place to place and he wasn’t allowed to be flown anywhere, only driven,” said Pampiglione.
For any strenuous tasks, Songan has a stunt double, which receives a bit of make up to match Songan’s distinctive freckles and performs any tough physical scenes.
When the St. Bernard goes to set to perform as Max, Pampiglione is not allowed to be there. Only the trainer can be with the dog so he can focus on his work.
Songan has learned many new tricks on the Heartland set, such as barking on command.
“I’m not allowed to try any of the tricks when he’s at home. They had a hard time teaching him and apparently I’ll ruin them if I try,” laughed Pampiglione.
In order to film the upcoming season of Heartland, Songan was away on set for a week, which is a long time for a dog to be away from home and working.
“He is very good and cooperative, but he is a dog so sometimes he can be silly,” said Pampiglione. “Last time he was on set he saw a little furry dog that belonged to one of the actresses and he chased it under a chair and ended up knocking her out of her chair, but everyone just had a laugh.”
You can see Songan on Heartland as Max usually walking around the farm or laying on the bed next to his owners Peter and Lou.
Maybe even during the commercials of Heartland, you can see Songan as one of the St. Bernards in a Coors Light commercial. He’s the one with the blonde girl.
Pampiglione added that she suspects Songan will be called back for more seasons of Heartland, but she has no idea what his next big role will be. Maybe we will be seeing the St. Bernard in theatres soon.
