Abbey , the German shepherd fromI Am Legend , gain the hearts of millions in her role as Will Smith ’s co - star . I had the honor of chatting with the man behind the magic , Steve Berens , Abbey ’s Hollywood trainer and BFF for lifetime . He spilled all the barker edible bean on Abbey ’s journey from an unexplored pup to a bountiful - covert sensation . From the heartwarming story of how she lept into his life to the behind - the - scene scoops that made her remarkable , and all the tail - wagging adventures that trace the movie ’s succeeder . clasp up , fellow andiron devotee ; I ’m about to take you on a behind - the - scenes tour into the biography of one of cinema ’s most beloved canine celebs !
Starting the Search for the ‘I Am Legend’ Dog
Steve Berens started the search for a femaleGerman shepherdwhen he discovered producers forI Am Legendwere searching for a female person , specifically . It ’s rare in the industry , he said , to look for out distaff shepherds since the demand usually leans towards visit male dogs for those heroic roles .
A Rescue Dog in the Show Biz
According to Berens , “ The reason there is n’t one in the industry is because , generally , when you get a call for a shepherd , you ’re look for a big male . It ’s not necessarily aggressive oeuvre , but it ’s the hero kind of role . ” He remain to explicate , “ Most multitude do n’t really put their time into a female , so what I did was I went out and found her . She was in abreeding kennelthat was in the physical process of fall apart . ”
Steve felt compelled to rescue her from a lifespan confined to breeding . " I felt I needed to deliver her from being a stock breeder . You know , just breeding . " He reckon she was about " 16 or 18 month honest-to-god , maybe just over " when he took her under his annexe .
The challenge was significant ; he rescued her in July , and by mid - September , they were navigating the bustling streets of Manhattan . Despite the city ’s relentless pace , Abbey thrived . " The city does n’t stop for you , and it ’s very combat-ready , but she just took to it . She really did mythical . She was a great dog , and she just did really well . She learned quickly and enjoyed it , " Berens recalled with pride .
Abbey Meets Her Future Co-Star, Will Smith
Pulling up to meet Will Smith , Berens was n’t indisputable how Abbey was going to do . She was a rattling pawl , but he said jokingly , “ I ’ll never block ; he came walking out and she start bark , and I was like , do n’t get me fired before we even get run short . " allot to Berens , “ Will was very professional . ” Berens order Smith he just wanted to attend out with him for a niggling while with Abbey to see how everything go .
footling did he know at the time that she and Will Smith would produce an vivid relationship that would leave in gain ground America ’s heart . He said , “ The reason that she bind so well to Will was really because of his attitude . He came in and treated her like a Colorado - star . ” He explained , “ I ’ve work with a lot of actors ; some are really well that way , and some , you know , truth be have it off , do n’t want to partake the screen with the dog . He [ Will Smith ] was fabulous . ”
Berens retain , “ He embraced that and knew that she was really a co - star , and that was who he was working with . And so he really , he got into it . And that made a mankind of difference that just helped things so well . ”
Abbey and Will Were a Great Pair
Okay , the panorama that break tenderness — I ’m certain if you ’ve seen the pic , you already fuck what prospect I ’m cite to . Steve Berens used this view to show just how much Will Smith and Abbey bonded with one another . He said , “ There was one particular shot when he choked her out . I had a shot , whereas he released her , she slip down his arm , and she really learned to let it go . She let everything go , and she slide down his sleeve and to the ground . And literally to where her head would just lightly hit the ground and kind of almost bounce and settle . ” He said , “ She just stay there as if she was dead , you lie with ? And it was mythologic . ”
For dogs to take direction as seamlessly as Abbey did in that view , they need to have a strong sense of corporate trust and confidence in their relationship with the mass around them .
Influence on Pop Culture
Abbey ’s shock on pop culture extend beyond the screen . She reignited interest in the German shepherd breed , reminding us of the unbelievable versatility and loyalty of these dogs . Fans ofI Am Legendcan’t help but wait at their own furred friends and wonder , " What would my domestic dog do in a post - apocalyptic world ? " Thanks to Abbey , we know the answer : stick by our side , no matter what .
Training Dogs to Act
A burn question on my mind , and likely on many others ' , is how trainers manage to coach their dogs into acting . It ’s a significant challenge for us human being to take on acting function , so the feat of fix a cad to do in a movie is sincerely remarkable .
He said , “ I wish to have the hot dog watch the worker and work . ” He explain , “ In the old days , trainers would get up on ladders to get looks at the thespian , and there was n’t the same kind of connection , but once you teach the dog to watch over the actor , there ’s a connection there . Then , the thespian feels he has something to influence with . So , it helps him also . ”
There’s a Lot of Gray Area
As with most thing , Steve explained that there ’s a pot of gray area in dog training and in film . He has to ask himself , “ Which way am I going to approach this to fetch out the right attitude ? And maybe you ’re have a hard time get a peculiar behaviour , so you need to approach it in a different fashion . ”
He continued to say , “ I ’ve told trainer that grooming animals is n’t black and white . There ’s a lot of gray , and you have to learn the stages in the black-market and snowy side , but eventually , you start picking up on the gray too and feeling it . ” This part is fabulously crucial because , according to Berens , “ if you do n’t have a lot of cacoethes for it and it really does n’t turn you on , then it ’s not for you . ”
Abbey’s Life After Retirement
Abbey ’s role inI Am Legendwas her one fun , first-rate - huge project . Berens said , “ She never really go a call for another big project and just did some modest thing [ after retreat ] . ” He said , “ She had a very full life . We had a grown cattle farm in California with a lot of other animals , you make out , to run around on — being a pawl — revel her life-time . ”
How Steve Berens Got Started in Film
For Canis familiaris trainers wishing to get into the picture industry , Steve Berens state , " Generally , what flight simulator do is just hang out . They hang up out around trainers , serve out , and start up to pick it up . ” He emphasized that education for celluloid is a mo unlike than obedience education in terms of how much time you spend training and with the dog in general , and understanding that is passing important .
Not everything goes as expect . He articulate , “ We put so much on the dogs because you could get a conductor change just the Clarence Day of , and all of a sudden you need to shift things up very apace . So that dog-iron has to be well - versed with a great deal of behaviors . ”
How Berens Got Involved
Steve Berens became involved in show business organization at a untested age . “ I was very lucky . I rise up on the East Coast in Ohio and I had an uncle that was in the business . And I always had brute when I was untried . And you get laid , I sleep with of some of the thing he did , and we move to California , and I got around him , and he lead the show with Universal Studios , the live creature show . And so I think I was about 12 years old then , and I went back home and started seek to civilize my animals , and it just was very interesting to me . So what it really is about is desire ; if you enjoy it , I think of , I look at it this way . Some of my full admirer were dogs . ”
Hiring Steve Berens Animals’ of Distinction
I asked Berens how a TV series or movie production can get ahold ofhis companyif they ’re seem for a dog to asterisk in a plastic film . He allege most of the time , his companionship is engage due to Scripture of mouth , like “ someone see this firedog in a labor , and you know , they retrieve it was good , so they looked you up and they called you . Obviously , you have your website and mod times here , so it puzzle out in all kinds of dissimilar ways . ”
Cheers to Abbey, the GSD
What made Abbey so captivating was her ability to carry a wide range of emotions without saying a single Holy Writ . Whether she was on the lookout for danger or kink up next to Will Smith , Abbey ’s expressive oculus and body language spoke volume , testify that actions and barks can indeed utter louder than Word . It ’s no wonder America fell foreland over paw for this furry grinder . Abbey passed off in 2018 , but her memory will live on forever in the hearts of many .
