‘Good Boy’ Fetches a PETA Award for Compassionate Canine Casting

Round of a-paws! Indy, the four-legged lead of the buzz-worthy new horror flick Good Boy, is claiming his title as Hollywood’s top dog. While viewers are praising the protagonist pup’s on-screen talent, PETA’s throwing the film a bone for its off-screen kindness—by giving a beloved companion dog the spotlight instead of using one from a shady supplier.

Indy may not be up for an Oscar, but PETA’s got something better: Our one-and-only Good Boy, Great Filmmaking Award!

Is the Dog in Good Boy Real?

In real life, Good Boy’s star is the adored canine companion of the filmmakers—husband-and-wife duo Ben Leonberg and Kari Fischer. They pulled out all the stops on set to ensure that Indy stayed safe, comfortable, and happy—just like he is at home.

PETA Gets the Exclusive Scoop on Good Boy’s Movie Magic

On screen, Indy faces a litany of horrors—but off-screen, it’s all pets, playtime, treats, and tail-wags. As the filmmakers proved, patience, love, and care are the ultimate special effects!

“Indy’s comfort was our number one priority throughout the entire production process. It’s why my wife and I were the only people on set during filming and we moved at Indy’s pace,” Leonberg shared with PETA.

Leonberg also let us in on the clever tricks used to make Indy’s frightening predicaments look real:

• Shots of Indy “paralyzed with fear” were actually him intently staring at a treat or tennis ball off-camera—which he got immediately when Leonberg called “cut.”
• Sounds of Indy yelping in “distress” were isolated recordings of him joyfully playing fetch, carefully edited to fit the scene.
• Action sequences were often filmed in reverse, and/or enhanced with speed ramping, camera shake, and high shutter speeds, creating tension and a sharper, more visceral effect on playback.
• The “blood” was a dog-safe combination of red foods.
• The lines of human dialogue weren’t actually said on set. Leonberg stood in for the actor playing Indy’s guardian, and the only words said were instructions, encouragement, and, of course, “Good boy!”

Through it all, Indy’s well-being came first, proving that compassion and thrilling cinema go paw-in-paw.

Hollywood Suppliers Are Often Real-Life Horrors

At home and on set, Indy is family first—but this isn’t the case for many animals used in Hollywood productions. Animal suppliers typically confine dogs to warehouse-like conditions and even deprive them of food during training. PETA’s investigation of Atlanta Film Animals revealed that the facility kept a 13-year-old dog named Frankie in an unheated garage in near-freezing temperatures despite being blind and deaf and suffering from heart failure. The seedy business also left dogs outside in cold, barren kennels. Workers denied dogs, cats, and other animals food using antiquated training methods.

Good Boy’s filmmakers are setting a shining example, reminding everyone that animals aren’t props—they deserve care and respect.

Changing Hollywood for Good

Like Indy, every dog deserves a warm and loving home. YOU can help make Hollywood more compassionate by never supporting productions that exploit animals from cruel, greedy suppliers.