Meet Squid, the rescue dog starring in Runt

With the cinema launch of Runt last month, a scruffy rescue dog has become one of Australia’s most recognisable pooches. The ACTF’s new learning resource for Runt shares the stories behind the film, including how its canine star was discovered.

Squid – the dog who plays Runt – is also a dog of indeterminable breed and buckets of charm. Like Runt, Squid is a rescue: the Runt production’s animal department rescued and cast her. Runt author and screenwriter Craig Silvey says Squid’s journey is extraordinary: “Our amazing animal department searched far and wide and sourced the incredible Squid, who was in need of rescue. They swept her up and gave her a home, and now she’s going to be the most famous dog in Australia.”

Being a rescue dog, Squid’s path to stardom wasn't a walk in the park. Squid had been through three homes before they discovered the little dog who was perfect in looks and personality for the role of Runt.

In appearance, Squid was the perfect match to play Silvey’s scruffy larrikin lead. During auditions, she proved that even at just 18 months old she had all the hallmarks of a star: resilient, confident and flexible with a natural agility and nimbleness.  

But it was Squid’s appetite that scored her the role of Runt, with everyone confident in the casting once they learned she had the stomach of a Great Dane! Her love for treats meant she wanted to keep on earning them on set.

Squid’s young spirit and love for toys was just as important, because for her it was all a game. The trainers worked to continually make it fun, which helped bring a sense of genuine interaction to every take. And Squid’s intelligence was useful on set, as she began to learn the pattern of repeated takes.

Squid completed months of training before the shoot which involved getting her accustomed to noises and wearing props to prepare for the chaotic environment of a film set. The trainers introduced new things in incremental steps to sharpen her focus from beating pots and pans, or using headbands to simulate the blinders she wears in the film.

To capture the perfect moments on camera, the training team mastered an array of sounds and gestures, often sacrificing their inhibitions to provoke an inquisitive tilt of the head or a particular look from Squid. Squeaky toys and an arsenal of mouth-generated noises created a bizarre concert of sounds behind the scenes. Some very creative and humorous visual cues were used to achieve a particular look or emotion from Squid – even the Robot Dance was used!

Ten-year-old Lily LaTorre, who plays lead role of Annie Shearer, quickly formed a genuine connection with her canine co-star both on and off screen, with both young stars combining a playful energy with a maturity that belies their years. 

“Me and Squid became really good friends while we were filming. We've bonded, and when we would do a scene, she would sometimes forget about her trainers, but just sat there watching me, which was quite funny,” describes Lily. 

Silvey thinks that audiences – especially dog lovers – will be moved by Runt, driven by the bond between the two young stars of the film.

Discover more behind-the-scenes information in the Runt learning resource, suitable for students in Years 3 to 6.