Sharon Knolle / January 17, 2019. It is a heartwarming story. “Our company, Paws for Effect, work closely with autistic children and children’s hospitals, providing therapy dogs,” Miller says. "Every time you see Shelby doing something complicated onscreen, it's because she's looking forward to praise, affection, treats and squeaky toys.". Cameron made the trip with his wife, co-screenwriter Cathryn Michon, and dog trainer Teresa Ann Miller to check Shelby out in person. ‘A Dog’s Way Home’: How Shelby went from junkyard stray to Hollywood star. Shelby, the dog who plays Bella, the lost dog trying to find her way back to her owner in “A Dog’s Way Home,” was herself a stray at one point. I loved it, one of the best books ever. How exciting! After Shelby got adopted and drove across the U.S. she began to learn what love was and what it was like to have a family. I happen to know the author of this novel very well. Throughout the novel Shelby becomes a movie star dog. Another rescue dog plays Shelby’s stand-in, The production also rescued Amber, Shelby’s stand-in, from another facility, in South Carolina. It was okay. The last two chapters independent of the story are additional fun to read. This particular little story is especially cute if you’ve read “A Dogs Way Home” and seen the corresponding motion picture release of the same name. Though she was skinny and malnourished, “Shelby’s tail never stopped wagging, she was always happy,” Animal Control Officer T.J. Jordi told Inside Edition. God bless you for taking her. The Internet search ended at a Tennessee no-kill shelter, which had rescued Shelby from a squalid life in a nearby landfill. ", 'A Dog's Way Home' trailer highlights star mutt Shelby. She was very happy and happy to just be inside. ( Log Out / I didn’t know a movie was coming out based on A Dog’s Way Home, and on that front, that this book is released this year is a good marketing strategy. Thank you W. Bruce Cameron for creating this amazing book! November 6th 2018 ( Log Out / That it’s not strictly a novel, but has tidbits that entice me to dig out concurrent info on the internet made it more fun still. And it was me, playing tug-of-war with the dog, at 18 months old. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Her life changed the day a sweet understanding girl named Megan saved her. But I also was looking for a dog that just had that thing in her eyes, and Shelby has it. My child and I both enjoyed reading it together. Between getting lost from her home, living on the streets, and losing her sister, Shelby is still a very bright, happy, and energetic puppy. Some humor, helped with some great detailed information. The dog aced a number of tests with Miller that proved a dogged willingness to learn moviemaking basics. Great buy for grandparents or parents of pet loving children. Read aloud to my daughter. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published "I just could see her willingness to join the life she would have being with people.". “We were looking at photos and videotape of dogs everywhere.”. 1. But she quickly warmed up and showed real personality. I cant wait for the movie comes out, but before that, ide like the read the book. ", "Everybody was hypervigilant because of 'A Dog’s Purpose.' Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Give me a sweet, sentimental dog story and I get weepy every time. If you stood next to her you'd get a black and blue mark from her tail wagging," he says. The filmmakers were intent on choosing a rescue dog to star in the survival tale adaptation of the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, the same author who wrote the book adapted for 2017's "A Dog's Purpose." This was a really cute story told from the dog, Shelby. “My stomach was pretending to be a dog, growling at me from within. "She had a really unique personality. She’s mentioned in the second paragraph. But there was one thing. ( Log Out / 'A Dog's Purpose' reels after outrage over disturbing set video, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Period.". Af. There was his mom and brothers and sister. It was casting love at first nuzzle. "But her true story is also absolutely extraordinary, just as riveting as Bella's tale in 'A Dog’s Way Home.' “Amber definitely has specialties, which is what you want in a team,” says Miller. Adopted by trainer Debbie Pearl, the dog is a therapy animal for children with autism or in the hospital, much like Bella, who soothes veterans in the movie. Shelby, the star pooch in "A Dog's Way Home," has soulful eyes, acting chops and a warm nose for her human co-stars. If it were a dog I would snarl back—I was doing the best I could!”, “guessed that’s why he’d come to this mountain, to play with me, because he didn’t seem to have much else to do with his life.”. Here’s everything we know about Shelby, including where she is today. Shelby is a puppy that has been through a lot. However I know I’m not the target audience. Just like the book, she is a mixed breed dog who looks like she could possibly have pit bull in her blood. She's a big movie star now, but she gave me kisses," says Buhler. Howard is a big dog lover in real life, “I’ve had pets my whole life,” said Howard.“When I was very young, I was quiet and serious. W. Bruce Cameron never disappoints. Shelby’s a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more casual and natural for what we do.”, 5. "Shelby was once on track to have a really miserable, short life. You can read production details here. Bryce Dallas Howard (who voices Bella) and Shelby hit it off right away, “When I met Shelby, we were instant BFFs,” says Howard. He/she looks a bit different and. I helped an animal out in the best way to have a better life.". She makes us remind of the rich and charming rags to riches story. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, Chris Bauer, Barry Watson, and Jonah Hauer-King, and follows a dog named Bella who travels … "It was obvious after just an hour of working with her, this was going to be the dog," Cameron says. At the time of filming, Amber was about two-and-a-half. I didn’t know a movie was coming out based on A Dog’s Way Home, and on that front, that this book is released this year is a good marketing strategy. The search for a star mutt in "A Dog's Way Home" led to a shelter and Shelby. ", 'Dog's Purpose' author: I stand behind my film and its values. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. 3. But Buhler never thought the darling dog would go onto movie stardom. I wonder, if the puppy on the cover is the Shelby in the book and in the movie? she was always hungry and cold. New York Times bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron presents the totally irresistible tale of a little stray puppy rescued from a life on the streets to become the star of A Dog's Way Home, the basis for the major motion picture! Yes, cuteness, dog books are just perfection sorry I bias I LOVE DOGS. and the dog Shelby doesn't remember her other life. As someone who’s read Cameron’s three bestselling dog books, I was delighted all the way through this book. Shelby doesn't remember much of her early life- … Based on a true story, told cutely from the dog's perspective. She wanted lovings from everybody," says Buhler. He wrote this book as a partly fiction / partly factual story about Shelby, the rescue dog actor who, along with two other pups, played the lead role of Bella in the “A Dogs Way Home” film adaptation. All crew members were given three numbers to call if they saw anything amiss, and could phone anonymously to report any instance of dog mistreatment – such as those that arose in a horrifying video shot on the set of "A Dog's Purpose. They finally found their star in a shelter in Tennessee. “It truly was a nationwide search in terms of looking at shelter dogs all over America,” says Michon. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. She goes through lots of training to be the best she can. It was the best book I have ever read in my life. Everyone loves Shelby and her amazing personality and everyone loved her being the star of the movie. Well done W. Bruce Cameron. Shelby was discovered at the Cheatham County Animal Control Center in Tennessee when she was one-and-a-half years old. This book is very inspiring and I learned some dog facts while reading it. After filming wrapped, Shelby moved on to humanitarian work. She’s a lot of fun, she’s smart and so expressive. So it was enjoyable reading a bit about how Shelby, named Bella in the movie, came to be rescued after being found eating garbage at a dump, was adopted by a wonderful trainer, and subsequently went on to become the star of the movie. (Including which animals were real, which were CGI and which were taxidermied.). This is so good! They could follow the story well, even with considerable time betweem reading. All of that has changed," says Cameron, who has published the book "Shelby's Story: A Dog's Way Home Tale" about her life. But one thing’s for sure, she’s a Pitbull mix. "She tried very hard to get attention. 1. Shelby, as you know, is the star pooch in the movie “A Dog’s Way Home” She has very calm eyes and an extremely warm nose for her woman co-stars. Such an excellent story line explaining about the dog, training dogs, and making the movie “ A Dog’s Purpose” all through the eyes of the dog. Is it a dog-training book--written by a dog? Then he met the woman and he met his packs, her friends. After Shelby got adopted and drove across the U.S. she began to learn what love was and what it was like to have a family. If you have seen A Dog's Way Home you will especially love it! The pooch also had to be a pit bull mix, as in the book. There was his mom and brothers and sister. She’s a beautiful, sincere, brilliant, super adorable dog.”, 6. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. "She was that kind of dog that made you smile. I LOVED THIS BOOK! I know technically it's a young adult book, but I as an adult thoroughly enjoyed it! Her life changed the day a sweet understanding girl named Megan saved her. The book, Shelbys Story, writing by W. Bruce Cameron, is not necessarily based around the movie, which is dry interesting in my opinion, instead, it is based around setting up the movie, and how the movie was made. I read this book over the summer and I thought it was amazing and very thoughtful. Shelby was rescued by a guy named mark and made her life better, that's all I'm gonna say about the book. I’ve always loved dogs, which puts me in a unique category along with what, maybe two or three billion people? "I didn’t think that would happen to any person, or dog, coming out of Cheatham County," she says. She’s just got that ‘it factor.'”. A Dog's Way Home is a 2019 American family adventure film directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay by W. Bruce Cameron and Cathryn Michon, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Cameron. There seems to be no prior reference. Refresh and try again. She showed both a fierce intelligence and an eagerness to follow basic prompts. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried huge, but happy, crocodile tears at the end of the movie A Dog's Way Home. It took a nationwide casting search to find her. It was very clear that the welfare of the animal superseded all other considerations," Cameron says. We wanted to make sure she was going to be well taken care of… when Teresa Miller first came out, I’m standing there holding onto Shelby and saw her interacting very slowly, methodically, with Shelby, and as things progressed, I saw that even if things hadn’t worked out for Shelby to be in the movie, Teresa personally would have taken her home regardless.”, 4. I read this to my child and for me, it was boring. "A Dog's Way Home" trailer highlights Shelby, the rescue mutt who stars.