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STEVEN RITT
Hollywood Dog
Trainer/Behaviorist
Inspired by the small menagerie of exotic pets he had growing up, Steven
pursued his childhood dream of becoming an animal trainer by leaving his
hometown in Minnesota and attending the prestigious Greater Phoenix Dog
Training Academy at age 17. Having learned obedience, behavioral
modification, and protection training at the Academy – and gaining a
reputation as an up-and-coming trainer – Steven was invited to work at
the school after graduation.
Steven was later employed by K-9 Companions, then in 1980 started his
own company, K-9 Concepts, offering training to the public while
simultaneously working for Rudd and Bob Weatherwax, the renowned
owners/trainers for all the “Lassies” in the acclaimed series and
feature films. Working with Lassie under the tutelage of the
Weatherwaxes, Steven learned the ins and outs of film and television
training and production.
During his work with Lassie and the Weatherwaxes, Steven worked on many
of the 1980’s and 1990’s live audience sit coms including ONE DAY AT A
TIME, WHO’S THE BOSS, and ROSANNE. He also worked on many other series
including KNIGHT RIDER, SIMON AND SIMON, HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, MICKEY
SPILLANE’S MIKE HAMMER, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and THE FLASH. In addition,
Steven’s training work has been featured in many national commercials.
And he has also appeared in many talk shows and TV interviews.
Steven also worked with Janet Jackson on her award-winning video, “When
I think of you.”
Steven may be best known as the owner and trainer of “Buck” in
MARRIED….WITH CHILDREN. Buck was the beloved canine co-star in
“Married,” which went on to become one of the longest running sit coms
in the history of television (a hit in more than 56 countries). After
Buck retired in the 10th season of the series, Steven
replaced him with “Lucky,” his cocker spaniel who went on to work on a
Whoopie Goldberg pilot and appeared in several feature film cameos
including MR. DEEDS and LITTLE NICKY with Adam Sandler.
Steven’s feature film work has also included Steven Spielberg’s BACK TO
THE FUTURE; TEEN WOLF with Michael J. Fox; SCROOGED with Bill Murray;
MAGNOLIA with Tom Cruise; MOZART AND THE WHALE WITH Josh Hartnett; and
Tobey Hooper’s CROCODILE.
Most recently, Steven toured with Lassie in 2006. From 2000 to 2006, he
supplied all the animals in Toby Keith’s “My Life as a Dog,” an
all-animal skit played on the giant screen at his concerts.
Steven’s latest dog star is “Lazarus,” a pit bull he rescued on the day
he was to be euthanized. Lazarus has appeared in a Nike Commercial,
co-starred in a pilot called TRASH, and in the TV series METHOD AND RED
and GROUNDED FOR LIFE. He has also worked on XZIBIT, Trace Adkins
videos, and was the co-star in the hit TV show, VERONICA MARS. Lazarus
is also in the upcoming film MAGIC, where Steven served as 2nd
unit director.
Steven currently resides in the mountains outside Hollywood with his
animal family, supplying animals for film and television. He also does
private training for a select few clients. Steven only uses the
humane and psychological approach in all of his training.
Also see
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0728692/
Contact
Steve Ritt
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