Watchout Hollywood, here comes Scout.
This pint-sized dog is sure to win everyone’s heart and, boy, can she spell –yes, spell.
When her owner, Langley resident Patricia Larzelier, brings out a bucket full of toys it’s the time when Scout shines.
The 41/2-year-old rat terrier, barely tall enough to reach her owner’s knee with her front paws, scampers about to fetch her owners’ requests.
“Go get your G-O-A-T Scout, go get it,” Larzelier said. “Go get your M-O-N-K-E-Y, good dog.”
For her spelling talent, Scout will head to Hollywood Aug. 24 to be filmed for the TV show “Pet Star.” She won her spot on the show at a July 19 audition in Seattle.
Pet Star, on the Animal Planet channel, is in its second season, broadcasting at 8 p.m. Friday nights. This weekly, hour-long pet talent competition is hosted by actor Mario Lopez, and is a cross of American Idol and David Letterman’s Stupid Pet Tricks.
Last season’s dog-eat-dog competition included everything from rats that play basketball and a flag-raising groundhog to roller-skating birds and a surfing dog.
At the audition Scout had a little bit of stage freight, and kept mixing her C-O-W’s with her B-U-N-N-Y’s.
“She was really nervous, but they still liked her and encouraged us to send in a tape,” she said.
Earlier this week Larzelier received a call that Scout had been selected for the show.
“I guess they hadn’t seen a spelling dog yet,” she said.
Scout began practicing her spelling trick a little over a month ago. Larzelier been watching an episode of Pet Star and saw a dog that appeared to be able to identify numbers on blocks when she conjured up her idea for Scout.
“I thought I could probably make it look like Scout could read,” she said.
She began by showing a flashcard to the dog with the words “lamb chops,” on it, while saying the name of the dog’s toy. Pretty soon she dropped saying the word, but Scout still recognized the card and her duty to get her toy.
“She’s really tuned in verbally and seems to learn fast,” Larzelier said. “Scout’s really tuned into sounds and can really distinguish them.”
She better be. Larzelier’s apartment is filled with Scout’s toys. Every shape, color and type of ball, stuffed animal, squeeky toy, or doggie trinket is scattered about. So, Larzelier can’t be as vague as to say “Go get your toy.”
“I always tell people she’s so smart I’m convinced she reads the dictionary when I’m away,” she said.
Scout made the audition cut for Pet Star last year, but Larzelier said the show producers wanted her to adjust her act so much it was cramping her style.
“She can bounce a ball off her nose right back to you, but they wanted her to use a net and do a couple of other things that just didn’t make it fun for her anymore,” Larzelier said.
Weekly winners on Pet Star receive $2,500 and a chance to be in the final showdown at the end of the season when all 15 finalists compete for $25,000 in cash and prizes.
“Just the thought of taking Scout to Hollywood is exciting,” she said. “It’s a great experience whether she does well or not.”
If Scout wins, what will she do with her Pet Star winnings?
“Well, I’ve been thinking about getting her a companion, but that’d have to wait until we moved somewhere else,” Larzelier said. “She’ll definitely get her fill of treats.”
Everyone, keep your paws crossed.
