The Heidi Chronicles, Part 7: A role model is born

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This is Heidi. Earlier this year, she was ‘discovered’ in the park by a pet talent agency; since then, she has embarked on a one-dog quest to break into the business. This is her Hollywood story as chronicled by Times Staff Writer Diane Haithman. And this is her “head shot”: That longing look was achieved by placing a biscuit just out of reach.

One evening, while eagerly awaiting our first meeting with Hollywood animal trainer Sue DiSesso -- wife of the late and legendary trainer Moe DiSesso -- Heidi and I were in the mood for some TV, a favorite activity of hers ever since she gained sofa privileges, contingent upon an agreement that she stay on her blanket -- paws too.

We are particularly partial to procedural crime dramas, mostly because one is always on. I am convinced that a “CSI: Miami-New York-Wherever,” in first-run or rerun, can be found on some channel, somewhere, at all times.

One has to be careful when watching procedurals with Heidi, however. Even the smallest gasp from me -- in reaction to gunfire or the silliest dialogue ever written for the small screen -- and she’s out of a dead sleep and on her feet in seconds, ready to protect and serve. In Heidi’s wired little shepherd’s mind, we are always under siege.

On this particular evening, however, we happened to try a procedural with slightly different letters in its name, the CBS series “NCIS,” about a government agency that investigates crimes involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Since Heidi began her showbiz quest, I have been noticing how often dogs show up on TV and in movies; there always seems to be a canine featured in a supporting role which Heidi could have played far, far better.

But in this particular episode, a dog was the star. Moreover, it was a German Shepherd, a beautiful big male with a sweet face and a lush teddy-bear coat, playing the role of Butch (at left). In the episode, titled “Dog Tags,” Butch is accused of murder; it is up to quirky forensic specialist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), who falls in love with Butch, to prove his innocence.

Let’s all pretend we can’t guess how this will turn out. This dog did not simply sit, roll over or catch a frisbee. He smiled; he put his chin on his paws and looked up with sad eyes; he barked on cue; he lay still as a stone during a surgery scene. Still wearing bandages after a gunshot would, he lept from a car and made a mad dash to dig up key evidence that would put the perp behind bars. Who was this magical dog, and who had coached him to do these things? One way or another, we would wrangle our way onto the set of ‘NCIS’ to meet ‘Butch’ and his trainer.

To catch up on the Heidi Chronicles, go to Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.