Currently there are three Mastiff’s which play Fang including Monkey, a rescue dog. And this is why our Harry Potter animal handlers prefer to rescue Mastiff’s where possible to play the role of Fang knowing that they are not only giving them a good home but possibly saving them from being destroyed. And thus some dogs find themselves without a home and if not saved are likely to be put to sleep.
They are also extremely strong and can be very aggressive. Neopolitan Mastiffs make very unsuitable pets with a tendency to chew furniture and to slobber over anything and everything. Weighing in at 10 stone Fang is a very large canine character which has been played by many dogs over the years. One of the biggest animals on the set is the Neapolitan Mastiff which plays Hagrid’s dog, Fang.
To put that into perspective an animal trainer could teach a raven or crow to do that in about a week! They are birds of prey, but contrary to the saying ‘as wise as an owl’ they are not the brightest of birds! There are 15 other owls on set which are all trained to carry letters, however, this ‘trick’ was not taught over night and took six months for the owls to learn.
Beautiful they may be, but easy to work with they are not. Owls come in all shapes and sizes and can weigh anything from 350 to 2200 grams. The character of Hedwig made her first appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone alongside the young Daniel Radcliffe and over the years has been played by many different owls and most recently by Wton, Sprout and Elmo who are all currently sharing the role. Hundreds of weird and wonderful animals, birds and creatures have been used in the Harry Potter films throughout the years including monkeys, maggots and even a bush baby! Of course, one of the most recognisable creatures is Hedwig, Harry’s beautiful Snowy Owl. With the sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, about to hit cinemas this July, we take a look behind the scenes and reveal some of the secrets that went into the making of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - all available on DVD and Blu-ray disc from the 15th June 2009.
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