A Few Fun Facts About the Rescue Dog that Played Eddie on “Frasier”

Did you know that Eddie the dog regularly received the most fan mail on the popular TV series Frasier? He was also the only member of the cast to appear on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Eddie was originally portrayed by a Jack Russell terrier named Moose, whose family in Florida gave him up because of his extremely rambunctious nature. He reportedly dug holes in the backyard, chased anything in his path, chewed furniture, and even climbed trees to escape his enclosure on multiple occasions. Basically, he was hell on wheels, and they were fed up, but his behavior very likely stemmed from a lack of mental and physical stimulation.

Working Breeds

Jack Russells may be small and cute, but they are still working dogs that were bred to be productive, not couch potatoes or lapdogs. They’re a fairly high-energy breed, and as such, they tend to do much better when provided with a lifestyle that matches their needs. Otherwise, behavioral issues like the ones he displayed in Florida can, and often do, arise. Lots of regular exercise combined with engaging mental stimuli should be a part of their daily routine for best results.

Frasier

Moose eventually ended up with professional dog trainer Mathilde de Cagny in L.A. Working in Hollywood for more than 30 years, Cagny is known as an award-winning trainer of animal actors who’s worked with some of the world’s most renowned directors, like Martin Scorcese. During her time there, her talents have been sought out for over 30 film and television productions, including Hugo, Lady and the Tramp, We Bought a Zoo, the Beverly Hills Chihuahua franchise, and many others.

Passing the Torch

Ironically, Cagny noted in an interview that the qualities she saw in Moose that drew her to him were his mischievous nature, boundless energy, fearlessness, personality, and charisma. After only six months of training, the super-smart pup landed the TV role after the producer took one look at him and decided he was the dog for the sitcom. The rest, as they say, is history. Moose retired at the end of Season 7, and his look-alike son, Enzo, took over until the series ended. The audience, as it turned out, was none the wiser. In the interim, Moose and Enzo were invited to be on talk shows and were picked up by limos for special events just like any other big Hollywood star.

Eddie sadly passed away in 2006 at the age of 16.