A Famous Dog's Life: The Story of Gidget, America's Most Beloved Chihuahua

by Sue Chipperton, Rennie Dyball, Reese Witherspoon (Foreword)

¡Yo quiero! The heartwarming true story of the camera-ready Chihuahua who became a pint-sized superstar.

Her name was Gidget. To the world, she was the Taco Bell dog. This is the extraordinary story of an irresistible pup's life, and that of her devoted trainer, Sue Chipperton. It is not only the story of an adorable television star, but also that of Sue's successful training techniques, and her fascinating stories of working with both human and animal stars, like Mooni, Gidget's Chihuahua roommate and the eventual star of Legally Blonde . Sue shares her delightful tales, investing humor, warmth, and rare insight into one of the freshest and most fun Hollywood success stories ever told.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Dogs, Memoir, Animals

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2011

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice fun read. I have always loved animals. I enjoy seeing them appear in commercials, tv shows and movies. Sue Chipperton is an animal trainer. For over 20 years she has trained Dogs, and other species such as turtles ducks etc. But mostly she has trained dogs. The dog on the cover is Gidget or most famously known as "The Taco Bell dog" from the 1990s. although part of this book is devoted to Gidget, the author includes other dogs she has trained for movies, commercials and television shows. The chihuahua you see in Legally Blonde one and two. Is a dog named "moonie" who plays "Bruiser" she has also worked with Clint Eastwood and Dustin Hoffman to name a couple other stars. this was an enjoyable book to read. If you love animals, you may have fun reading this book.

[Prd2480 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with tons of heart, I learned so much about animals in the entertainment industry, stories on Hollywood movie sets and more. A must for all animal lovers and showbiz watchers!

[Donna Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about the "Taco Bell" dog and the lives she touched.

[Nina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book A Famous Dogs Life, by Sue Chipperton. I could not put this book down! I was intrigued by all of the action, and everything that was happening at the time. I could picture everything in my mind, and I really enjoyed reading it!
The book is written by a Hollywood pet trainer named Sue, who tells her story of how she met the famous "Taco Bell dog," a chihuahua Gidget, and their journey through the show business together. Along the way Sue trains animals from dogs to ducks, cats to even some squirrels! Readers can really see how good of a person and trainer Sue really is.
I give this book a 5 star review because I was always so into this book, the thought of being done made me sad! I'd suggest this autobiography to pet lovers, or behind the scene goers! Gidget touched my heart, as she has with millions around the world!

[Leah Hortin · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the concept of this book is intriguing, it was lacking in execution. My main gripe was the flow; it seemed, at times, like a constant stream of consciousness and other times like she wrote a short book about Gidget then an editor said to make it longer so she randomly interjected over aspects of her dog training career and tips for the common pet owner. Is this a "how-to" book, an autobiography of a dog trainer, or is it, in fact, as the title indicates, a book about the life of a famous dog? The book did make me smile and shed a tear but it also made me want to pull my hair out with all the tangents and sidebars.

[ReadaBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book about a very famous dog. I read it with my sweet grandog chihuahua always by my side.
Insights into movie making combined with dog training told in a positive way.
I remember the Taco Bell commercials. Little did I know that one day a little deaf chihuahua would capture my heart; he’s asleep beside me as I type this.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made fun of this book when I saw it, but it turned out to be a surprisingly interesting look at the lives of studio animals.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delves into a lot of information for such a quick read. We learn about the life of the still memorable (if you watched any TV in the 1990s) Taco Bell chihuahua, but we also learn a bit about her trainer, Sue Chipperton. Chipperton gives great insight into the use of animals in Hollywood, goes over various training methods used, and introduces us to other rather charming animals with which she has worked, albeit less famously than Gidget. Chipperton comes across as a very nice and intelligent woman with great enthusiasm and skill for her work, and that work is portrayed clearly and entertainingly.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming. I love books about the movie industry and this one had plenty of behind the scenes action to make it feel like insider gossip, just all about the animals in show biz instead. I remember fondly the Taco Bell commercials but it was interesting to read about the other animals Chipperton has trained and the movie sets she has worked. Quick and fun.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the famous Taco Bell dog, Gidget as written by her trainer, Sue Chipperton. The book traces Gidget's origin and training and her life. Although the writing is not the best, the story is good. The reader will learn about how dogs used in the media are trained, which can be very interesting.

[Karen Slough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! This book is so lovingly written by Gidget's owner and trainer, it made me laugh, cry, and marvel at their relationship. I remember the ads. They were the best ever. I have all of the little stuffed dogs to this day. Many thanks to Sue Chipperton for sharing her story. 2 paws up!