What does Animal Wrangler mean?
Animal Wrangler is a specialized crew member responsible for the care, handling, training, and safe management of animals used in film, television, and commercial productions. Animal wranglers work with a wide range of creatures — from dogs and horses to exotic animals and insects — ensuring both the safety of the animal and the safety of the cast and crew. They coordinate with the director and first AD on how animal behavior can be incorporated into scenes, train animals to perform specific actions on cue, and maintain the animal’s welfare throughout the production day.
Example:The animal wrangler spent three weeks training the rescue dog to run toward the child actor on command before filming began — ensuring the dog’s approach would be safe, controlled, and repeatable across multiple takes.
Example: Between takes, the animal wrangler kept the horse calm and positioned at the edge of the set, ready to bring it in when needed but away from the noise and activity of the crew to prevent stress that could affect the animal’s behavior on camera.
Did you know?
In the United States, the American Humane Association oversees the welfare of animals in film and television production through its Film and TV Unit. Productions that meet the organization’s standards are permitted to display the ‘No Animals Were Harmed’ certification in their credits — a phrase that has become one of the most recognized disclaimers in entertainment.
You can also find “Animal Wrangler” and related terms in this category: Filming and Production.
