It’s a common warning that most actors know: never work with kids or dogs. Will Trent star Ramón Rodriguez, who shares the screen with an adorable Chihuahua, strongly disagrees. “She’s a bonafide pro,” he said. “She comes in, knocks out her scenes, gets treats, and goes home……..in, like, an hour. She’s amazing.” “She” is Betty — one of the reasons why the quirky crime drama is so doggone irresistible. The series focuses on eccentric Special Agent Will Trent of the George Bureau of Investigation. Abandoned as a child and raised in the foster system, Trent wears his three-piece suit as an emotional shield. In the pilot, he reluctantly adopts little Betty after finding her tied up all alone in his neighborhood. They bond in a hurry and become virtually inseparable. Make no mistake — Betty is not named for animal-lover Betty White. In fact, the dog who plays Betty is really named Bluebell. She’s a pure-bred Chihuahua who’s about 8 years old. Her professional trainer, April Macklin, said although Bluebell has a mind of her own, she’s still pretty laid back. However, when it’s time to switch into work mode, she’s all business. To get Bluebell to make awww-inducing eye contact and expressions, Macklin stands off-screen holding a telescopic pointer with a ball attached. She pulls it to get the pooch to look in different directions. Rodriguez says he’s definitely a dog person, calling Bluebell “a real diamond in the ‘ruff.’”
