In the very first episode of House of the Dragon, King Consort Daemon Targaryen employs a thug in the City Watch and a ratcatcher named Cheese, to eliminate Prince Aemond in the Red Keep.
The ratcatcher is accompanied by his loyal companion, a small terrier dog (played by doggy actor 'Bobby').
Dogs and dragons
In a controversial scene designed to instantly vilify Cheese, the ratcatcher kicks his dog in frustration, leading to social media outrage from dog lovers all around the world.
The American Humane Society was quick to confirm that they were present on set and that Bobby had not been harmed. The actor who played Cheese, Mark Stobbart, also posted a picture of himself with the dog, clarifying their off-screen friendship.
Director Clare Kilner was so touched by Bobby's performance that she insisted on bringing him back for Episode 2, where Cheese and the other ratcatchers are executed. The only creature mourning Cheese is his loyal dog, sitting guard over his master’s body. "Dogs are so loyal," Kilner says. "He's sort of a metaphor for how hard life can be."
Bobby returns for episode 5
Bobby returns for another star appearance in Episode 5. When Cheese’s decomposed body is brought down and hauled away in a cart, his steadfast dog follows. The touching scene was partially achieved with food placed in the dummy's shoe, but Bobby's performance remains heartbreakingly real. "He's such a loyal dog who has been just waiting for his master," Kilner says. "He's been watching over him the whole time."
Even George R.R. Martin has praised the canine addition to the series, admitting that the dog brought an unexpected emotional depth to the show. Bobby's Hollywood story, from a stray in Cyprus to a star on "House of the Dragon," further adds to his charm. On set, Bobby receives A-lister treatment, being "treated like a prince" and "so well trained," says Kilner.
