In the action comedy “Love and Monsters,” seven years after a “Monsterpocalypse” wipes out most of human civilization, Joel (Dylan O’Brien) learns his high school sweetheart (Jessica Henwick) survived and sets out on a dangerous 85-mile mission to find her. Along the way, he meets a plucky dog he names “Boy,” who saves his life and becomes his traveling companion.
Here’s what you need to know about this scene-stealing sidekick:
- Boy is played by Hero, who is an Australian Kelpie: People magazine. Reader Deb S. weighs in. “Hero is a bench-bred Australian Kelpie. They are a strain divergent to the original working breed, so look a bit different.”
- Dylan and Hero formed an “incredibly intense” bond on set, according to Zelie Bullen, the lead dog trainer on the film. She says it’s the strongest bond she’s ever seen in all her years working with dogs.
- A doggie double named Dodge, also owned and trained by Zelie, was Hero’s stand-in in several scenes. Dylan told Collider that he still talks to Zelie and can’t wait to see her, Hero and Dodge again. “She’s an incredible human being and they’re incredible dogs. They’re like family to me. It was the coolest part of the job.”
- Dylan describes the relationship between his character and Boy in the movie as “the perfect marriage — a kid who’s in over his head and a dog who’s experienced and showing him the ropes.”
- Bullen says Australian Kelpies are “extremely intelligent, versatile, agile, and athletic. They’re known for their loyalty and their companionship.”
- It was once believed the Kelpies were descended from Dingoes, but a 2019 genetic study proved they were not related: Wikipedia
- The breed was named after the mythical Celtic shape-shifting water spirit. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, often in the shape of a horse, although they can also take on human form. Update: According to reader Deb S., the breed name comes from one of the founding females, a dog named King’s Kelpie, not from the Celtic myth.
- And now the question you really want answered: Does Hero survive until the end of the movie? SPOILER: He does!
Watch the behind-the-scenes interviews with Dylan O’Brien and dog trainer Zelie Bullen:
Movie Paws 
Enjoyed the comments about the great dog actor in the ‘Love & monsters’, boy!
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We all know Boy is the main character, the movie is just told in the perspective of Joel.
Boy is a good boy, the best boy.
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“Boy” looks Kelpie but with a drop of Australian Cattledog thrown in (I’m Australian). Kelpie colouring and head but with very similar build and height to an Australian Cattledog.
Kelpies are usually taller, leaner and not as heavily built as their Australian Cattledog brethren. Their usual role on the farm are as sheep dogs.
Legend has it (now genetically disproved) that both breeds had some dingo in them as both are very quiet and rarely bark (per dingoes) and are extremely hardy in the bush.
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Thanks! Good to know. 🙂
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None of the above is actually accurate, Working Kelpies come in lots of different shapes and sizes (and even colours!) as they’re prized for their working ability and not uniformity of looks. Ask any Australian stockman, I work purebred and registered Kelpies and have two very distinct types, from short, heavy and stocky to taller and leaner. The Bench Kelpie however is very much more uniform in size and shape and has restrictions on allowed colours, as they are bred for the show ring and have mostly lost their working ability but all look much the same. Their coats are also longer. Check the Australian Working Kelpie breed standard and also many many videos posted on YouTube to see the variety that’s out there. I have a purebred male who looks much like “Boy”.
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I Love to hear, when an Actor has a Great relationship with animals! Bc I always wonder? A Nd it’s a Sweet story, and soo glad to hear! Beautiful Dogs! 💜
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Hero is a bench bred Australian Kelpie. They are a strain divergent to the original working breed, so look a bit different. Also the breed name comes from one of the founding females, a dog named King’s Kelpie, not from the Celtic myth.
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Thank you!
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I have a Rottweiler/Kelpie mix and he is an awesome dog. Both Rottweiler’s and Kelpies are definitely not good dogs for 1st time owners. They can both be very stubborn and are very smart so they need to be handled by an owner who knows what they’re doing. My dog Rocky is very beautiful with the signature black and brown colored coat that both Rottweilers and kelpies are known for. He is almost too protective with the family, very headstrong, and has an almost inexhaustible amount of energy. Although, he can be super affectionate and loves to cuddle, he sometimes wants to be left alone and totally snubbs me at times.
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