WITH DETERMINATION AND A LITTLE LUCK, ROWDY ROSE FROM THE POUND TO BECOME A TV DOG STAR : HE JOINS LONG LIST OF LOCAL PET CELEBRITIES.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

It's a classic Hollywood rags-to-riches tail, er - tale.

A few years ago, Rowdy, the Australian shepherd-husky mix, lived in a North Hollywood shelter, unwanted and unloved. Today he's a big-time TV star, who travels with an entourage of handlers and trainers, gets constantly pampered and fussed over, and, if he's really good, is rewarded with his favorite treats - hot dogs and Cheetos.

Rowdy, who was rescued from the East Valley Animal Shelter and now lives in Sherman Oaks, stars in a new Nickelodeon series, ``100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd,'' which premieres Oct. 16.

``He's a consummate pro,'' said executive producer Tommy Lynch. ``He may have a bad day and be fussy, but after a while he gets into it.''

Rowdy joins a long line of celebrity animals raised or trained in the San Fernando Valley and nearby, popular places for trainers because of the proximity to studios and the availability of land.

Among local animal stars:

The original Benji, rescued from a Burbank shelter.

Cheeta the chimp, of Newbury Park, who starred in ``Bedtime for Bonzo'' and numerous Tarzan movies.

Michael Jackson's chimp, Bubbles, raised by Sylmar trainer Bob Dunn.

The Taco Bell chihuahua, trained by Studio Animal Services in Castaic.

Just like with struggling human actors who suddenly make it big, the career change for animals often results in a tremendous improvement in their lives, said Jim Moore, a spokesman for the American Humane Association, which monitors treatment of animals during TV and film productions.

Most dogs used in productions came from shelters and likely faced euthanasia because adult dogs are less likely to be adopted than puppies, Moore said.

With stardom, they become pampered, happy animals who often get more fan mail than their human co-stars.

``Not only do they have a change in their lifestyle, they have a complete change in their whole personality,'' Moore said. ``I think they realize, wow, I've been saved.''

Lassie, for example, traveled first class on airplanes and only drank bottled water, Moore said. And the dog playing Beethoven in ``Beethoven's Third,'' now under production, stays cool in a van with better air conditioning than any of the human cast members have.

Finding fame

When casting the part of Eddie, the show's producers traveled all over the western United States and Canada, auditioning some 700 canines before choosing Rowdy for his personality and striking looks, most noticeable in his pale blue eyes.

The show is about a 15-year-old neighborhood bully who is transformed into a talking dog by a mysterious drifter (Richard Moll) and told he must perform 100 good deeds in order to become human again.

At first, Rowdy was to be the backup dog, ``but Nickelodeon fell in love with Rowdy,'' said trainer Nancy McMillan, co-owner of Canyon Country-based Worldwide Movie Animals. ``I can see why. He has an intense look to him, with the blue eyes. He's very intense and very focused.''

He had appeared in a few commercials and TV shows before, but his training was still a little, well, ruff around the edges.

``I thought, Rin Tin Tin is spinning in his grave with this acting,'' laughed Rowdy's human co-star, Richard Moll of ``Night Court'' fame. ``But he's getting better. He's learning where to put his rear end.''

Rowdy's slow start was mainly because he was hired only two days before shooting began and had limited training, McMillan said. He did, however, show a strong intelligence and an eagerness to learn, she added.

``He loves to work,'' McMillan said. ``He cannot wait to do a scene.''

A method actor

The pooch's favorite scenes involve anything active, such as running and jumping.

He hates sitting still, McMillan added.

Most of his commands - like walking with an actor, stepping to his mark, retrieving objects and lying down belly up, legs in the air - were all learned on the set during production, she said.

On the show, Eddie the dog talks, with help from a dozen computer animators and the voice of actor Seth Green, but can only be heard by his owner, Justin, (13-year-old Brandon Gilberstadt of Laguna Hills) and other animals.

Rowdy has to keep his mouth closed during filming for the animation to work, so he is given a small piece of rope to grip between his teeth.

Rowdy's co-stars dispute the old showbiz adage about never working with children or animals.

``I prefer it to acting with (human) actors,'' Moll said. ``He never gives me an attitude.''

Christopher Coppola, one of several guest directors, agreed.

``It's more refreshing because they don't talk back,'' said Coppola, who is the brother of Nicolas Cage and nephew of Francis Ford Coppola. ``They don't ask for their motivation.''

Still, Lynch said, it can be difficult simply because of the communication barrier.

``It's been the hardest show I've ever done, because at the end of the day, your star is a dog,'' Lynch said. ``It's almost like directing a foreign actor . . . but I've never spoken dog before.''

The first episode of ``100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd'' airs Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Television celebrity Rowdy gets some encouragement from his trainer, Nancy McMillan.

(2--Color) Rowdy, the star of Nickelodeon's ``100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd,'' takes his mark for the cameraman.

(3) Rowdy, who stars in a new TV series on Nickelodeon, goes over his lines with Director Christopher Copolla and trainer Nancy McMillan.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer