You remember Rexxx. He was the pampered Hollywood pooch who could do a backflip into a moving convertible, wore tiny sunglasses, and had a literal "hair and makeup" team before he ended up lost in the mud. For a lot of us, Firehouse Dog was that quintessential Saturday afternoon DVD rental or the movie that seemed to play on a loop on cable during the late 2000s. It wasn’t just about a dog; it was about a struggling fire station, a grieving kid, and a dad trying to hold it all together.
But honestly, looking back at the cast of Firehouse Dog, it’s kind of wild to see where everyone landed. We had a future Hunger Games star, a respected character actor from the Marvel universe, and a dog that was basically the Tom Cruise of canines.
Josh Hutcherson: From Firehouses to Panem
Before he was Peeta Mellark, Josh Hutcherson was Shane Fahey. He played the rebellious, slightly moody son of the fire captain. If you watch the movie now, you can totally see the groundwork for his later career. He had this way of looking frustrated and vulnerable at the same time—perfect for a kid skipping school to go skateboarding while mourning his uncle.
Hutcherson was already a veteran child actor by 2007. He’d done Zathura and Bridge to Terabithia. Following his stint with Rexxx the dog, his career basically went into orbit. Everyone knows he became a household name with The Hunger Games franchise, but he didn't just stick to blockbusters. He’s done weird, cool indie stuff like Future Man on Hulu and recently reminded everyone he's still a box office draw with Five Nights at Freddy's.
He’s one of the few child stars who actually made the transition to adult roles without the typical Hollywood meltdown. He seems grounded. Maybe hanging out with Irish Terriers on set helped? Who knows.
Bruce Greenwood as Captain Connor Fahey
Bruce Greenwood is one of those "hey, it's that guy" actors who is actually in everything. In Firehouse Dog, he played the dad, Captain Connor Fahey. He brought a lot of gravity to a movie that was, let's be real, mostly about a dog doing stunts.
Greenwood’s career is massive. Since 2007, he’s played:
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- Christopher Pike in the Star Trek reboots.
- The President of the United States (multiple times, actually).
- A chilling patriarchal figure in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
It’s funny to see him go from commanding a fictional firehouse in Toronto (where they filmed most of the movie) to commanding the USS Enterprise. He’s the backbone of every scene he’s in. In Firehouse Dog, he had to play the straight man to a dog that liked to eat steak and get spa treatments. That takes a specific kind of professional patience.
The Rest of the Crew at Station 55
The "found family" at the firehouse is what gave the movie its heart. You had a mix of comedic relief and genuine supporting talent.
Bill Nunn as Joe Musto
Bill Nunn was a legend. Most people recognize him as Robbie Robertson from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy or Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing. He brought so much warmth to the role of Joe. Sadly, Bill Nunn passed away in 2016, leaving behind a massive legacy in film and theater. He was the kind of actor who made every line feel lived-in.
Dash Mihok as Trey Falcon
Dash Mihok played the slightly dim but well-meaning Trey. If he looks familiar to you now, it’s probably because of his long-running role as Bunchy Donovan on Ray Donovan. He’s a deeply physical actor who has also been very open about his life with Tourette syndrome, becoming a huge advocate for the community. Seeing him go from a goofy firefighter to the intense, gritty drama of Ray Donovan is a testament to his range.
Mayte Garcia as Pep Clemente
Mayte Garcia played Pep. For those who don't know the pop culture lore, Mayte was a professional dancer and the first wife of the legendary musician Prince. Her role in the cast of Firehouse Dog was one of her major steps into acting. She’s since appeared in shows like Psych and Army Wives, and she released an incredibly moving memoir about her life with Prince titled The Most Beautiful.
The Real Star: Who Was the Dog?
Okay, let's talk about Rexxx (or "Dewey").
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In the movie, Rexxx is an Irish Terrier. In reality, the role was played by four different dogs: Arry, Beegee, Farfel, and Pippin.
Irish Terriers are known as the "daredevils" of the dog world. They’re fiery, smart, and—as the trainers on set likely learned—incredibly stubborn. Most of the heavy lifting and "acting" (the soulful stares and the sad moments) were handled by Arry. The production team actually had to dye the dogs' fur slightly to make sure they all matched the specific "Hollywood star" look Rexxx was supposed to have.
The trainers from Birds & Animals Unlimited handled the canine cast. These are the same people who did the animals for Marley & Me and Harry Potter. While the movie used some CGI for the more "superhuman" stunts (like the trampoline jumps), most of the interaction between Josh Hutcherson and the dogs was real.
Why the Movie Still Pops Up on Streaming
The movie didn't exactly break the box office when it came out. It was a modest hit. But it has this weirdly long tail. Why?
Part of it is the "firefighter aesthetic." Kids love fire trucks. Another part is the genuine mystery subplot involving the arsonist. It wasn't just a "silly dog movie"—it had a bit of a dark edge with the fire investigations. Plus, the chemistry within the cast of Firehouse Dog felt real. They felt like a bunch of people who actually spent too much time in a cramped building eating bad chili.
The film was directed by Todd Holland, who did a lot of work on Malcolm in the Middle. You can see that influence in the way the firehouse dynamics are handled—it's chaotic, a bit messy, but ultimately loving.
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The Arsonist Subplot: A Weirdly High Stakes Twist
Most family movies about animals stick to a very simple "dog gets lost, dog finds home" trope. Firehouse Dog decided to add a criminal investigation.
The subplot involving Steven Culp (who played Zachary Hayden) added a layer of tension that kept the adults interested. Culp is another "powerhouse" character actor, known for Desperate Housewives and The West Wing. Having him as the "suit" who may or may not have bad intentions gave the movie a bit of "80s Amblin" energy—think The Goonies but with a dog instead of a treasure map.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning to revisit this movie or introduce it to your kids, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Spot the Stunt Dog: See if you can tell when the dog changes. Arry does most of the close-ups, but the more energetic "running" scenes often feature the younger, more hyper Beegee.
- The Toronto Connection: Even though it’s set in a generic American city, keep an eye on the background. You’ll see plenty of Toronto landmarks if you look closely enough.
- The "Pre-Hunger Games" Vibe: Watch Josh Hutcherson’s performance. You can see the exact moment he mastered the "brooding teenager with a heart of gold" persona that made Peeta Mellark so popular years later.
To get the most out of a nostalgic rewatch, check out the "making of" featurettes if you can find them. The way they trained the terriers to "skate" and perform the "hairdressing" scenes is actually more impressive than the movie makes it look. Terriers aren't like Golden Retrievers; they don't just do things to please you. They need a reason. Usually, that reason was high-quality chicken.
If you’re looking for more 2000s nostalgia, you can currently find Firehouse Dog on most major VOD platforms like Amazon Prime or Apple TV. It remains a solid, mid-tier family flick that actually has more acting talent per square inch than most modern straight-to-streaming movies.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Bruce Greenwood in The Fall of the House of Usher for a completely different (and much darker) performance.
- Follow Dash Mihok’s advocacy work with the Tourette Association of America.
- Look up the "Irish Terrier" breed traits if you're thinking of getting a "Rexxx" of your own—be warned, they require way more exercise than the movie suggests.