I think that dogs are pretty affordable commodities. I know that dogs used in movies and casting calls are paid the same daily rate...it does not matter if it is a mutt off the street or Benji herself. I had thought I saw a news pieces where they said a couple of hundred bucks a day. I found something on e-how that indicated it was a bit more.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8769178_salary-owner-trainer-animal-actors.html

I am interested if others have first hand experience with this sort of thing.

James