EXCLUSIVE: Hilary Swank’s Leaky Confession About the Rescue Dog Who Stole Her Spotlight

Hilary Swank opens up about the shelter pups who outshine every Oscar.

Written by Nicole Wilde, CPDT-KA

Latest revision: March 12, 2025

She adopted Maizey, a dog who became her quiet anchor through the whirlwind of fame. Swank has described how the pup’s steady presence kept her tethered when the world spun fastest.

Then she met Ella, a second rescue who needed her as much as Maizey did. The connection was instant—Swank calls it the kind of bond you don’t negotiate, you just surrender to.

She brought Ella home to join Maizey in LA, and the pair became the soft centre of a life that awards can’t touch. With husband Philip in the picture, the dog-loving household now spans two happy rescues and counting.

Her ask to fans is heartfelt: choose a shelter. The dogs, she insists, didn’t just share her story—they became the best chapter, the one no scriptwriter could improve.

While filming at my local dog park for my DVD Dissecting the Dynamics of Dog-Dog Play, I captured hundreds of hours of dogs interacting. Editing that huge archive let me break the footage into body-language signals that show play turning too rough or overwhelming. Let me share some of those elements.

Signs that a Dog is Playing Too Rough

Why Loose Body Posture Signals Healthy Play

When dogs romp happily, their bodies are like limp noodles. Tails may wave in loose arcs, mouths hang open. When a dog tenses, his body stiffens. In play the tail may wag high and stiff side-to-side (confidence or dominance), or low and fast in a small radius (nerves or anxiety), or tucked (usually fear). When the body goes stiff and the happy mouth closes—often while staring at another dog or taking offense—that’s a ‘freeze.’ Brief as it is, this mini-pause lets a dog size up the situation: flee, fight, or all clear? Watch for freezes in your dog and others, plus the other signals here. If you see a freeze or tense posture, stay ready to step in. There’s far more to watch for, but this gets you started.

When a dog’s body goes stiff and that ‘happy mouth’ closes, this is called a ‘freeze.’

Reading Speed and Intensity in Dog Play

As for the play itself, one thing to watch is speed and intensity.

Play boils into aggression far more easily when things get fast and furious. Dogs racing around the park? Nothing wrong with that per se, but monitor so the adrenaline doesn’t flip to aggression. More dogs involved means more danger. The more vertical the play—dogs up on hind legs mouth-wrestling—the more risk. And watch for acts dogs may take offense to: humping, hip-bumping or slamming, and draping a head over another dog’s neck or shoulder.

Why what to do if the play becomes too rough

If your dog gets over-excited or plays too rough, or other owners worry, call him to you to force a break in the action.

Image credit: Simon Bay Wirestock Creators

If your dog’s recall isn’t solid enough to come even mid-play, that’s okay—this is a high-distraction scene! Practise at home first, then outdoors, adding distractions as he succeeds. Always reward him! You can also drill recalls when the park is empty so he learns to come there (just skip food if other dogs are present). If you do call a break, it needn’t be long—just long enough for calm. If it escalates toward a real fight, call him or, if recall isn’t there yet, calmly walk over and take hold, then leash and leave. Careful monitoring and trusting your gut go a long way toward keeping everyone safe and having fun.

Want to learn more about dog behaviour? Check out our articles on dog training!