VIRAL! Dolphin Tale 2's Nathan Gamble & His Puggle Nick Are the Ultimate Duo—You'll Melt!

A Q + A with Nathan Gamble

If you're anything like us, you've probably already grabbed your tickets for Dolphin Tale 2, the follow-up to the critically loved first film. We got to sit with Nathan Gamble, star of both movies, to chat about his love of animals, his own dog Nick (snapped below), and what he hopes for the Dolphin Tale franchise ahead.

Tell us about Nick (age, breed, how you got him) and your family dog?NG:Nick is a male Puggle I got from a local breeder in Washington state 5 years back. Midnight, our Black Lab mix, was a rescue my parents picked up in Eastern Washington 9 years ago on a wine-tasting trip. They weren't planning to get a dog but—as fate had it—at the last winery they hit, they met someone with one puppy left from a big litter they were about to call animal control on 'cause they couldn't care for another. My folks fell for her and the rest is history. Nick and Midnight are thick as thieves.

Paint your ideal day together.NG:First, Nick sleeps with me every night. He hates being alone. So the day always starts with him scratching at the door to be let out. After breakfast we 'play fight.' Nick loves to chase me and 'tackle me.' Then we swap and I tackle him. We also play hide and seek. What I love about Nick is he'll be real grumpy one second and the next he's all drool and grin. He really does smile! We also love block walks, though in summer it's sometimes too warm for Nick since he's, well, a bit pudgy, shall we say?

“She definitely says ‘outside’ the most,” Hunger told CNN. “She absolutely loves being outside.”

Did Nick get to visit you on set?NG:Not often, but when I was on a sitcom a few years back he did move to LA with us. He loved California and even did a little swimming in our pool.What do you love most about dogs?NG:Their steadiness. They're the same today as they'll be tomorrow. So no matter what kind of day I've had, I know I can come home to my best buddy Nick and he'll lift me and make me grin.

You're a spokesman for Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Why's that matter to you? Do you back other animal causes?NG:Being a CMA spokesman has honestly changed my life. In that role my eyes opened to the power of Winter. I've had the joy of meeting wounded vets and kids who've faced real challenges. Sure, meeting fans eager for an autograph or photo is fun. But seeing these kids so sick in a hospital—some with little time left—really puts life in perspective, you know? Speaking out has given me perspective and an overwhelming sense of how lucky I am. Dolphin Tale the movie is fun—but Winter and her pull on those with challenges, her rare power to inspire, is the truly important thing I've learned and will never forget… I'm not formally in any other animal cause, but I'm a big personal backer of spay/neuter, the work rescue shelters do, and the push for sustainable, line-caught salmon fishing.

A few years back you worked on one of our fave dog flicks, Marley & Me. How did working with Winter the dolphin differ from the dogs in Marley & Me?NG:Very different ride. As you'd guess, several dogs 'played' Marley since the film tracks his life from pup to old dog. So I actually got to work with many 'Marleys.' The dogs were much more controlled since the trainers were closer to them than me. With Winter, in many scenes it was just me and her. And some days she was into it, other days—like a human—she was more moody. But under water, things go real quiet. All the crazy hustle of a big Hollywood movie fades. Those were the special bits where I felt truly linked to this beautiful creature called Winter.

Hunger started teaching Stella after noticing the gestures and sounds Stella already used to express herself. She began with just a few recordable buttons Stella could press to say “outside,” “play,” and “water.” Hunger would point to and name the object or action, then press the button to speak the word.

Beyond the Dolphin Tales movies (we LOVED the first), what's been your favourite role so far and why?NG:I was in a wild horror film called 'The Hole,' directed by Joe 'Gremlins' Dante, which I adored. I got to play a fun-loving, smart-aleck kid and do some stunts too. It came out in Europe but, sadly, never got a wide US release.

Funniest thing to happen on set with an animal?NG:Definitely when we gathered at the end of Marley for a cast shot with all the dogs who played Marley in one place. I swear you could feel some jealousy among them as each probably thought, 'Hey, who's this dog think he is? I'm Marley!' Just goes to show dogs are a lot like people!

Biggest lesson from working with animals in movies?NG:It sounds cliché, but they're so much like people, you know? And like a person, if you take time to learn the unique personalities of your animal co-stars, you won't just make a great film—you might just make a friend for life, like I did with the amazing Winter.

What animal would you rather not work with, if any?NG:Like Indiana Jones, I'm no fan of snakes. I'm sure they're great pets for some—just not me!