If you have ever attempted to shoot a TV commercial or a film using a professional animal, then you know how unpredictable the day may prove to be. Dogs, which are among the most trainable animals on the planet, are usually pretty easy to deal with. They come with a trainer who can put them through their moves for as many takes as is needed. It’s when you get to the less trainable members of the animal kingdom that you have your work cut out for you. A recent discussion with a 30-year advertising veteran revealed this hard-earned secrets.

• Don’t work with ducks, especially if the shoot takes place near any body of water. Much film will be wasted once the duck realizes there’s a pool nearby. Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered how they get a duck to move his bill on command (such as in the AFLAC) commercials, there are two options. One is special effects. However, if your budget is limited, have the trainer give the duck peanut butter. It works every time.

Video can work on your website too – and you don’t need to worry about working with animals (except maybe your boss). A great video makes excellent link bait, which gets shared and sends links back to your site (for SEO benefits)! Check out an example of a unique video made by M&M on our home page.

Here’s some other samples of the quality of work we can do: