Gerard Butler may have played the stern, dragon-fearing Viking leader Stoick in the How to Train Your Dragon series, but in real life, his heart belongs much more to Hiccup—the gentle, curious son who builds a lifelong bond with a wounded dragon named Toothless. That emotional arc, Butler says, closely mirrors his own experience rescuing a dog while filming overseas.

During a June 12 appearance on the Today show, Butler reflected on the day he met Shuska, a stray dog he found in the middle of nowhere in Bulgaria while shooting a film. “This is actually the day I met Shuska,” Butler said, pointing to a photo of him holding the pup. “We were in the middle of nowhere in Bulgaria and I found this stray dog who was pretty ill and just immediately fell in love with her.”

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Butler’s bond with Shuska reminded him of the magical connection between Hiccup and Toothless. “It was an untrained dog, maybe from a pack of hunting dogs that got left out there,” he explained. “So that story of Hiccup and Toothless feels very similar to me when we started bonding with this dog and learning a whole new language — hers, not mine — but a whole new language between us.”

In the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, Hiccup is raised in a society that sees dragons as threats. But after nursing Toothless back to health, he proves that compassion can overcome fear—and changes his entire village in the process. For Butler, this central theme isn’t just fiction. It’s a reflection of the unexpected emotional journey he embarked on with Shuska.

The actor has now had Shuska for eight years. “I think that’s what’s great about this movie,” he shared. “Everybody feels a connection from many different angles… It definitely reminds me of my relationship with my beloved Shuska.”

Back in 2019, Butler offered more insight into the day they met. “I was shooting up in the mountains and we were at the bottom of this mountain and we found this stray dog,” he told Cineplex. “She was starving, just a beautiful dog. Just so present, right in your face. Will just sit and look at you. And I thought, ‘What am I going to do, just leave her?’ ”

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Butler didn’t just save her—he brought her into his life completely. Over the years, Shuska has been by his side through thick and thin. Her presence has become more than comforting; it’s been transformative. He regularly gushes about her online, and in May he posted a sweet tribute: “8 years ago in Bulgaria, I came home with more than just a movie — I got Shushka. She’s still the real star.”

Even Shuska’s name has a story of its own. While on set, Butler heard a crew member shouting, “Shuska, Shuska!” He liked the sound of it and decided to give the name to his new companion. Later, he learned that “Shuska” isn’t actually a name—it’s more like saying “hey there.” That didn’t matter. Shuska had already made it her own.

Fans who have followed Butler’s career—and especially those who have seen his emotional portrayal of Stoick—may be surprised to learn how deeply he identifies with the opposite side of the story. But in real life, Butler isn’t the hardened warrior. He’s the man who saw a scared, starving dog and chose love.

His connection with Shuska adds a deeply personal layer to his involvement in the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon film. It’s a reminder that stories of rescue and redemption aren’t just found in fantasy—they happen in the real world, too.

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As he continues to promote the new movie, Butler’s story with Shuska has resonated with audiences across the globe. Their unlikely friendship is a testament to the power of compassion, trust, and second chances. And like Hiccup and Toothless, Gerard and Shuska prove that the most extraordinary relationships often begin in the most unexpected places.

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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.