That is why the remote-controlled mechanical Cairn terrier is the perfect dog for a stage show.
Axle was built by Kavanagh College pupil Adam Gorrie after his uncle, a stage show director, asked him to use his engineering skills to build a dog to ''act'' in the show.
A couple of months later, the 17-year-old came up with Axle, which featured in the show My Brilliant Divorce at the Playhouse Theatre in Dunedin.
''The dog had to hold divorce papers in its mouth and walk around and interact with the lead character.
''Axle was easier and more reliably controlled than the real thing. And the great thing about it is there's no puddles to clean up.''
The other great thing about Axle is that he won the New Zealand Transpower Neighbourhood Engineers' Award after Adam's technology teacher at Kavanagh College entered it in the competition.
The dog is made out of foam coreboard, polystyrene, a few screws and bolts and a complex set of rubber rings and battery-powered motors.
''I'm pretty stoked about the award. I'm also surprised.
''I didn't think it would win a competition. I was just building it as a means to an end.''
Sadly, Axle will be kept in a closed box where no-one will feed him or take him for walkies, Adam said.
''There's not much call for a mechanical dog at the moment. But who knows.
''He's the best dog ever.''
