For Kevin Costner, it was love at first sight when he met his 7-month-old puppy, Bobby. Since then, their bond has only deepened, and Costner can’t help but see himself reflected in his canine companion.
“I’m like Bob,” Costner admits, describing the striking similarities between himself and Bobby. Both tend to be laid-back and passive in their daily routines, content to go with the flow.
“Bob just gets in the car. He does not care where we go. Bob’s lazy; all he does is sleep. He just goes ‘woof’ at the door a few times,” Costner explains. But what’s truly remarkable is how both he and Bobby can shift from this relaxed state into one of intense focus and energy when the moment calls for it.
Costner shares that when Bobby is put out in a field, he transforms completely. “If I put Bobby in the field, you see his IQ go up 30 points. He looks like an Adonis of dogs.
He just knows exactly who he is,” Costner says. The transformation is so profound that it reminds Costner of his own shift when he’s on a movie set. “I can be very passive in my life,” he confesses. “But once I commit to a movie, I’m relentless there. All they have to do is get me [to set], and then I know what I’m doing. I become like Bobby.”
For Costner, this ability to switch gears is a defining part of his personality. He likens his on-set focus to watching an animal in its natural habitat—completely in tune with its instincts and purpose.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but you get me on a set, and my IQ goes up 30 points… I know what I need to do. That’s the closest to watching an animal be exactly where they need to be and how they look in the wild,” he says.
Bobby has even joined Costner on the set of his ambitious new Western epic, “Horizon: An American Saga,” which is set to hit theaters on June 28. The puppy’s presence during the filming of the third of four planned chapters brought both comfort and amusement to Costner and the crew.
However, Bobby does have one peculiar habit that Costner doesn’t share—a fondness for sleeping in the dishwasher. “I have to push him out,” Costner laughs, noting that Bobby has now outgrown his favorite spot.
“He’s too heavy now. He wants to get in there, and he’s not comfortable with me kicking him out.”
What was once an adorable puppy quirk has become less cute as Bobby has grown. “He is too big for it… He doesn’t look cute in it. He looks like a big towel in there now, a big white towel.”
Despite this oddity, it’s clear that Bobby has become an important part of Costner’s life, offering both companionship and a reminder of the actor’s own unique blend of calm and intensity.
Through Bobby, Costner has found not just a loyal friend, but a kindred spirit—one who mirrors his own approach to life: relaxed and easy-going until it’s time to shine.