Actress’ venture is a pet project

What we do for our best friends. . . . Kaley Cuoco, known for her role as Bridget Hennessy on the former ABC sitcom “8 Simple Rules,” was shopping for a new house so that Zeus, her much-beloved German shepherd, could have a bigger yard.

In anticipation of buying, Cuoco listed her 2,100-square-foot, Spanish-style home in Sherman Oaks at close to $1.3 million. The one-story house, built in 1937, has a remodeled kitchen plus three bedrooms and 2 3/4 bathrooms. The gated home also has central air-conditioning, a fireplace in the living room, wood floors and French doors. Cuoco just wants a bigger yard for her “beautiful Zeus,” who has grown some since the actress brought him home two years ago as a puppy.

Cuoco, 21, had been actively looking for a new domicile but suspended her plans to buy until the writers strike was resolved and she returned to work.

She stars on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory,” costarred on the WB’s “Charmed” and starred in the recent Lifetime movie “To Be Fat Like Me.” She was a nationally ranked amateur tennis player until she switched full time to acting in 2002.

Stephanie Vitacco has Cuoco’s listing at Coldwell Banker in Woodland Hills.

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Great spot for a Topanga hoedown

Jane Sibbett, who played Ross’ ex-wife on the sitcom “Friends,” and her husband, writer-producer Karl Fink, are moving from Topanga Canyon to the Big Island of Hawaii.

After living on their 17-acre Trust Ranch in Topanga Canyon for nine years, the couple put the property on the market. The $7-million asking price comes with a chicken and a pot-bellied pig.

The ranch, in the Mesa neighborhood, has a four-bedroom, 6,400-square-foot house, a hoedown site and stables.

Listing agents are Jaime Estes and Anthony Marguleas of Amalfi Estates in Pacific Palisades.

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Scenes from a real-life western

Guy Madison, who starred on television during the 1950s as Wild Bill Hickok, lived on a 5-acre Morongo Valley ranch during his retirement.

Among the features of the ranch was a removable bedroom window that allowed him to shoot rabbits and coyotes from his bed.

The matinee idol died at age 74 in 1996, and the property changed hands.

Now the Followed Dream Ranch ranch has come on the market at $847,000. The sale includes many Western-style features.

The 2,800-square-foot main house has a saloon-style game room, a mirrored wet bar that belonged to the actor and horse facilities.

Tish Miller and Karen Lowe have the listing at Coldwell Banker, Morongo Valley.

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His other role: home developer

Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss has an ongoing, real-life role as a real estate developer with his producer brother, Lorin, and their attorney sister, Cathy.

The three have sold four of 11 1-acre estate lots in their “Reverie” residential project in Rancho Mirage. It is a joint venture with custom home builder Empire West Development.

The siblings started developing the properties in 2004. The finished estates will have mountain views and at least 7,000 square feet of space with guest casitas, pool houses and subterranean wine and media rooms -- and carry a price tag of $4 million to $5 million.

Dreyfuss costars in the Sci Fi Channel’s upcoming “Tin Man” series.

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ruth.ryon@latimes.com