Dogs have been used in the media for decades. A dog conveys a message of innocence, of humour, of fun and of honesty. Corporations that have absolutely nothing to do with dogs, use them to promote products are far ranging as toilet roll, music, alcohol and even cars as the latest (very funny) Volkswagen advert goes to show. How many times do adverts containing dogs make you empathise more with the product they are being used to sell? Labrador puppies seem to distract the attention of the viewer from the fact that they are promoting something that would otherwise not be considered very pleasant. The fact is, dogs do sell products. They project a great image for the company using them and they are very easy on the eye of the viewer. So how do you make your dog become a dog star?{+++}

Firstly, your dog really does need to have some genuine ‘star quality’. This doesn’t mean he or she should get drunk, attack a reporter and than trash a hotel room on the way to demanding a six figure pay check for looking pretty. More appropriate is a balanced temperament, extreme confidence with strangers and strange surroundings, a fair degree of obedience and ‘the look’. Media friendly dogs all have ‘the look.

This is what makes them stand out. The exhume character and confidence. They appeal to everyone who sees them and they have almost human-like qualities such as cheekiness, arrogance or inquisitiveness. Above all else, there character should shine through in the dogs outward appearance.

There is no doubt certain breeds of dog have stereotypical characters and this something that all budding canine Carry Grant’s and doggy Dirk Boggarde’s can play on. Fir instance, Labradors are know to be greedy. Boxers are known to be playful. Staffordshire Bull Terriers, brave and courageous and Collies, extremely intelligent. Certain mongrels have many of these traits also as they are usually a mixture of some of the breeds mentioned and whilst retaining a degree of mystery. If your dog’s appearance is a fair reflection of his or her character then their is a good chance that he or she will look good on camera.

The temperament of a dog will be greatly tested if he or she is to become a star. Dogs appearing in T.V commercials are usually made to repeat the same scene over an over in order to capture the perfect shot for the director. Some dogs simply won’t stand for being messed around and will throw a typical star-like tantrum. This is likely to prompt a director to hire a new four legged performer. If your dog is to become involved in photo shoots, outdoor or indoor filming etc, his or her temperament will need to be extremely well balanced, almost to the point of laziness.

If you think you have a pooch that is capable of passing the screen test and temperament challenge then it’s time to start looking for work. Like all performing workers, jobs are hard to find, irregular and are often given to other, more well-know performers.

A good resource to start with would be the Hollywood Paws Talent Agency

How To Make Your Dog A Star is a post from: K9 Online