Turn Your Pup into a Star: How I Got My Dog Into Advertising

So you think your furry friend has what it takes to be the next big thing in dog advertising? I totally get it! My Lab mix Bella has that special something too, and I’ve spent months figuring out how to turn her adorable face into extra income. Getting your dog into advertising isn’t as simple as snapping a cute photo but it’s definitely doable if you’re willing to put in the work.

The Basics Your Dog Needs Before Hitting the Big Time

Before you start dreaming about your pup on billboards, there are some foundational things you need to take care of

Obedience Training is Non-Negotiable

I learned this the hard way when I first tried to get Bella into modeling. As the AKC points out, “even if your dog is the coolest looking canine on the planet, if he is not obedience trained you can forget about the limelight”

At minimum, your dog should master:

• Sit command
• Stay command
• Come when called
• Good manners around strangers
• Ability to remain calm in new environments

I enrolled Bella in a local obedience class, and it made all the difference. She went from “cute but chaotic” to “professional pup” in about 8 weeks.

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Title

This isn’t just a recommendation – many agencies require it. The American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program is basically the minimum credential your dog needs to be taken seriously in the industry.

According to Dognerd Animal Talent Agency, “ALL ADULT DOGS must have a minimum of a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title to apply to work.” For puppies, they need to be “currently enrolled in, or have completed a Puppy Kindergarten type class” similar to the AKC STAR puppy program.

The CGC test evaluates your dog on:

• Accepting friendly strangers
• Sitting politely for petting
• Walking on a loose leash
• Walking through crowds
• Reacting appropriately to distractions
• Basic commands like sit, down, and stay

You can find CGC training and testing through the AKC website or local dog training facilities.

Preparing Your Dog for Set Life

Commercial sets aren’t exactly dog parks – they’re busy, sometimes stressful environments with lots of people, equipment, and activity. Your dog needs special preparation:

Socialization in Busy Environments

According to wikiHow, you need to “bring your dog to crowded, busy venues” to prepare them for commercial sets. I started taking Bella to:

• Dog-friendly cafes
• Hardware stores like Home Depot
• Pet stores like PetSmart
• Evening sports games at local parks

These outings helped her get comfortable with noise, strange people, and unusual activities – all things she’d encounter on a set.

Learning Hand Signals

This was a game-changer for us! On commercial sets, verbal commands aren’t always possible. Teaching Bella to respond to hand signals made her much more versatile.

Some key hand signals to teach:

• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Come
• Go to mark
• Look at camera

Special “Acting” Skills

Basic obedience is just the starting point. To really stand out, your dog should learn some special tricks:

• Finding and hitting a mark
• Cocking their head on command
• Waving a paw
• Looking in specific directions
• Holding still for extended periods

I found an “animal acting” class through our local pet training center that helped Bella learn these specialized skills.

Creating a Professional Portfolio

Just like human models, your dog needs a professional portfolio to showcase their talents and appearance:

Professional Photography

Both the AKC and Dognerd Talent Agency emphasize the importance of quality photos. Dognerd specifically recommends getting:

1. A sitting photo taken at your pet’s eye level
2. A headshot with your dog looking directly at the camera
3. A side body profile photo
4. Additional shots showing special markings or coloration

I hired a pet photographer for about $200, and it was totally worth it. The photos made Bella look incredible and professional.

Photo Tips from the Pros

Dognerd Talent Agency gives these specific tips for taking the best portfolio photos:

• “Get on their Level!” – Take photos from your dog’s eye level
• “Get their Attention!” – Use a helper with toys or treats
• “Go Outside!” – Natural light works best
• “Keep it Simple!” – Use solid color backgrounds with no distractions
• “Keep it Fun!” – Make the photo session enjoyable with rewards

Video Demonstrations

Beyond still photos, agencies and casting directors want to see your dog in action. I created a 1-2 minute video showing Bella:

• Following basic commands
• Performing special tricks
• Walking nicely on leash
• Interacting positively with people
• Demonstrating her calm demeanor

Finding Work: Agencies and Casting Calls

Now for the exciting part – actually finding advertising opportunities for your pup!

Pet Modeling/Acting Agencies

Agencies are the most reliable path to legitimate commercial work. According to the AKC, “Most dogs appear on television, in movies or in print ads through animal talent agencies.”

Some agencies mentioned in the sources:

• Hollywood Animals (California)
• All Creatures Great and Small (New York)
• Dognerd Animal Talent Agency (Philadelphia)
• Le Paws (Southern California)

When I was researching agencies, I discovered that some charge registration fees while others don’t. The AKC notes that “Hollywood Animals in California will register your dog in their database” while “All Creatures Great and Small of New York does not charge a listing fee.”

Social Media Presence

While not mentioned in the formal sources, I’ve found that creating a dedicated Instagram account for Bella has led to several opportunities. Brands sometimes scout social media for fresh pet faces!

Responding to Casting Calls

Another approach is to directly respond to casting calls. WikiHow suggests looking at sites like:

• AuditionsFree.com (dog auditions section)
• Craigslist (for smaller, local commercial opportunities)

I’ve had some success with both approaches, though agency representation has brought the most consistent work.

The Reality of Dog Advertising: What to Expect

I wish someone had given me a realistic picture of what dog advertising actually involves before I started. Here’s what I’ve learned:

The Waiting Game

Commercial shoots involve a LOT of waiting. Your dog needs to be able to stay calm for hours, then perform perfectly when called upon. We spend about 80% of our time on set just waiting around.

On-Set Challenges

The AKC points out that “at a photo shoot for example, your dog may have to wait several hours before he is ‘on’ and then be relaxed and obedient under the bright, hot lights. Some dogs can’t handle this.”

Common on-set challenges include:

• Hot studio lights
• Unfamiliar people constantly handling your dog
• Repetitive actions (doing the same trick 20+ times)
• Long days (8-12 hours is common)
• Unexpected noises and distractions

Payment Reality

Pay varies widely based on:

• The type of advertisement (print, TV, web)
• Usage rights (local, national, international)
• The brand’s budget
• Your dog’s experience level

For Bella’s first commercial (a local pet store), we earned $250 for a 4-hour shoot. Later jobs for bigger brands paid significantly more.

My Personal Experience: Lessons Learned

When I first decided to get Bella into advertising, I made plenty of mistakes. Here’s what I wish I’d known:

1. Temperament Matters More Than Looks: Bella isn’t the most uniquely colored Lab mix, but her rock-solid temperament makes her extremely bookable.

2. It’s a Time Commitment: Between training, auditions, and actual jobs, this became almost a part-time job for me.

3. Relationship with Your Dog Improves: The training and communication skills we developed made our overall relationship much stronger.

4. Not Every Dog is Cut Out for This: My friend’s gorgeous Husky simply couldn’t handle the stress of commercial sets, despite being much more striking-looking than Bella.

Is Your Dog Ready for Advertising?

The AKC provides a good reality check, suggesting you consider “how well your dog handles stress and new situations” and evaluate “his level of obedience, willingness to learn new routines and manners around strangers and other dogs.”

If your dog ranks high in these areas, has completed the necessary training, and you’re willing to invest the time, there’s no reason why your pup couldn’t become the next advertising star!

Getting my dog into advertising has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. The joy of seeing Bella on TV for the first time was worth all the training sessions and early-morning auditions. Plus, the extra income helps cover her premium dog food addiction!

Have you tried getting your dog into modeling or commercial work? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

Dogs typically earn a flat daily rate for commercial work, with pay varying widely from around $50 for smaller productions to several hundred dollars for larger, national campaigns, though rates can exceed this for experienced stunt dogs.