We might all think we have the cutest dogs, even though we’re of course a little biased, but do they have what it takes to become a doggy model?
Getting a good snap of our dogs can sometimes be incredibly difficult, they move just as we’re about to take the photo, but others are perfect little posers.
One unlikely doggy model who is an absolute natural in front of the camera is Parson Russell Terrier Kenny.
12-year-old Kenny didn’t have the best start in life and was found by a dog warden living as a stray.
He was then taken to Dogs Trust before being rehomed by his now owner, Jane Tooms. But not before being rehomed multiple times by owners who brought him back in the first 24 hours.
Kenny is thought to have had quite a traumatic life and was experiencing PTSD and nightmares, something these owners couldn’t deal with.
It was thought that Kenny had been shut away in a small dark space on his own for a very long time.
Heartbreaking!
The traumatised dog then had to spend a considerable amount of time with the team at Dogs Trust while they worked on his issues, and owner Jane carried on with his training and socialising once she got him home. This then led to doggy modelling.
“He didn't have a lot of social skills and didn't really know what pigeons or rabbits were or anything like that,” said Jane.
“He was very much sort of shut down when we got him.”
Even with lots of love from his new family, who he’s been with for five years, Kenny still continued to experience PTSD and nightmares.
Jane added: “He would pace up and down, like all night, and then just stare at a wall. The vets said to us that he's just reliving the nightmares from all those years and it did take about two years for that to stop, which is heartbreaking really.”
And not surprisingly, Kenny also suffers from severe separation anxiety, something Jane has had to admit defeat in tackling after trying all the usual advice.
She said: “It's just working round his little ways really, you know. I kind of think that he was left on his own for so long that the thought of that now is just too much for him, he just can't cope with the thought.”
Although clearly distressed by his past, at first, Kenny used to find small, dark places to hide.
“It's just too long and too ingrained and I don't really think, I'm not sure many dogs would get over that, you just you just have to live with it really,” added Jane.
An experienced dog owner, Jane was very keen to take Kenny, who was believed to have been middle aged when she got him, to dog school.
She said: “I always think a dog needs, apart from a lot of love, it needs routine, it needs socialising, it needs training.
“And just that consistency of just keeping it up and keeping it up until we finally go yeah I understand now.”
And Jane told us how Kenny absolutely loves dog school, after initially overcoming the urge to try and attack the other dogs.
But with perseverance, it’s now something he really enjoys.
“There were about 10 in his class, you know, that it just blew his mind, but it's such a wonderful group that understand that, you know, for the first few weeks to just work with the difficult new dog,” said Jane.
“After about three weeks he stopped trying to attack the dogs and then became really interested in them, and then absolutely loved it, just loved being trained.
“He came to life - he just absolutely loves being schooled.”
Enjoying training so much, it’s no surprise to learn that he also loves being a model, something that allows him to put his skills to good use.
After entering him into a competition where he had his photos taken, Jane realised how natural Kenny was in front of the camera. And when one of her friends told her about Urban Paws, she got in touch to sign him up.
During his career, Kenny has modelled for B&M, Size, Reebok, Aldi and Park Christmas Savings.
He’s even worked with model Kit Butler as part of H&M winter holiday season fashion campaign.
Jane said: “It’s so incredible to think of that dog five years ago just completely shut down, switched off at Dogs Trust. He just was just sat in a corner when I first saw him, to going all over the country, sort of sitting on dog beds and chasing actors and sitting on settees.
“It's incredible really, but it's just down to perseverance, consistency, showing them the love, you know, working towards their needs and it's just amazing what you can achieve really.”
As the saying goes, you should never work with kids or animals, but it sounds like Kenny is an absolute dream when in front of the camera.
Jane recalled the shoot with B&M where Kenny had to model more than 50 outfits, but he took it all in his stride and even managed to get it done in less than a day. The shoot was originally scheduled for two days.
“Each shot we just got the perfect shot...and Kenny was in his element,” said Jane.
Looking back over Kenny’s life and reminiscing on how he’s gone from a stray to a model, Jane said: “It's been kind of a whirlwind really when you think what we've been through with him.
“Oh my goodness he's, you know, rescue dog to supermodel - it’s just such a lovely story with him.”
She added: “All I want is for him to be happy, that's all you wish for really...happy and healthy, and I hope he is.
“I think he's as happy as he can be, you know, with everything else that's going on...I'm hoping now that his little brain is at peace with all that and he doesn't have to think about it anymore, and he's got his routine and he feels safe.”
