Breed: Labrador (chocolate)
Date of birth: 11/10/2023
Gender: Male
Neck circumference: 53.3cm
Chest circumference: 73.7cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 76.2cm
Height to shoulder: 63.5cm
Weight: 32kg

General Description

There are two Brunos. Before a walk he is all bounce and appetite, a thirty-two kilogram engine of enthusiasm ready for whatever comes next. Afterwards he melts into a soft, heavy, blissfully mellow sofa companion who would happily lean against anyone within reach. Both versions share the same easy temperament: unflappable, endlessly friendly with people and so food-driven that he will cheerfully learn almost anything for the right reward. His owner describes him as malleable, which on a working set is about the highest compliment a dog can earn.

The Labrador’s roots lie not in Labrador at all but in Newfoundland, where the St John’s water dog worked alongside cod fishermen, hauling nets and retrieving lines from icy water. Trading ships carried these dogs into Poole Harbour in the early nineteenth century, where the Earls of Malmesbury and the Dukes of Buccleuch took them up as shooting companions and preserved the line when the original island population died out. Chocolate, once called liver, is a recessive colour and the first recorded chocolate puppies appeared in the Buccleuch kennels in 1892, though it took decades for the shade to win full acceptance among breeders. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1903 and for much of the century that followed it sat at or near the top of Britain’s registration tables. Few dogs are more woven into national life, from guide dog and assistance work to the long-running Andrex advertising campaigns and the chaos of Marley & Me.

Bruno already has a working track record. He has shot stills and video for Lassie pet insurance, stills for De Savary London and social content for Cocopup. He is calm under pressure, unmoved by loud noise or the vacuum, relaxed with children and strangers and comfortable being groomed, blow-dried or handled by the crew. He travels well, is neutered and has no allergies.

Water is where Bruno really distinguishes himself. He swims strongly, launches himself into rivers and lakes without hesitation and retrieves with the instinct of his seafaring ancestors, so coastal drama, lakeside holidays, rescue scenes and anything built around a dog who dives in when everyone else hesitates play straight to his strengths. On dry land he leaps on and off raised surfaces confidently and jumps in and out of a car boot, useful for road-trip narratives and outdoor adventure storylines.

He is well drilled in the fundamentals too. He goes to a mark, stops on an emergency cue, walks to heel, holds a long stay and heads to his bed on request, which lets a director place him precisely and leave him there. He finds a hidden item, fetches it and carries a basket, perfect for the classic family scene where the dog trots in with the post, the picnic or the missing shoe. His reliable recall under distraction means he can be released across a garden, beach or park to a waiting actor with confidence.

A rich chocolate coat is one of the most flattering tones in dog photography, reading beautifully against cream knitwear, natural linen, autumn foliage and warm interiors. That places Bruno comfortably within premium homeware, country clothing, hospitality, luxury property and seasonal gifting campaigns, and his De Savary stills show he already fits a high-end aesthetic. He wears clothing, glasses, hats and accessories without complaint, so pet fashion and novelty campaigns are well within range, and his ease with grooming and hairdryer work suits coat-care and salon brands.

His appetite, carefully managed, is a real asset for pet food and treat brands: he catches treats cleanly on cue and approaches every bowl with complete conviction. Insurance, veterinary, pet retail and family lifestyle brands all benefit from his reassuring, lovable presence. Perhaps his most distinctive selling point is his owner: Harriet is a full-time professional model, which makes the pair a ready-made duo for fashion, lifestyle and advertising work where a stylish owner and a handsome dog share the frame.